TEAM: Albania, I say no to the dams! Gigi Codinotti

Here we are

I’ve been invited by two friends of mine, the kayakers Piero Linda, kayak teacher and Alpin Action kayak shop owner, and Beppe Caramella, who have decided to paddle the Vjosa River, southern Albania, from the Greek border to the Ionian sea.

The river trip will be in complete autonomy and we are going to use the Dagger Katana kayak model, the most suitable for this kind of river trip.

The reason why we decided to make this experience is mainly due to the fact that the river flows into a wild, unspoiled and wonderful area for more than 280 km and because the Vjosa River is at risk.

Infact it has been planned to build 4 big dams, that would cause the whole distruction of the nature the ecosystem, the biodiversity, the tourism and the prospective of an economical development.

Especially considering that this valley offers a lot of river activities, hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking that are valuable economical resources for the territory.

Recently a group of kayakers from Slovenia and another from Montenegro, went down the river to attract attention on to this issue by involving local people and through a petition which was then provided to the Albanian Ministry.

We just want to try to strength their message and enjoy (hopefully not for the last time) this amazing landscape.

The first part of the way down is the most challenging phase as there are rapids up to grade IV in high water, and then the river decreases in terms of trouble and grade, but it still offers two canyon before it becomes flattened at the estuary.....ComingSoon......