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The national park covers more than 31,500 acres, protecting the Vjosa River system and habitats along its banks.
Nick St. Oegger/Vjosa Wild River National Park
STANDARDS
Common Core: RH.6-8.1, RH.6-8.4, RH.6-8.7, WHST.6-8.4, RI.6-8.1, RI.6-8.4, RI.6-8.7, W.6-8.4
NCSS: People, Places, and Environments • Power, Authority, and Governance • Science, Technology, and Society
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GEOGRAPHY
Keeping This River Wild
Discover Europe’s first wild river national park—and what it means for waterways around the world.
Florion Goga/Reuters
Albanian officials hope the new national park will attract tourists and boost the country’s struggling economy.
Jim McMahon/Mapman®
The Vjosa River in Albania is known for its pristine blue water. But this majestic European river has a new claim to fame. Last March, the Vjosa and its tributaries became Europe’s first wild river national park.
A wild river is one that flows freely, untouched by human development. With its new status, the Vjosa will stay that way for the entirety of its 120-mile length in Albania. (The river runs a total of 168 miles from Greece through Albania to the Adriatic Sea.)
For decades, the Vjosa has faced threats from dozens of proposed dam projects. The projects aimed to supply the region with electricity through hydropower plants—structures that harness the energy of flowing water.
Playful otters are among the 1,175 species of animals and plants that depend on the river.
But building the dams, environmentalists say, would pollute the river and harm plants and animals. The area is home to a rich variety of wildlife, including several endangered species.
The national park’s creation required a collaborative effort that included the Albanian government and several environmental groups. Conservationists hope the park can serve as a model for protecting other rivers around the world.
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama hailed the protection as a “truly historic moment” for nature.
Question: What are some benefits of making the Vjosa River a national park?