More Threatened Balkan Rivers

Soča in Slovenia.
Soča in Slovenia., © Irena Kavčič
Soča in Slovenia.
Soča in Slovenia., © Irena Kavčič
Soča in Slovenia.
Soča in Slovenia., © Irena Kavčič
The Kravice Waterfalls in Bosnia&Herzegovina, fed by the Trebižat River, a major tributary of the Neretva River.
The Kravice Waterfalls in Bosnia&Herzegovina, fed by the Trebižat River, a major tributary of the Neretva River., © Goran Šafarek
The Kravice Waterfalls in Bosnia&Herzegovina fed by the Trebižat River, a major tributary of the Neretva River.
The Kravice Waterfalls in Bosnia&Herzegovina fed by the Trebižat River, a major tributary of the Neretva River., © Goran Šafarek
The Kravice Waterfalls in Bosnia&Herzegovina fed by the Trebižat River, a major tributary of the Neretva River.
The Kravice Waterfalls in Bosnia&Herzegovina fed by the Trebižat River, a major tributary of the Neretva River., © Goran Šafarek
Piva in Montenegro und Bosnia & Herzegovina.
Piva in Montenegro und Bosnia & Herzegovina., © Anonymous
Piva in Montenegro und Bosnia & Herzegovina.
Piva in Montenegro und Bosnia & Herzegovina., © Anton Vorauer
Anton Vorauer
Piva dam in Montenegro.
Piva dam in Montenegro., © Anton Vorauer
Piva reservoir in Montenegro.
Piva reservoir in Montenegro., © Anton Vorauer
The Langaraica in Southeast Albania - a tributary to the Vjosa - is characterized by an impressive canyon 7 kilometer in length and 80 meter in depth, which was designated as natural monument in the 1970s. The 3 HPP projects along the Langarica are located inside the Fir of Hotova National Park, clearly contradict international guidelines of national parks.
The Langaraica in Southeast Albania - a tributary to the Vjosa - is characterized by an impressive canyon 7 kilometer in length and 80 meter in depth, which was designated as natural monument in the 1970s. The 3 HPP projects along the Langarica are located inside the Fir of Hotova National Park, clearly contradict international guidelines of national parks., © Adrian Guri
8 thermal springs are located along the river, attracting hundreds of tourists each year. The construction of the third hydropower plant caused the springs to temporarily run dry in the beginning of October 2014.
8 thermal springs are located along the river, attracting hundreds of tourists each year. The construction of the third hydropower plant caused the springs to temporarily run dry in the beginning of October 2014., © Adrian Guri
Ulrich Eichelmann
Construction site by ENSO on the Langarica in the midst of a national park. This used to be an untouched valley.
Construction site by ENSO on the Langarica in the midst of a national park. This used to be an untouched valley., © Roland Tasho
Langaria conctruction site.
Langaria conctruction site., © Roland Tasho
The Cijevna (also Cem) River in Montenegro and Albania is one of the most beautiful karst rivers.
The Cijevna (also Cem) River in Montenegro and Albania is one of the most beautiful karst rivers., © Tibor Mikuska
Crnojevica River in Montenegro.
Crnojevica River in Montenegro., © Tibor Mikuska
Devoll River in Albania.
Devoll River in Albania., © Goran Šafarek
Devoll River in Albania.
Devoll River in Albania., © Goran Šafarek
Devoll River in Albania.
Devoll River in Albania., © Goran Šafarek
Devoll River in Albania.
Devoll River in Albania., © Goran Šafarek
Devoll River in Albania.
Devoll River in Albania., © Goran Šafarek
Devoll River in Albania.
Devoll River in Albania., © Goran Šafarek
Rupska River in South Serbia. Rupska is one of the cleanest rivers of Serbia but is also threatend by a dam. The "Rupska Reka" initiative is fighting against its construction.
Rupska River in South Serbia. Rupska is one of the cleanest rivers of Serbia but is also threatend by a dam. The "Rupska Reka" initiative is fighting against its construction., © Aleksic Nebojsa
Rupska River in South Serbia. Rupska is one of the cleanest rivers of Serbia but is also threatend by a dam. The "Rupska Reka" initiative is fighting against its construction.
Rupska River in South Serbia. Rupska is one of the cleanest rivers of Serbia but is also threatend by a dam. The "Rupska Reka" initiative is fighting against its construction., © Aleksic Nebojsa
Drin River in Albania.
Drin River in Albania., © Anton Vorauer
Drin River in Albania.
Drin River in Albania., © Anton Vorauer
Drin River in Albania.
Drin River in Albania., © Anton Vorauer
Ashta 1 dam on the Drin River in Albania.
Ashta 1 dam on the Drin River in Albania., © Goran Šafarek
Drin River between Ashta 1 and Ashta 2 in Albania.
Drin River between Ashta 1 and Ashta 2 in Albania., © Goran Šafarek
Ashta 2 dam on the Drin River in Albania.
Ashta 2 dam on the Drin River in Albania., © Goran Šafarek
Shkumbin River in Albania.
Shkumbin River in Albania., © Goran Šafarek
Shkumbin River in Albania.
Shkumbin River in Albania., © Goran Šafarek
Shkumbin River in Albania.
Shkumbin River in Albania., © Goran Šafarek
Bregava in Bosnia&Herzegovina.
Bregava in Bosnia&Herzegovina., © Anton Vorauer
Bregava in Bosnia&Herzegovina.
Bregava in Bosnia&Herzegovina., © Anton Vorauer
Bregava in Bosnia&Herzegovina.
Bregava in Bosnia&Herzegovina., © Anton Vorauer
Bregava in Bosnia&Herzegovina.
Bregava in Bosnia&Herzegovina., © Anton Vorauer
The Great Rzav is also one of the cleanest rivers in Serbia, classified as Class I water quality from its source to Arilje. However, according to the spatial plan of the Republic of Serbia, 3 medium dams (Svračkovo, Roge , Orlovača) and 2 small-scale plants are projected on the Great Rzav, 7 more along its tributaries. The “Ecological Associations Rzav-God Save Rzav” is trying to save the Great Rzav from destruction.
The Great Rzav is also one of the cleanest rivers in Serbia, classified as Class I water quality from its source to Arilje. However, according to the spatial plan of the Republic of Serbia, 3 medium dams (Svračkovo, Roge , Orlovača) and 2 small-scale plants are projected on the Great Rzav, 7 more along its tributaries. The “Ecological Associations Rzav-God Save Rzav” is trying to save the Great Rzav from destruction., © Jaša Josimović
The Great Rzav is also one of the cleanest rivers in Serbia, classified as Class I water quality from its source to Arilje. However, according to the spatial plan of the Republic of Serbia, 3 medium dams (Svračkovo, Roge , Orlovača) and 2 small-scale plants are projected on the Great Rzav, 7 more along its tributaries. The “Ecological Associations Rzav-God Save Rzav” is trying to save the Great Rzav from destruction.
The Great Rzav is also one of the cleanest rivers in Serbia, classified as Class I water quality from its source to Arilje. However, according to the spatial plan of the Republic of Serbia, 3 medium dams (Svračkovo, Roge , Orlovača) and 2 small-scale plants are projected on the Great Rzav, 7 more along its tributaries. The “Ecological Associations Rzav-God Save Rzav” is trying to save the Great Rzav from destruction., © Momčilo Dimitrijević
The Great Rzav is also one of the cleanest rivers in Serbia, classified as Class I water quality from its source to Arilje. However, according to the spatial plan of the Republic of Serbia, 3 medium dams (Svračkovo, Roge , Orlovača) and 2 small-scale plants are projected on the Great Rzav, 7 more along its tributaries. The “Ecological Associations Rzav-God Save Rzav” is trying to save the Great Rzav from destruction.
The Great Rzav is also one of the cleanest rivers in Serbia, classified as Class I water quality from its source to Arilje. However, according to the spatial plan of the Republic of Serbia, 3 medium dams (Svračkovo, Roge , Orlovača) and 2 small-scale plants are projected on the Great Rzav, 7 more along its tributaries. The “Ecological Associations Rzav-God Save Rzav” is trying to save the Great Rzav from destruction., © Miladin Golubović
The most imminent threat for the Veliki Rzav poses the Dam “Arilje-Profil Svračkovo“, a medium-sized dam with a projected capacity of 7.2 MW, which is already under construction.
The most imminent threat for the Veliki Rzav poses the Dam “Arilje-Profil Svračkovo“, a medium-sized dam with a projected capacity of 7.2 MW, which is already under construction., © Vladan Ilić Eminac
The Drina River in Bosnia&Herzegovina and Serbia. In its lower course, the Drina marks the border between the two countries.
The Drina River in Bosnia&Herzegovina and Serbia. In its lower course, the Drina marks the border between the two countries., © Goran Šafarek
In its lower course, the Drina is a near-natural river with big gravel banks and sidearms. Common terns are breeding in this habitat.
In its lower course, the Drina is a near-natural river with big gravel banks and sidearms. Common terns are breeding in this habitat., © Goran Šafarek
Drina River. A total of 12 large and medium sized dams are projected along the Drina.
Drina River. A total of 12 large and medium sized dams are projected along the Drina., © Goran Šafarek
Gravel extraction at the Drina River in Serbia.
Gravel extraction at the Drina River in Serbia., © Goran Šafarek
Buna River’s spring – a unique karst spring in Bosnien&Herzegowina.
Buna River’s spring – a unique karst spring in Bosnien&Herzegowina., © Goran Šafarek
Marica River (also called Maritsa or Evros) in Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey.
Marica River (also called Maritsa or Evros) in Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey., © Green Balkans NGO
Marica River in Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey.
Marica River in Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey., © Green Balkans NGO
Marica River in Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey.
Marica River in Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey., © Green Balkans NGO
Ombla River in Croatia.
Ombla River in Croatia., © Goran Šafarek
Ombla River at Komolac, Croatia.
Ombla River at Komolac, Croatia., © Goran Šafarek
Goran Šafarek
Morava River in Serbia.
Morava River in Serbia., © Boban Stankovic, Bird Protection and Study Society of Serbia (BPSSS)
Morava River.
Morava River., © Boban Stankovic, Bird Protection and Study Society of Serbia (BPSSS)
Morava River.
Morava River., © Slobodan Ivic
Morava River.
Morava River., © Slobodan Ivic
The Blue Heart of Europe beats on the Balkan Peninsula: nowhere else on the continent can one find such a tremendous number and variety of pristine, wild rivers. Besides their inherent natural beauty, these rivers are one of the most important hotspots for European biodiversity. However, this unique treasure is threatened. The rivers of the Balkans are to be dammed on a large scale. More than 570 hydropower plants are projected to be built in the next few years – commonly with support of businesses and loans from inside the European Union and beyond. Not even the most striking and valuable river stretches – even if located inside a national park – are to be spared. The Blue Heart of Europe is at risk of a heart attack.
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