{{Short description|Tourist attraction in southwestern Albania}} {{Infobox body of water | name = Channel of Vivari | image = Vivari Channel.jpg | caption = Panoramic view of the Channel of Vivari | image_bathymetry = | caption_bathymetry = | location = Sarandë, Vlorë | coords = {{coord|39|44|40|N|20|0|42|E |display=inline,title|region:AL_type:waterbody_source:GNS-enwiki}} | lake_type = | inflow = | outflow = | catchment = | basin_countries = Albania | length = {{convert|2.5|km|abbr=on}} | width = ca. {{convert|80|m|abbr=on}} | depth = ca. {{convert|6|m|abbr=on}} | elevation = {{convert|1|m|abbr=on}}<ref name="butrint">[https://intarch.ac.uk/journal/issue62/2/ia.62.2.pdf Butrint National Park - Combining Natural Park with Cultural Heritage] Retrieved 8 May 2024.</ref> <!-- Map --> | pushpin_map = Albania | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_alt = Location of the Channel of Vivari in Albania. | pushpin_map_caption = <!-- Below --> | website = | reference = }} The '''Vivari Channel''' ({{Langx|sq|'''Kanali i Butrintit'''}}, also known as '''Butrinto River''') links Lake Butrint in the extreme south of Albania with the Straits of Corfu, and forms a border of the peninsula of Butrint.

The natural channel flows in both directions every six hours, from the lake to the sea and vice versa during the rising tide facilitating the access of saline waters into Lake Butrint.<ref name="butrint"/>

A pontoon is situated near the gate of the Butrint National Park. Two small forts, the Ali Pasha Castle and the Venetian Triangular Castle, are located near the mouth of the channel; both were built during the rule of Ali Pasha of Ioannina.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Ceka |first1=Neritan |author-link1=Neritan Ceka |year=2002 |title=Buthrotum its history and monuments |location=Tirana |publisher=Cetis |ISBN=99927-801-2-6 }}</ref>

According to international organizations, the channel serves as the demarcation line where the Adriatic Sea ends and the Ionian Sea begins.

The channel creates a unique situation in Lake Butrint, which is partly fed with fresh water and partly with salt water, thereby creating ideal conditions for mollusks farming. During the communist regime, many students used to volunteer in the summer time to search for ancient ruins in the Butrint National Park.<ref>[https://www.expoaus.org/butrint-national-park-uso12 Butrint national park Nature and Archaeology] Retrieved 8 May 2024.</ref>

==See also== * Butrinti * Butrint National Park * Venetian Acropolis Castle * Venetian Triangular Castle * Lake Butrint * Lakes of Albania * Lagoons of Albania

==References== {{reflist}}

Category:Bodies of water of Albania Category:Geography of Vlorë County Category:Landforms of the Ionian Islands (region) Category:Channels of Europe Category:Butrint National Park

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