{{Short description|Lake in Tirana County, Albania}} {{Infobox body of water | name = Lake Bovilla | native_name ={{native name|sq|Ujëmbledhësi i Bovillës}} | other_name = <!-- Images --> | image = Liqeni_i_Bovillës.jpg | alt = | caption = Bovilla Reservoir | image_bathymetry = | alt_bathymetry = | caption_bathymetry = <!-- Stats --> | location = Albania | group = | coordinates = {{Coord|format=dms|display=it}} | type = reservoir | etymology = | part_of = | inflow = | rivers = | outflow = | oceans = | catchment = <!-- {{convert|VALUE|UNITS}} must be used --> | basin_countries = | agency = | designation = | date-built = <!-- {{Start date|YYYY|MM|DD}} For man-made and other recent bodies of water --> | engineer = | date-flooded = <!-- {{Start date|YYYY|MM|DD}} For man-made and other recent bodies of water --> | length = <!-- {{convert|VALUE|UNITS}} must be used --> | width = <!-- {{convert|VALUE|UNITS}} must be used --> | area = {{convert|4.6|km2}} | depth = <!-- {{convert|VALUE|UNITS}} must be used --> | max-depth = <!-- {{convert|VALUE|UNITS}} must be used --> | volume = <!-- {{convert|VALUE|UNITS}} must be used --> | residence_time = | salinity = | shore = <!-- {{convert|VALUE|UNITS}} must be used --> | elevation = <!-- {{convert|VALUE|UNITS}} must be used --> | temperature_high = <!-- {{convert|VALUE|UNITS}} must be used --> | temperature_low = <!-- {{convert|VALUE|UNITS}} must be used --> | frozen = | islands = | islands_category = | sections = | trenches = | benches = | cities = <!-- Map --> | pushpin_map = Albania | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_alt = Location of the reservoir in Albania. | pushpin_map_caption = <!-- Below --> | website = [https://adventurealbania.com/lake-bovilla-tirana/ Lake Bovilla – Adventure Albania] | reference = }} The '''Bovilla reservoir''' ({{langx|sq|Ujëmbledhësi i Bovillës}}) is a {{convert|4.6|km2}} reservoir in Albania, approximately {{convert|9|mi}} northeast of Tirana and southeast of Kruja, within Dajti Mountain National Park. It provides most of the drinking water for Tirana.<ref name="Heppner1994">{{cite book|last=Heppner|first=Harald|title=Hauptstädte in Südosteuropa: Geschichte, Funktion, nationale Symbolkraft|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EzVfQTE-dD8C&pg=PA146|year=1994|publisher=Böhlau Verlag Wien|isbn=978-3-205-98255-5|page=146}}</ref>

== Geography == The reservoir is formed by a dam of the river Tërkuzë, a tributary of the Ishëm. The Tërkuzë has its source to the east of the outer chain of the coastal mountain range, running through the deep Shkallë e Bovillës canyon between Mount Maja e Gomtitit (1268 m) and Mount Mali i Bjeshit (1239 m). The dam stands at the entrance to this canyon and is made from local conglomerate, gravel and sand. It is 91 m high and 130 m long.<ref name="enoverview" />

Construction work originally began in 1988, but stopped with the collapse of communism. In October 1993, work was resumed thanks to the support of the Italian state. After the end of construction in 1996, the lake took until 1998 to fill and begin to serve its purpose.<ref name="enoverview" />

The water level varies over the course of the year by 7–10 metres, with the high water mark being reached during the rainy winter months. Measurements from 2006 to 2008 showed the greatest depth was around 45 metres. The difference from the original depth of 53 metres must be due to the sediment brought down by the river from upstream.<ref name="enoverview" />

The Tërkuzë provides around 105,000,000 m<sup>3</sup> of water per year from a catchment area of roughly {{cvt|98|km2}}. The annual water consumption is around 78,000,000&nbsp;m<sup>3</sup> - roughly the size of the reservoir.<ref name="enoverview" /> Roughly 1,800 litres of water are delivered to the processing plant from the reservoir per second, through a steel pipe (roughly 50 to 57 million m<sup>3</sup> per year).<ref name="enoverview" /><ref name="preface" /> In addition to this surface water, the drinking water supply of Tirana is supplemented by natural underground wells and artesian wells, to meet a required need of 2.8 m<sup>3</sup> per second (2009 estimate).<ref name="enoverview" /> The steel pipeline linking the reservoir to the processing plant in Kodra Kuqe, north of Tirana, is around 90&nbsp;cm in diameter.<ref name="enoverview" /> Some of the water in the reservoir is also used for irrigation.<ref name="zagonjolli" /> == Nature preservation == The reservoir is located within the Mount Dajt National Park, a bit south of Shtamë Pass National Park. The cliff faces around the canyon and the dam offer good climbing prospects.<ref name="dav" /> Swimming in the reservoir is forbidden.<ref name="dav" /> There were only a few kinds of fish in the lake: the Schneider (''Alburnoides bipunctatus'') and Barbus carp were the most common. Large numbers of grass carp have been caught by fishermen. The silver carp (''Hypophthalmichthys molitrix'') has been repeatedly introduced to improve the water quality.<ref name="fish" />

Nine remote villages with over five thousand inhabitants are scattered in the hills around the reservoir. The inhabitants derive their livelihoods primarily from agriculture. About 400 families had to be resettled in order to create the reservoir.<ref name="enoverview" /> They received compensation for their land, but the movement was still violently opposed.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hri.org/news/balkans/omri/1995/95-08-04.omri.html#10 |title=28 Albanians arrested in fight over dam |work=OMRI Daily Digest II, No. 151 |date=1995-08-04 |author=Steve Iatrou |access-date=2012-04-22 |archive-date=2004-12-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041215034746/http://www.hri.org/news/balkans/omri/1995/95-08-04.omri.html#10 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In September 2001, a bad odour and taste were first noticed in the water from the reservoir. Subsequently, a thorough investigation determined that the water quality was basically good. The source of the odour was suggested to be oxygen-dependent actinobacteria and streptomyces. Experts suggested measures to reduce the turbidity of the water: reforestation to reduce erosion, a protected area along the shore of the reservoir, and processing the wastewater from the settlements and farms in the surrounding area.<ref name="preface" />

== References== <references> <ref name="enoverview"> {{cite book |author=Aleko Miho |author2=Lulëzim Shuka |author3=Alqiviadh Çullaj |author4=Reinhard Bachofen |editor=Aleko Miho |editor2=Alqiviadh Çullaj |editor3=Reinhard Bachofen |chapter = Environmental Analyses of Bovilla Watershed (Albania) – An Overview |title = Bovilla (Albania) – Limnological Study |publisher = Julvin 2 |place = Tirana |date = 2009 |isbn = 978-99956-14-29-4 |url = http://unitir.edu.al/doc/fshn/BOVILLA(Albania)-WEB-PDF/001-ENGLISH-OVERVIEW.pdf |url-status = dead |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20111225075449/http://unitir.edu.al/doc/fshn/BOVILLA(Albania)-WEB-PDF/001-ENGLISH-OVERVIEW.pdf |archivedate = 2011-12-25 }} </ref> <ref name="preface">{{Cite book |editor=Aleko Miho |editor2=Alqiviadh Çullaj |editor3=Reinhard Bachofen |chapter=Parathënie/Preface |title=Bovilla (Albania) – Limnological Study |publisher=Julvin 2 |place=Tirana |date=2009 |isbn=978-99956-14-29-4 |url=http://109.104.133.28:81/publikime_shkencore/ALB-BOVILLA(Albania)-WEB-PDF/005-6-Parathenie.pdf |access-date=2016-11-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160802182024/http://109.104.133.28:81/publikime_shkencore/ALB-BOVILLA(Albania)-WEB-PDF/005-6-Parathenie.pdf |archive-date=2016-08-02 |url-status=dead }}</ref> <ref name="fish"> {{Cite book |author = Spase Shumka |editor=Aleko Miho |editor2=Alqiviadh Çullaj |editor3=Reinhard Bachofen |chapter = Considerations about Fishes of the Bovilla Lake – An Overview |title = Bovilla (Albania) – Limnological Study |publisher = Julvin 2 |place = Tirana |date = 2009 |isbn = 978-99956-14-29-4 |url = http://unitir.edu.al/doc/fshn/BOVILLA(Albania)-WEB-PDF/005-FISHES.pdf |url-status = dead |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20111225085325/http://unitir.edu.al/doc/fshn/BOVILLA(Albania)-WEB-PDF/005-FISHES.pdf |archivedate = 2011-12-25 }} </ref> <ref name="zagonjolli">{{Cite book |author=Migena Zagonjolli |title=Dam Break Modelling, Risk Assessment and Uncertainty Analysis for Flood Mitigation |publisher=Taylor & Francis Group |place=London |date=2007 |isbn=978-0-415-45594-7 |url=http://repository.tudelft.nl/assets/uuid:7c5079e7-4b68-4f43-8553-c670c219c18c/PHD%20ZAGONJOLLI.pdf |access-date=2016-11-20 |archive-date=2018-12-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181211035706/https://repository.tudelft.nl/assets/uuid:7c5079e7-4b68-4f43-8553-c670c219c18c/PHD%20ZAGONJOLLI.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> <ref name="dav"> {{cite web|url=http://www.geoquest-verlag.de/sites/default/files/Albanien_Kletterfuehrer.pdf |title=Albanien Geoquest-Kletterführer |access-date=2016-08-03 |format=PDF; 2,4&nbsp;MB}} </ref> </references>

== Bibliography == * Aleko Miho, Alqiviadh Çullaj, Reinhard Bachofen (Ed.), ''Bovilla (Albania) – Limnological Study / Studim Limnologjik''. Julvin 2, Tirana 2009, {{ISBN|978-99956-14-29-4}} ([https://www.researchgate.net/publication/261437901_Bovilla_Albania_-_Limnological_Study_Studim_Limnologjik researchgate.net]).

== External links == * [https://web.archive.org/web/20111225082810/http://unitir.edu.al/doc/fshn/BOVILLA(Albania)-WEB-PDF/BOVILLA-Tirana-08.pdf Complex Hydrobiological Research on the Bovilla Reservoir in Albania] * [http://www.summitpost.org/bovilla-gorge/663817 SummitPost.org: Bovilla Gorge]

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Bovilla Bovilla Category:1990s architecture Category:Geography of Tirana County Category:Geography of Durrës County Category:Drainage basins of the Adriatic Sea Category:Dajti National Park