Osum Explained

Osum
Source1 Location:Western Vithkuq
Source1 Coordinates:40.5361°N 20.4914°W
Source1 Elevation:1420m (4,660feet)
Mouth Location:Seman near Kuçovë
Mouth Coordinates:40.8128°N 19.8588°W
Subdivision Type1:Country
Subdivision Name1:Albania
Length:161km (100miles)
Basin Size:2073km2
Discharge1 Avg:32.5m3/s

The Osum is a river in southern Albania, one of the source rivers of the Seman. It is 161km (100miles) long and its drainage basin is 2073km2. Its average discharge is 32.5m3/s.[1] Its source is in the southwestern part of the Korçë County, near the village of Vithkuq at an altitude of 1050m (3,450feet). It flows initially south to the Kolonjë municipality, then west to Çepan, and northwest through Çorovodë where it flows through the famous Osum Canyon, Poliçan, Berat and Urë Vajgurore. It joins the Devoll near Kuçovë, to form Seman River. The discharge of the river is reported to vary between 5.11m2/s and 74.11m2/s.

Name

In classical antiquity, the Osum river was known as the Apsus, which is a derivative of the Indo-European root *ăp- "water, river". The Illyrian hydronym Apsus, corresponds to Apsias, a river name in southern Italy brought by Illyrian migrations (Iapygians) in the region.[2]

See also

Notes and References

  1. The quality of Albanian natural waters and the human impact. Cullaj, A. . Hasko, A. . Miho, A. . Schanz, F. . Brandl, H. . Bachofen, R. . Environment International. 2005. 31. 1. 138. 10.1016/j.envint.2004.06.008. 15607787. English.
  2. Book: Palmer . Leonard Robert . The Latin Language . 1988 . University of Oklahoma Press . 0-8061-2136-X . 40.