Blue eye (source)

The source is located at the foot of the mountain Muzina. It feeds the Bistrita River and ensures the operation of the local hydroelectric station. Total known eighteen outlets of water. The pond has an unusual color - in the center of the source the water is saturated dark blue, and on the edges is bright blue. Due to the shade of water and the round shape, the natural landmark was called “ Syri i Kaltër ”, which in translation from the Albanian language means “ Blue Eye ”.

The exact depth of the reservoir, which form the sources, remains unknown: divers have repeatedly tried to explore the "Blue Eye", but they managed to descend only 45 meters, as the water from the source beats under high pressure ^[1] . The researchers calculated that the debit is up to six cubic meters per second, and the tourists conduct their own experiments: if you throw a pebble in the center of the source, then in just a few seconds it will appear on the surface of the reservoir. However, in 2004, the source dried up for some time.

Unusually, the temperature of the water at the source throughout the year remains unchanged - about + 13 ° С.

The source itself and the surrounding area (180 hectares) are under state protection as a monument of nature. Oaks and sycamore trees grow there. Downstream, ponds for breeding fish were built (nowadays they are hardly used). Despite its protection status, a restaurant was built near the source in the 1990s.

• Perikli Qiriazi ua: Ekosistemet karstike të Shqipërisë. Tirana 1999.