The Sava River, being the right tributary of the Danube, flows through the lands of four countries of Southeast Europe: Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as Slovenia. Originating in the mountains in the territory of the last state, the river merges with the Danube in the city limits of Belgrade.
The central part of the river serves as the natural border of Bosnia and Herzegovina with Croatia. A large number of states, the territories of which the Sava crosses, makes it one of the most important rivers in the Balkans.
Geography and hydrology
The Sava River is the longest tributary of the Danube and the second largest drainage basin after the Tisza. The river is 990 kilometers long, with the first forty-five of them Sava flowing through the alpine valleys of Slovenia. The Sava is one of the largest rivers in Europe and almost the only waterway of this volume that does not flow directly into the sea.
The population of the river basin exceeds eight million people, and the number of capitals on the Sava River reaches three; these are Belgrade, Ljubljana and Zagreb. For a considerable extent, the river is navigable for large vessels, which means that for a long time it was one of the main transport arteries of Southeastern Europe, comparable in importance to such rivers as the Rhine or Elba.
The riverbed is a natural border between Central Europe and the Balkan Peninsula.
From source to mouth
The Sava River is formed by the confluence of the Sava-Bohinko and Sava-Dolinka. In the immediate vicinity of the source, several large rivers flow into the Sava - the Sora, whose length reaches 52 km, TrΕΎiΔ-Bistrita (it stretches for 27 km), as well as the seventeen-kilometer Radovna.
However, not only the waters of other rivers are fed by the Sava, but also the meltwater flowing from the surrounding mountains, as well as the ground water, emerging to the surface in the form of numerous springs and springs.
From the place where the river formed to its tributary called Sutla, the Sava flows east at an altitude of 833 meters above sea level. Ljubljana is not only the capital of the state, but also a city in Slovenia on the Sava River. And before entering the city limits, the river meets two hydroelectric dam on its way, as well as several lakes and reservoirs.
However, immediately beyond Ljubljana, the river turns east, where the height of the river flow decreases markedly. A loop along the hills, the course of the Sava meets numerous villages and towns on its way, the inhabitants of which traditionally use the proximity of the river and its resources in their lives.
Sava River in Serbia
For almost six hundred kilometers from the confluence with the Danube, the described river is navigable and, in accordance with the international classification, corresponds to the quality of navigation in class V.
Despite the fact that the depth of its fairway allows fairly heavy vessels to pass, its tortuosity imposes a significant limitation on their length. Therefore, in 2008, the countries through whose territory the Sava flows, made a preliminary decision to deepen and straighten the river channel in some places, which, according to experts, should help increase freight traffic and improve shipping safety.
The Serbian capital Belgrade is the largest city along the river. The population of this city exceeds 1,200 thousand people.
River basin ecology
The level of environmental pollution varies significantly throughout the river basin and depends on the level of industrial development in a given country. In addition, agriculture, which is the main supplier of nitrogen pollution, makes a large contribution to water pollution.
On the territory of Serbia, the vast majority of enterprises and cities do not have sewage treatment plants, which significantly worsens the environmental situation and reduces biological diversity in the river. Sources of significant industrial pollution have been identified in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Slovenia.
In 216 samples, mercury concentrations exceeding the maximum permissible values ββby 6 times were found, and significant doses of heavy metals were found in bottom sediments. In particular, copper, zinc, cadmium and lead are contained in these samples in concentrations significantly exceeding the maximum permissible values.
The smallest pollution is produced by Croatia. Researchers attribute this fact to the most careful attitude of the government of the republic to the environment, and the significant development of the tourism industry.