| Bijela | |
|---|---|
 Road bridge over the Bijela River at Gornji Karin | |
 | |
| Location | |
| Country | Croatia |
| City | Obrovac, Croatia |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | inPržun mountain |
| • location | east ofGornji Karin, Zadar County,Croatia |
| • coordinates | 44°08′16″N15°39′40″E / 44.13778°N 15.66111°E /44.13778; 15.66111 |
| • elevation | ~ 300 m |
| Mouth | west ofGornji Karin, Zadar County,Croatia |
• location | Croatia |
• coordinates | 44°08′00″N15°37′20″E / 44.13333°N 15.62222°E /44.13333; 15.62222 |
| Length | 3 km (1.9 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| River system | Adriatic Sea |
TheBijela[1] is a river in southernCroatia that flows into theKarin Sea,[2] aninland sea located in the middle part of theAdriatic Sea and the northern part ofDalmatia. Its spring is situated in a vastcave and the river itself is only 3 km (1.9 mi) long, but an hydrographic phenomenon that flows through a peculiar and uniquecanyon and has a lot ofwaterfalls and smallponds or pools between them.
Bijela is one of the smallest rivers in northern Dalmatia, flowing from east to west, and enters Karin Sea atGornji Karin, a village belonging to the Town ofObrovac in theZadar County. The spring of Bijela is located at an altitude of approximately 300 meters, below the Pržun mountain peak (351 meters above sea level),[3] a part ofOrljak, an uneven plateau inBukovica geographical region, whose highest point is Jurišinka mountain peak (674 m), the topmost peak of Bukovica.
The spring water flows through and out of the cave below huge rocks. In its upper part, the river flows through a deep canyon characterized bysteep slopes and a series of small and medium-sized waterfalls (highest about 15–20 meters). The canyon was formed in layeredlimestone, which enable the waterfalls to form natural pools of transparent, greenish or whitish colour of the water. It is the molten limestone that gives the water its whitish colour and that is why the river got its name (Bijela = White).[4]
During the dry season though, in summer, the river dries up and only its drybed remains visible. In its lower course there is anasphalt road and a bridge, connecting villages Gornji Karin andDonji Karin, that overlooks the river bed.
Bijela is atourist destination, especially its upper course. It offers opportunities for outdoorrecreation, relaxation,adventure,discovery andexploration.[citation needed] It is a place forhiking, walking in nature, andphotography.[5]
Hydrography ofCroatia | ||||||
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| Rivers |
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| Adriatic Sea | ||||||