The "Blue Eye" (Albanian: Syri i Kaltër) is a water spring and natural phenomenon occurring in the village of MuzinëinFiniq municipality, southern Albania.[3] A popular tourist attraction, the clear blue water of the river can be seen from a depth of more than fifty metres. Divers have descended to fifty metres, but it is still unclear what the actual depth of the karst hole is.[4]
Blue Eye | |
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Syri i Kaltër | |
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View of the Blue Eye
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A map showing the location of the Blue Eye | |
Location | Muzinë, Finiq, Vlorë County |
Nearest city | Delvinë, Sarandë |
Area | 1.8[1][2] |
Designation | Natural Monument |
Designated | 1996 |
Governing body | Ministry of Environment |
This phenomenon is also known as『springs of Bistricë』as it is the initial water source of Bistricë river, 25 km long, which ends in the Ionian Sea south of Sarandë.[5] The source stands at an altitude of 152 m and has a discharge rate of 18400 L/s.[6]
The immediate area 1.8 km2 (0.69 sq mi) is a Nature Monument and is characterized by oak and sycamore trees.[7] In summer 2004, the source was temporarily dried up.
In the summer of 2017 part of the location was burnt by wildfire.[8]
The protected area of Blue Eye has been designated as a natural monument which covers an area of 180 ha.[9]
The Blue Eye is located slightly west of the village of Muzinë, but it can be reached by car reaching the Saranda-Gjirokaster road from the village of Krongj.[10]
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39°55′25″N 20°11′34″E / 39.923611°N 20.192778°E / 39.923611; 20.192778