List of rivers of Albania

Map of drainage systems and drainage divide in Albania

Albania has more than 152 rivers and streams, forming 8 large rivers flowing from southeast to northwest, mainly discharging towards the Adriatic coast. The rivers of Albania have a total annual flow rate of 1,308 m³/s (46,200 cu ft/s), or 41.25 km³ (9.90 cu mi) per year.^[1]^[2]

A majority of the precipitation that falls on Albania, drains into the rivers and reaches the coast on the west without even leaving the country. In the north, only one small stream escapes Albania. In the south, an even smaller rivulet drains into Greece. Due to the topographical divide is east of the border with the Republic of North Macedonia. An extensive portion of the basin of the White Drin, basin is in the Dukagjin region, across the northeastern border with Kosovo. The Lake of Ohrid, Lake of Prespa and the Small Lake of Prespa on the southeast, as well as the streams that flow into them, drain into the Black Drin. The watershed divide in the south also dips nearly 75 km (47 mi) into Greece at one point. Several tributaries of the Vjosa River rise in that area. About 65% of their watershed lies within the Albanian territory. The water temperature ranges from 3.5 to 8.9 °C in the winter, and from 17.8 to 24.6 °C in the summer months.

Main rivers[]

Protected Landscape Area or part of a Protected Landscape Area

#	Name	Length	Nearest cities
1	Drin Drini	285 km (177 mi)	Kukës, Shkodër, Lezhë
2	Vjosë Vjosa	272 km (169 mi)	Përmet, Këlcyrë, Tepelenë, Memaliaj, Levan
3	Devoll Devolli	196 km (122 mi)	Bilisht, Maliq, Gramsh, Kuçova
4	Shkumbin Shkumbini	181 km (112 mi)	Librazhd, Elbasan, Cërrik, Peqin, Rrogozhina
5	Osum Osumi	161 km (100 mi)	Erseka, Çorovoda, Berat, Kuçova
6	Mat Mati	115 km (71 mi)	Burrel, Milot
7	Erzen Erzeni	109 km (68 mi)	Shijak
8	Fan Fani	94 km (58 mi)	Rrëshen, Rubik
9	Seman Semani	85 km (53 mi) (281 km (175 mi) including its longest source river Devoll)	Fier, Kuçovë
10	Drino Drino	84.6 km (53 mi)	Gjirokastër, Libohovë,Tepelenë

Other rivers[]

National Park or part of a National Park

World Heritage Site or part of a World Heritage Site

#	Name	Length	Nearest cities
1	Shushicë Shushica	80 km (50 mi)	Armen
2	Ishëm Ishmi	62.2 km (39 mi)	Tirana, Fushë-Krujë, Kamza
3	Cem Cemi	58.8 km (37 mi)	Tamarë
4	Kir Kiri	52 km (32 mi)	Pult, Shkodër
5	Valbonë Valbona	50.6 km (31 mi)	Bajram Curri
6	Bunë Buna	44 km (27 mi)	Shkodër, Velipojë
7	Lengaricë Lengarica	37 km (23 mi)	Petran
8	Lanë Lana	29 km (18 mi)	Tirana
9	Gash Gashi	27 km (17 mi)	Bajram Curri
10	Pavllë Pavlla	50 km (31 mi)	Konispol, Sarandë

Basins[]

Organized by drainage basin. Albanian-language names are listed if different than English. Italics indicate that the body of water is not in or bordering Albania.

Adriatic Sea[]

Bojana – Bunë, Buna
- Great Drin – Drin, Drini
  - White Drin – Drini i Bardhë
  - Black Drin – Drini i Zi
    - Lake Ohrid – Liqeni i Ohrit
  - Valbona
    - Gashi
  - Shala
  - Kir
- Lake Skadar – Liqeni i Shkodrës
  - Morača – Moraça
    - Cem
    - Mareza
Gulf of Drin – Gjiri i Drinit
- Small Drin; see Great Drin above
Aoös – Vjosë
Seman
- Osum
- Devoll
  - Tomorrica
Shkumbin
Mat
- Fan
Erzen
Ishëm
- Gjole
  - Tërzukë
  - Tiranë
    - Lanë
- Zezë

Ionian Sea[]

Pavllë
Bistricë
- Blue Eye (spring) – Syri i Kaltër

Black Sea[]

Danube – Danubi
- Sava
  - Drina
    - Lim

References[]

^ Cullaj, A., Hasko, A., Miho, A., Schanz, F., Brandl, H. & Bachofen, R. (2005). "The quality of Albanian natural waters and the human impact". Environment International. 31: 137.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
^ Agim SELENICA. "WATER RESOURCES OF ALBANIA". medhycos.mpl.ird.fr.

[1] Cullaj, A., Hasko, A., Miho, A., Schanz, F., Brandl, H. & Bachofen, R. (2005). "The quality of Albanian natural waters and the human impact". Environment International. 31: 137.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)

[2] Agim SELENICA. "WATER RESOURCES OF ALBANIA". medhycos.mpl.ird.fr.

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