| Krka | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Location | |
| Country |  Croatia |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Mouth | |
• location | Adriatic Sea |
• coordinates | 43°43′11″N15°51′09″E / 43.7198°N 15.8526°E /43.7198; 15.8526 |
| Length | 73 km (45 mi)[1] |
| Basin size | 2,088 km2 (806 sq mi)[1] |
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TheKrka (pronounced[ˈkr̩ka]) is ariver inCroatia'sDalmatia region, known for its numerouswaterfalls. It is 73 km (45 mi) long and its basin covers an area of 2,088 km2 (806 mi2).[1] It was known inancient Greek asKyrikos, or maybe also asCatarbates (literally "steeply falling")[2] by theancient Greeks, it was known to theancient Romans asTitius,Corcoras, orKorkoras.
The river has its source near the border of Croatia withBosnia and Herzegovina, at the foot of theDinara mountain. After meandering through the Krčić canyon, it enters thekarst valley ofKnin through the Krčić waterfall of 25 m (82 ft). At the foot of the second, called the Topoljski waterfall, of these is a spring in a cave with 150 m (490 ft) of passage.[3] The river then flows through the valley, where it is fed by theKosovčica [hr] on the left (from the nearbyKosovo polje) and theOrašnica [hr] and theButižnica [hr] on the right, passing theFortress of Knin between the last two on the way, and into the main canyon.
What follows belongs to theKrka National Park. The first waterfall there is the 6 m (20 ft) high Bilušića waterfall, which is followed by twice its height in cascades. They lead to the Brljansko lake with a waterfall in its middle, of nearly equal height. At the end of the second half of the lake begin the Manojlovački waterfalls, a series of waterfalls and cascades with a total elevation of 60 m (200 ft), half of which is from the last one. Here, on the right bank, lie theRoman ruins ofBurnum. At the far end of the canyon are the ruins of the medieval castles ofNečven on the left and Trošenj opposite it. Beyond it is theSerbian OrthodoxKrka monastery. Further down, an extensive cascade system ends in the 20 m (66 ft) high Roški waterfall. Still further, the river forms the 7 km (4.3 mi) Visovačko lake, with theFranciscan orderVisovac Monastery on the island in the middle of the lake. The lake ends at the confluence of the Krka and its largest tributary, theČikola. At that point, they form the Skradinski waterfalls, a long series with a total height of 45 m (148 ft).
The river is navigable from the sea up to this point. The river flows past the town ofSkradin on the right, flowing into the 5 km (3.1 mi) wideProkljansko lake, into which the Guduča river flows on the right. After that, the river empties into the 10 km (6.2 mi) long Bay ofŠibenik, which is connected to theAdriatic Sea by theCanal of St. Anthony, at theFortress of St. Nicholas.[4]
This area is also the location of the first hydroelectric power station using alternate current in Croatia, theJaruga Hydroelectric Power Plant. This plant started supplying power to the nearby city ofŠibenik in 1895.
Parts of the Krka river were heavilymined during theYugoslav Wars. As of 2016, many fields bordering the canyon between Visovačko lake and Prokljansko lake on the right bank, and between Nečven and Visovačko lake on the left bank, have yet to bedemined. Tourist areas and paved roads are no longer affected.[5]
Media related toKrka, Croatia at Wikimedia Commons
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