Mat (Adriatic Sea)
{{short description|River in Albania}}
{{About|the river in Albania|the tributary of the Mattaponi in the US|Mat River, Virginia|the river in Russia|Mati (Maya)|the Mat River in Mizoram, India|Kaladan River}}
{{Infobox river
| name = Mat
| image = Lake Shkopeti, Albania.jpg
| image_caption = Shkopet reservoir
| image_size = 280
| mouth = Adriatic Sea
| mouth_location =
| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|41|38|12|N|19|34|17|E|display=inline,title}}
| mouth_elevation = {{Convert|0|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| subdivision_type1 = Country
| subdivision_name1 = Albania
| length_km = 115
| basin_size_km2 = 2441
| discharge1_avg = {{convert|103|m3/s|abbr=on}}
}}
The Mat ({{lang-sq-definite|Mati}}) is a river in north-central Albania. Its overall length is {{convert|115|km|abbr=on}}, while its catchment surface is {{convert|2441|km²|abbr=on}}.{{Cite report |url=http://www.dpuk.gov.al/doc/EIA_WSIP__May_19_Final_Draft_Cleared_for_Public_Consultations...pdf |title=Albania Water Sector Investment Project PHRD Grant No TF093096-AL Consultant Services for Preparation of the Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management Plan |last=Ministry of Public Works and Transport |date=May 2013 |location=Tirana |page=40 |language=en |author-link=Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (Albania) |access-date=2017-09-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150430151438/http://www.dpuk.gov.al/doc/EIA_WSIP__May_19_Final_Draft_Cleared_for_Public_Consultations...pdf |archive-date=2015-04-30 |via=dpuk.gov.al}}{{cite web|title=Mati River Basin Management Plan|url=http://www.ibeca.al/pages/docs/inpail/Mati%20RBMP%20Draft%20Final.pdf|website=ibeca.al|page=17|language=English|date=15 September 2010|access-date=23 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170924092908/http://www.ibeca.al/pages/docs/inpail/Mati%20RBMP%20Draft%20Final.pdf|archive-date=24 September 2017}} Its average discharge is {{convert|103|m3/s|abbr=on}}.{{cite journal|title=The quality of Albanian natural waters and the human impact|author=Cullaj, A. |author2=Hasko, A. |author3=Miho, A. |author4=Schanz, F. |author5=Brandl, H. |author6=Bachofen, R. |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/8121855|journal=Environment International|year=2005|volume=31|issue=1|page=138|doi=10.1016/j.envint.2004.06.008|pmid=15607787|language=English}} The main tributary is the Fan, flowing from the northeast, while the Mat flows from the southwest down to the confluence with Fan and then towards the Adriatic Sea.
Etymology
The Albanian name mat originally meant "elevated location", "mountain place". Today's meaning in Albanian, "river bank, river shore", is a consequence of a secondary change through the common use of both the terms mal, "mountain" and breg, "shore", giving the meaning of "elevation". The river was recorded by Roman writer Vibius Sequester (4th or 5th century AD) as Mathis, following a hellenized graphic mode of the term mat.{{sfn|Matzinger|2009|p=34}} It appeared in written records also as Mathia in 1380.{{sfn|Elsie|2010|p=295}}
Overview
{{See also|Mat (region)}}
The Mat originates from the confluence of several streams within the karstic mountains in Martanesh, where it forms deep gorges and canyons.{{Cite thesis |last=Bollobani (Dodoveci) |first=Elvira |title=Veçoritë fiziko – gjeografike dhe potenciali ekonomik i zonës Çermenikë – Gollobordë – Martanesh |date=2016 |degree=Doctoral |publisher=Universiteti i Tiranës |url=http://www.doktoratura.unitir.edu.al/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/DOKTORATURA-ELVIRA-BOLLOBANI-DODOVECI.pdf |language=sq |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171027034339/http://www.doktoratura.unitir.edu.al/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/DOKTORATURA-ELVIRA-BOLLOBANI-DODOVECI.pdf |archive-date=2017-10-27 |page=89}} Rising in Martanesh, the Mat heads westwards to the town of Klos and then northwest by the town of Burrel. About {{convert|10|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} downstream from Burrel, it flows into lake Ulëz. After passing through the Ulëz dam, it flows through another lake, Shkopet, dammed again by the Shkopet Hydroelectric Power Station forming a narrow gorge through the mountain range that separates Mat from the coastal plains. It enters the plains between Milot and Zejmen.{{Cite book |last=Eftimi |first=R. |title=Tecnología de la intrusión de agua de mar en acuíferos costeros: Países mediterráneos: Estado de la intrusión de agua de mar en los acuíferos costeros del Mediterráneo y técnicas de evaluación / Coastal Aquifers Intrusion Technology: Mediterranean Countries: The Sete of Sea Water Intrusion in Coastal Aquifers of the Mediterranean and Assessment Techniques / Technologie de l'intrusion d'eau de mer dans les nappes aquiferes côtières: Pays méditerranéens: Situation d l'intrusion d'eau de mer dans les nappes aquifères côtières de la Mediterranée et technique d́évaluation |date=2003 |publisher=Instituto Geológico y Minero de España |isbn=84-7840-471-6 |editor-last=López-Geta |editor-first=Juan Antonio |volume=2 |location=Madrid |pages=239–250 |language=en |chapter=Some Considerations on Seawater-Freshwater Relationship in Albanian Coastal Area |editor-last2=de Dios Gómez |editor-first2=Juan |editor-last3=de la Orden |editor-first3=José Antonio |editor-last4=Ramos |editor-first4=Gerardo |editor-last5=Rodriguez |editor-first5=Luis |chapter-url=http://aguas.igme.es/igme/publica/tiac-02/ALBANIA-I.pdf}}
After a total length of {{convert|115|km|mi|0|abbr=on}}, the Mat flows into the Adriatic Sea near Fushë-Kuqe, between the towns of Lezhë and Laç.
Gallery
File:Lake Ulza, Albania.jpg|Lake Ulzë
File:mat-bridge.jpg|Zog Bridge at the beginning of the coastal plains
See also
{{commons category|Mat River|Mat}}
Sources
=Citations=
{{Reflist}}
=Bibliography=
{{refbegin|30em|indent=yes}}
- {{cite book|last=Elsie|first=Robert|url=http://dualibra.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Historical_Dictionary_of_Albania__Second_Edition.pdf|page=255|author-link=Robert Elsie|title=Historical Dictionary of Albania|volume=75|publisher=Scarecrow Press|year=2010|edition=2nd|series=Historical Dictionaries of Europe|isbn=978-0-8108-6188-6|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006083419/http://dualibra.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Historical_Dictionary_of_Albania__Second_Edition.pdf|archive-date=6 October 2014}}
- {{Cite book|last=Matzinger|first=Joachim|title=Historia e Shqiptarëve: Gjendja dhe perspektivat e studimeve|year=2009|publisher=Botime Përpjekja|isbn=978-99943-0-254-3|editor-last1=Schmitt|editor-first1=Oliver Jens|editor-last2=Frantz|editor-first2=Eva Anne|translator=Pandeli Pani and Artan Puto|language=sq|chapter=Shqiptarët si pasardhës të ilirëve nga këndvështrimi i gjuhësisë historike}}
{{ref end}}
{{Rivers in Albania}}
{{Portal bar|Geography}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Geography of Dibër County
Category:Geography of Lezhë County