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Karst and karst water recourses of Albania and their management

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Abstract

Albania is situated in the western part of Balkan Peninsula, on the eastern coast of the Adriatic and the Ionian Sea, which is one of the most water−rich regions of the world. The karst landscape in Albania covers about 2750 km2 consisting of nearly 24% of the countries territory. Karstic aquifers are the richest in the country. The total renewable karst water resources represent about 80% of the groundwater resources of Albania and nearly 80% of the population of the cities, including the capital Tirana, are supplied by karst water, and important resource is used for the production of the electricity. The sustainable management of karst water resource is difficult due to the high heterogeneity of karst aquifers in terms of type and development of hydraulic porosity, flow velocities, hydraulic head, recharge type and quantity, karst water quality, as well as to the high vulnerability to the human impact.

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    Romeo Eftimi

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Eftimi, R. Karst and karst water recourses of Albania and their management. Carbonates Evaporites 35, 69 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13146-020-00599-0

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