Vjosa - The blue heart

of Europe

As a part of a workshop-week in my University I traveled with several colleagues and professors through Albania in late 2019 to find the construction sites of several planed hydropower plants.

The government of Albania keeps planing and building these along the until now undisturbed and naturally meandering river Vjosa.

Even after concuring communism, Albania counts as one of the poorest countries in Europe. One fourth of its population are currently living in poverty. Many people try to take their chance at a better life by completely moving away to a different country.

Our project focused on the impact of the construction of several dams, which are to be built in the course of the planned new hydropower plants on the Vjosa River. The river is vital for many people in Albania. For residents who live on the banks of the Vjosa, it offers fertile land for farming and livestock breeding. The fishermen who live there also depend on the integrity of the Vjosa as their livelihood.

The construction of these dams will not only deprive many local residents of their livelihoods, but also change the ecosystem of the river, which threatens biodiversity. The already economically weak country is also denied the chance to continue to sustainably build and develop ecotourism. In addition, the Albanians will not benefit from the electricity generated by the river, as it will be exported to other countries.

During this week, we moved from north to south, always close to the river. We came into contact with the locals and got to know the many different ways of life within Albania.

This project is planned as a long-term project for several years, with the aim of making a development visible through the side-by-side presentation of the pictures. In addition, many photos will be made available to NGOs that are campaigning against the construction of the dams.

In the following you can enjoy some more impressions from my journey through the rural side of Albania…

The valleys in Albania, dotted with small villages, are characterized by agriculture and sheep farming. You often see men drinking Turkish coffee or tea, sitting at a table playing dominoes. Friendly gestures tell you that you are welcome to watch their game.