Syphon springs of Albania: an overview

Karst springs are one of the most interesting karst phenomena from a hydrogeological point of view. In Albania there are about 110 karst springs with an average discharge greater than 100 L/s, 17 of them have an average discharge greater than 1000 L/s. Among the different types of karst springs, as shown in many classifications, syphon springs differ as a particular group among the artesian (ascending) springs and their characteristics in many cases make them very particular. The most important characteristics of syphon springs are that their presence is always related with large karst water resources, and their regime depends on the size of the catchment area, karstic aquifer recharging capacity, total porosity, as well as lithological and structural characteristics of the karst massifs. Usually, the syphon springs discharge through vertical or quasi vertical channels, with depths in Albania ranging from 20 to 279 m. Most of these springs have very high discharges and Blue Eye, the largest spring in the country belongs to them. Syphon springs are very promising regarding possibilities of the use of large groundwater resources either from a large spring, or by pumping out of their vertical channels. By placing the pumps at the depth of syphon springs and by pumping aquifer static reserves in the period of drought, significant groundwater resources could be withdrawn at completely dried up springs or to increase of the minimum spring capacity. During the last 20 years syphon springs also became very attractive for diving, as well as for their natural beauty and three of them (Blue Eye, Viroi and Uji Zi) are acknowledged as geomonuments and are under protection.