Osum
Osum Canyon in Skrapar
The Osum ( Albanian: Osumi; Latin Apsus; Greek Apsos Αψός ) is a 161 km long river in southern Albania. It drains an area of 2073 square kilometers, which includes the central südalbanische mountain land between the rivers Vjosa and Devoll, the western flanks of the Grammosgebirges and Tomorr.
The Osum arises in the Southeast area of the circle Korçë to the west of the village Vithkuq by the confluence of two streams at around 1420 m above sea level. A.. Osum From this point, the first flows to the southeast, and later to the south until it strikes his decisive subsequently northwestern running in the area of Kolonja. Through this arc to the east and southeast it orbits a portion of its headwaters. In its upper reaches, especially in the regions Kolonja and Skrapar, flows through the Osum very inaccessible area. In contrast to most other major rivers of the country no roads or paths follow the river. The settlements are usually on the high plateau, and the simple roads and trails cross the river only in exceptional cases.
About 15 kilometers southeast of Çorovoda the valley of the Osum expands gradually, is inhabited and accessible. The river itself lies in the deep, up to 100 meters high cliffs surrounded Osum Gorge. Until his mouth he runs only quite exactly to the northwest. Before Çorovoda the gorge, valley and river bed ends widen more and more.
In Berat, he passes through a narrow cleft between two hills, which is controlled by the castle of Berat. Here also crosses the old Ottoman stone bridge Ura e Goricës the river. Then the Osum leaves the mountains and hills and exits in flat land. West of Kuçova he joins on the edge of Myzeqe level with the also coming from the southeast to the river Devoll Seman. Up here the river has reached a length of 161 kilometers and carries an average of 32.5 m³ / s - the maximum for the year exceeds the minimum annual runoff volume by 13 times. The Seman flows 85 km to the west in a small delta south of the Lagoon of Karavasta in the Adriatic Sea.