Drina
Drina Дрина | |
---|---|
villages) | |
Mouth | |
• location | Sava, at the Serbian-Bosnian border between Crna Bara and Bosanska Rača |
• coordinates | 43°20′55″N 18°50′22″E / 43.34861°N 18.83944°E |
Length | 346 km (215 mi) [1] |
Basin size | 20,320 km2 (7,850 sq mi) [1] |
Discharge | |
• average | from 125 m3/s (4,400 cu ft/s) at the Ćehotina's mouth to 370 m3/s (13,000 cu ft/s) on the Drina's mouth into the Sava |
Basin features | |
Progression | Sava→ Danube→ Black Sea |
The Drina (
The Drina originates from the confluence of the rivers
Hydrological characteristics
The Drina is a very fast and cold alpine river, with a very high 175:346
Its average depth is 3 to 5 m (9.8 to 16.4 ft), the deepest being 12 m (39 ft) at
Origin
The Drina originates at the point of confluence of the rivers
Length
The Drina is formed by the confluence of the
Tributaries
Major left tributaries:
Major right tributaries:
The river is no longer navigable, but along with the Tara it represents the main kayaking and rafting attraction in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro. However, during history, small boat traffic on the Drina was quite developed. The earliest written sources of the Drina boats date from the early 17th century. Traversing through this area in the second half of the 17th century, Ottoman traveller
Geographical characteristic
Major settlements
On its path northward to the Semberija region on the Bosnian side, and Mačva on the Serbian, both part of a wider area of Posavina, where it meets with the Sava, the Drina river passes through Podrinje and number of settlements situated within the region: Foča, Ustikolina, Goražde, Ustiprača, Međeđa, Višegrad, Perućac, Bratunac, Ljubovija, Zvornik and Mali Zvornik, Loznica.
Border river
The Drina flows between the mountains of
The river continues to the villages of Peći, Dobrak, Skelani (in Bosnia and Herzegovina) and Zaugline (in Serbia), reaching the town of Bajina Bašta. At the villages of Donja Crvica and Rogačica, the Drina makes a large turn, completely changing its direction from the northeast to the northwest. This distinct geographical feature forms the Osat and Ludmer regions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which are separated by the river from the Azbukovica part of the Podrinje region of Serbia.
Course
Upper Drina
From its point of origin, at
Downstream from Foča, the Drina enters a wide valley, the 45 km (28 mi)-long Suhi Dol-Biserovina area between the southernmost slopes of the
The Drina continues in the northern general direction, flowing close to the villages of Žuželo, Odžak, Kopači and Ustiprača, entering the 26 km (16 mi) long
Middle Drina
At the town of
Flowing on the western slopes of the mountainous
Lower Drina
After the dual town of Zvornik (Bosnia and Herzegovina)-Mali Zvornik (Serbia), the Drina flows between the Bosnian mountain of Majevica and the Serbian mountain of Gučevo, and enters the Lower Podrinje region. For the rest of its flow after the village of Kozluk, it has no major settlements on the Bosnian side (except for the town of Janja, which is several km away from the river, and some smaller settlements, like Branjevo and Glavičice). On the Serbian side, the Drina passes next to the villages of Brasina and Rečane, the ruins of the medieval town of Koviljkin grad, the spa and town of Banja Koviljača, the industrial town and center of the Podrinje region, Loznica, and its largest suburb, Lozničko Polje.
The Drina enters the confluence region of its course, the southern
Ecology and wildlife
The Drina river, together with its source tributaries, the Tara and the Piva river before damming, and most major headwater tributaries such as Bistrica, Čehotina, Lim, Prača, Drinjača, are still Europe's primer habitat and spawning grounds for endangered salmonid fish species,
In the basin of the Drina there are few designated protected areas so far. The Drina National Park is recently established around the Drina river in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and in the summer of 2017 a law designating the protected zone was passed.
Tourism
The Drina is part of the rafting route, which includes the Tara river. There are various rafting routes, depending on the length, including 18 kilometres (11 mi) miles long one-day runs from Brstnovica to Sćepan Polje.
The Drina Regatta is the annual tourist and recreational event,[3][4] organised by S.T.C. "Bajina Bašta" and the municipality of Bajina Bašta since 1994.[5] The regatta is the most visited event in Western Serbia, and central summer event on the water in the region.
The Šargan Eight is a narrow-gauge heritage railway in Serbia, running from the village of Mokra Gora to Šargan Vitasi station, with an extension to Višegrad in Bosnia and Herzegovina, finished on 28 August 2010. The route includes the transfer of passengers to a boating tour along the Perućac lake.
Hydropower
The Drina originates at an altitude of 432 meters (1,417 feet) and flows into the Sava at 75 meters (246 feet). The large inclination is not constant because of many gorges and bends, but still more than enough to generate an estimated 6 billion kilowatt-hours of potential electrical power.
Also, the discharge steadily grows: 125 cubic metres per second (4,400 cu.ft./s) at the Ćehotina's mouth, and 370 cubic metres per second (13,000 cu.ft./s) on the Drina's mouth into the Sava. However, power capacity is not fully used since only three hydro electrical power stations (HE) have been constructed so far: HE Zvornik, HE Bajina Bašta, and HE Višegrad.
Population
As a result of the inhospitable terrain and the lack of good railways and major roads, the surrounding territory is sparsely populated. Apart from many small villages, the major settlements on or near the river are:
- in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Foča, Goražde, Višegrad, Srebrenica, Bratunac, Zvornik, and Janja.
- in Serbia: .
The Drina is crossed by several bridges: at Višegrad, Skelani, Bratunac and Zvornik (in Bosnia and Herzegovina), and Loznica and Badovinci in Serbia. The most recent bridge is the one at Badovinci, the Pavlovića ćuprija.
Cultural-historical significance and heritage
The 2012–2015 archaeological survey at the Orlovine locality, right above the river near Mali Zvornik, showed that the visible remains (stone ramparts) are part of the much larger Byzantine city. The spacious settlement, larger than modern Mali Zvornik, originates from the period of emperor Justinian I. It had large administrative center and was bishop's seat. Younger levels are dated to the rule of Časlav of Serbia. Ramparts extended to the Drina itself. Discovered artefacts include amphorae, mosaics, glass objects, water cisterns, parts of arched gates, guard towers, and one of the largest Byzantine churches in Serbia, 30 by 60 m (98 by 197 ft), with luxurious cathedra. Works on the find continued into the 2020s. [6][7]
In the northern section of Mali Zvornik, the underground shelter for the King Alexander I Karađorđević was dug into the rocky hill above the river in the 1930s. Envisioned as the war headquarters of the king and government, the construction began in 1931, but it was halted after the king was assassinated on 9 October 1934. Under the code name "Kamena devojka" ("Stone girl"), it was designed by the unnamed Russian engineer, and dug by the inmates who were transported blindfolded to the location. Underground fort spreads over 5,000 square metres (54,000 sq ft), with corridors reaching a total of 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi). The "underground city" has 75 rooms, 12 exits with heavy metallic doors, kings suite, cabinet, halls, guardsmen dormitories, water spring, water well, three drinking fountains, and chapel dedicated to the Saint Andrew the First-Called. There is a constant temperature of 14 to 16 °C (57 to 61 °F). The entire complex was designed for 5,000 people. It was used only once, on the 9/10 April 1941, when the King Peter II Karađorđević presided over the session when it was decided that government will go into the exile. In the 21st century, the two thirds of the complex were renovated and adapted into the museum.[6]
Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge
Commissioned by Grand Vizier
Jelav monoxyl
In September 2011, after local floods, an ancient boat was discovered, buried under the gravel in the Drina river, near
World War I
During World War I, from September 8 to September 16, 1914, the Drina was the battlefield for battles between the Serbian and Austro-Hungarian army, the Battle of Cer and Battle of Drina. The Austro-Hungarians engaged in a significant offensive over the Drina river at the western Serbian border, resulting in numerous skirmishes and battles.
In popular culture
In its lower, meandering course, the Drina is referred to as the kriva Drina ("bent Drina"). This has entered Serbian as a phrase used when someone wants to resolve an unsolvable situation; it is said that he or she wants to "straighten the bent Drina".
During
The most significant cultural reference to the river and its most emblematic feature, the bridge of Mehmed Paša Sokolović, is made in the 1945 novel
Outside of Bosnia and Serbia, the rivers play a role in some nationalist circles within Bulgaria. The song by the Bulgarian band
See also
- Sutjeska National Park
- Blessed Martyrs of Drina
- Drina Regatta
- List of national parks of Bosnia and Herzegovina
References
- ^ a b c "Sava River Basin Analysis Report" (PDF). International Sava River Basin Commission. September 2009. p. 14. Archived from the original (PDF, 9.98 MB) on 2010-07-17.
- ^ a b S.Simić (21 May 2017), "Monoksil izronio iz Drine", Politika-Magazin No 1025 (in Serbian), pp. 26–27
- Vecernje Novosti. 21 July 2012. Archivedfrom the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
- ^ "Drinska regata Bajina Bašta 2008". B92. 8 July 2008. Archived from the original on 13 February 2021. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
- ISBN 978-1-85733-655-9.
- ^ a b Ivana Jelić (25 January 2022). "Kad se kralj spremao za život u podzemlju" [Wen king prepared for underground life]. Politika (in Serbian). p. 16. Archived from the original on 28 January 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
- ^ "Arheološki lokalitet "Orlovine"" [Archaeological locality "Orlovine"]. Turistička organizacija Mali Zvornik (in Serbian). 2021. Archived from the original on 2022-01-28. Retrieved 2022-01-28.
- ^ Wayne S. Vucinich, ed. (1995). "Ivo Andrić Revisited: The Bridge Still Stands" (PDF). Division of International and Area Studies, University of California, Berkeley. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 May 2020.
- ^ Zhendema (10 April 2020). Razgovor s djado (in Bulgarian). Archived from the original on 24 April 2020. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
Sources
- Mala Prosvetina Enciklopedija, Third edition (1985); Prosveta; ISBN 86-07-00001-2
- Jovan Đ. Marković (1990): Enciklopedijski geografski leksikon Jugoslavije; Svjetlost-Sarajevo; ISBN 86-01-02651-6
- Slobodan Ristanović: "Prvenac na Drini"