Velika Plaza and Ada Bojana represent a unique ecosystem. Here, the dynamic combination of river and sea forces creates a space full of life, and the specific composition of the soil and the richness of the flora further shape this unique natural oasis.
The Great Beach is a natural accumulation of sediment (sand) that was formed over millennia, under the influence of the Bojana River, sea currents and winds. This constant interaction of river sediment and sea currents has shaped this unique coastline, which is in a constant process of transformation, creating a natural space full of life and dynamics.
The transport of large amounts of sediment from the interior to the coast was a key factor in the sustainability and stability of the beach, both on Velika Plaza and on the island itself. Sea currents and waves deposited these sediments along the coast, but at the same time contributed to erosion if the natural balance of sedimentation was disturbed.
With the construction of dams on the Drim River in Albania in the 20s, the natural flow of sand was significantly reduced, disrupting the delicate balance of this ecosystem. Sand that arrives with sea currents from the coast and the bottom of the Adriatic Sea is the only source we have to rely on to maintain the beach. However, storm surges in this area, especially during the winter months, can reach extremely high intensity, which further accelerates coastal erosion.
As a result of all these negative factors, today we are witnessing the disappearance of beaches. On Ada Bojana, about 40 hectares of beach area (equivalent to the area of about 56 football fields) have disappeared in the last 50 years. A large loss has also been recorded on the eastern part of Velika Plaza.
The Persian Gulf has a different climate, salinity, biodiversity, and water dynamics, while our area, although smaller, has a much faster dynamics of change and greater sensitivity, which makes it not only unique, but also extremely vulnerable.
Unlike the Grand Beach, the coasts of the United Arab Emirates, such as Jumeirah Beach in Dubai, are largely the result of human intervention – artificially filled, stabilized, and built to impress, but not to live. The sand there is often transported from other locations, the vegetation is ornamental but not indigenous, and the coast is almost completely devoid of natural dynamics. The climate is harsh, desert, without a seasonal pulse that breathes with the soil. These beaches, although visually arranged, are static and without any real connection to natural cycles, and the annual costs of their maintenance can reach tens of millions of dollars.
In contrast, Velika Plaza is a living organism - shaped over centuries by the meeting of river and sea, breathing through golden dunes, whispering through grasses and changing with the wind, in a rhythm known only to nature. It is not a set design, but a pulsating mosaic of life - unique, silent and precious.
Due to its natural vulnerability, Velika Plaza is under serious threat. Any construction, change of course, filling or any intervention represents a serious blow to the already disturbed balance of this area. Velika Plaza could disappear – disappear forever.
It doesn't ask for much – just to remain intact, to breathe freely. Because what we didn't create, we have no right to destroy.
The author is an erosion protection engineer
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