Vjosë

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Vjosë River not far from Tepelenë
Vjosë River not far from Tepelenë
The old bridge of Konitsa over the river Aoos
The old bridge of Konitsa over the river Aoos

The Vjosë (Albanian indefinite form, the definite form is Vjosa) or Aóos (Greek: Αώος, Latin: Aous) is a river in north-western Greece and south-western Albania. Its total length is about 272 km, of which 80 km are in Greece. Its source is in the Pindus mountains, in northern Epirus. It flows through the Vikos-Aoos National Park, where it forms impressive canyons. It flows into the Adriatic Sea, north of Vlorë. Towns along the river include Konitsa in Greece, and Përmet and Tepelenë in Albania.

In the antiquity the river passed more northwards to nowadays Pojan and Fier. Due to an earthquake in the IV century AD, it changed to the present location. This earthquake and river change were the main reasons to lead to the decline of the old city of Apollonia.


Coordinates: 40°39′N 19°19′E / 40.65, 19.317