The descent of the Vjosa by Matthieu Tordeur
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In March 2023, the Vjosa River became Europe's first wild river national park. Explorer Mathieu Tordeur and Ingrid Vanhée descended the river 300 km by packraft, from its source in Greece to the Mediterranean. A committed expedition in the heart of unspoiled nature.
At 31, Mathieu Tordeur is one of the most prominent French explorers of his generation. A member of the Society of French Explorers, he is known for being the youngest person in the world to reach the South Pole on skis, solo, unassisted, and without supplies, at just 27 years old.
The Vjosa is a river approximately 270 kilometers long, originating in Greece under the name Aoös, before flowing through Albania to the Adriatic Sea. It is considered the last great wild river in Europe: it flows freely, without dams or major regulation, making it an exceptional refuge for hundreds of species of fish, birds, and plants. In 2023, the Vjosa became Europe's first Wild River National Park, thanks to the mobilization of civil society and the strong support of Patagonia, which has been deeply involved in the fight against dam construction on Balkan rivers. This recognition ensures the protection of the river, its tributaries, its valley, and its unique ecosystem. Today, the Vjosa stands as a symbol — a symbol of wild nature, of the fight for ecological preservation, and of a model for peaceful coexistence between humans and their environment.
"Drifting down the Vjosa is like traveling back in time. Here, the water flows just as it has for millennia, untouched and free." — Mathieu Tordeur
There still exists in Europe a river that flows freely, wild, untamed. No dams, no dikes, no diversions. Just the current, the rocks, the pebbles, and life.
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