Osum
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Osum Osumi (Apsus) |
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 Osum Canyon in Skrapar |
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| Data | ||
| location | Qark Korça and Qark Berat , Albania | |
| River system | Seman | |
| Drain over | Seman → Adria | |
| source | west of the village of Vithkuq ( Korça County ) 40 ° 32 ′ 10 ″ N , 20 ° 29 ′ 29 ″ E |
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| Source height | 1420 m | |
| confluence | west of Kuçova with the Devoll in the Seman coordinates: 40 ° 48 ′ 46 ″ N , 19 ° 51 ′ 30 ″ E 40 ° 48 ′ 46 ″ N , 19 ° 51 ′ 30 ″ E |
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| Mouth height | 25 m | |
| Height difference | 1395 m | |
| Bottom slope | 8.7 ‰ | |
| length | 161 km | |
| Catchment area | 2073 km² | |
| Discharge at the level at the confluence with the Seman |
MQ |
32.5 m³ / s |
| Medium-sized cities | Advises | |
| Small towns | Çorovoda | |
The Osum ( Albanian also Osumi ; Latin Apsus ; Greek Αψός Apsós ) is a 161 kilometer long river in southern Albania . It drains an area of 2073 square kilometers, which includes the central southern Albanian mountainous region between the Vjosa and Devoll rivers , the western flanks of the Grammos Mountains and the Tomorr .
The Osum arises in the southeast of the country in the area of the Korça district west of the village Vithkuq through the confluence of two streams at around 1,420 m above sea level. A. From this point the Osum flows first to the southeast, later to the south, until in the Kolonja area it takes its subsequently decisive north-western course. Through this arc to the east and southeast, it circles part of its headwaters. In its upper reaches, especially in the Kolonja and Skrapar regions , the Osum flows through very inaccessible areas. Unlike most of the other major rivers in the country, no roads or trails follow the course of the river. The settlements are mostly on the high plateau, and the simple roads and paths cross the river only in exceptional cases.
Around 15 kilometers southeast of Çorovoda , the Osum valley gradually widens, becomes more inhabited and more accessible. The river itself lies in the deep Osum Gorge, which is surrounded by rock walls up to 100 meters high . This is between two and 13 meters wide over a length of about 13 kilometers. The narrow gorge is appreciated by canoeists and river rafters . Up to its mouth, the Osum now runs exactly to the northwest. The gorge ends before Çorovoda, and the valley and river bed widen more and more.
The Osumi Gorge is one of the most spectacular natural attractions in Albania. During spring, floods of melting snow make it possible to explore the entire length of the gorge from the river. Spring is also the best time to view the many waterfalls in the canyons, thundering from above as explorers cruise by on boats below. The rapids are class II so you don't need any previous experience in whitewater to navigate them. At the end of summer, when the water is lower, the entire length of the gorge is not navigable, but there are various walks with opportunities for swimming in various pools and streams.
The edges of the canyon have an unusual ecosystem that preserves the greenery on both sides of the canyon all year round. Mediterranean bushes such as heather and thorn bush thrive together with a rich flora and fauna. On the slopes of the gorge, erosion has created pockmarked cave walls with small caves. Some of the rock formations in the canyon have fanciful names like the Cathedral, the Eye, and the Demon Door.
In Berat he passes a narrow cut between two hills, which is controlled by the castle of Berat. The old Ottoman stone bridge Ura e Goricës also crosses the river here. Then the Osum leaves the mountain and hill country and emerges in flat country. To the west of Kuçova , on the edge of the Myzeqe plain , it joins the Devoll, also coming from the southeast, to form the Seman River . Up to here the river has reached a length of 161 kilometers and carries an average of 32.5 m³ / s - the annual maximum exceeds the minimum annual runoff by 13 times. The Seman ends 85 km further west in a small Delta south of the lagoon of Karavasta in the Adriatic .
The locals tell many interesting legends, such as those of Mulliri i Babait, Vrima e Nuses and Saint Abaz Ali. The canyon has six narrow sections that range from 1.5m wide in the river bed to 35m higher up the sides of the canyon.
Web links
- Kajak.at: Revierinfo Osum
- Osumi River & Canions (English) ( Memento from November 18, 2013 in the Internet Archive )
Individual evidence
- ^ William Smith: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854). Retrieved October 7, 2011 .