Sana (river)
Sana | |
---|---|
Location | |
Country | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
Physical characteristics | |
Source | |
• location | Ribnik, Western Bosnia and Herzegovina |
• coordinates | 44°19′03″N 16°50′12″E / 44.3173773°N 16.8365586°E |
Mouth | |
• location | Una, in Novi Grad, Bosnia and Herzegovina |
• coordinates | 45°03′04″N 16°22′59″E / 45.051°N 16.383°E |
Length | 141.9 km (88.2 mi) [1] |
Basin size | 4,258 km2 (1,644 sq mi) [1] |
Basin features | |
Progression | Una→ Sava→ Danube→ Black Sea |
The Sana (
Name
The name of the river derives from the Latin adjective sānus, feminine sāna hence sana, which roughly translates "healthy" (Aqua Sanus translates as healthy water / river).[2]
Course and sections
Springs and Upper Sana
The Sana in its upper course is fast
The river at this point is still with low average discharge, and receiving the waters of several other smaller streams, but after just about 17 km the Sana meet with its first major tributary, the short but water abundant river, the Ribnik. The area surrounding confluence of the two rivers is called Ribnik, and is divided between two settlements, Gornji and Donji Ribnik. From Ribnik, the Sana runs through a valley in a south-to-north-northwestern direction as it reach the historic town of Ključ.
Middle course
At this point, passing through Ključ, the upper course ends and river enters its midsection narrow gorge, with steep but relatively low slopes, while turning its course to more clear south-to-north direction. The river here combines with the waters of several typical
After 72 km and the altitude difference of 262.52 m, the Sana then passes through Sanski Most and combines with two significant tributary rivers, the Zdena and the Bliha river, both from the left, as well as the smaller Majdanuša from the left. From here it runs toward the town of Prijedor, where its middle section ends, and where it receives the waters of Gomjenica river from the right.
Lower Sana
The Sana then turns sharply under an angle of almost 90 degrees and heads west. Near Blagaj Japra and Blagaj Rijeka, it receives the Japra from the left. In its final destination in Novi Grad, the Sana empties into the Una river as its most important and largest tributary. From Sanski Most, through Prijedor, to its confluence with the Una in Bosanski Novi, the average drop is 41.21 m. Between Prijedor and Novi Grad, the river also serves as a natural border between the two subregions, Potkozarje and Podgrmeč. In this section the Sana is characteristically lowland river.
Before the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a paper mill "Celpak" in Prijedor was draining wastewater into the Sana, just downstream from the town, so that the further flow of the river was considered polluted. From the outset of the war, and after the war to this day, the factory has been shut down and the discharge of wastewater is reduced to significantly smaller scale. At the center of Novi Grad the Sana reaches the Una river.
Environmental concerns
Plans to harness
Tourism and recreation
Rafting is one of the most popular forms of outdoor recreation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the river Sana is popular destination.
The Sana is known for an abundant
In the Sana's headwaters fly fishing is particularly popular, with the tributary Ribnik being famous throughout the world as a popular fly fishing destination, with a trophy sized greyling being abundant.
Gallery
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The Sana river near Donji Vrbljani, Bosnia.
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The Ribnik river is a short but significant tributary of the Sana
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The Sanica river, lower section, just a few kilometres before it meets the Sana
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The Sana river in Prijedor
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The Sana river at its mouth in Novi Grad
See also
References
- ^ a b "Sava River Basin Analysis Report" (PDF). International Sava River Basin Commission. September 2009. p. 13. Archived from the original (PDF, 9.98 MB) on 2010-07-17.
- ^ Vojić, Fahrudin (2 July 2017). "Sanska Ilidža – blago koje teče neiskorišteno". balkans.aljazeera.net (in Bosnian). Retrieved 23 May 2022.
- ^ Da li će se graditi hidroelektrana na Sani?
- ^ Krivić, Goran; Crnković, Nataša (13 March 2018). "The Beginning of the End of the Sana River". riverwatch.eu. River Watch. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
- ^ "Sana River". Balkan Rivers - Save the Blue Heart of Europe. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
- ^ 'They dammed everything' - Bosnia's hydropower gone sour