The Krka (pronounced [ˈkəɾka]; German: Gurk, German pronunciation: [ɡʊʁk] ; Latin: Corcoras) is a river in southeastern Slovenia (the traditional region of Lower Carniola), a right tributary of the Sava. With a length of 94.6 km (58.8 mi),[2] it is the second-longest river flowing in its entirety in Slovenia, following the Savinja.[1]
| Krka | |
|---|---|
 The Krka in its upper part near Žužemberk | |
 | |
| Location | |
| Country | Slovenia |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Gradiček |
| • coordinates | 45°53′22″N 14°46′17″E / 45.88944°N 14.77139°E |
| • elevation | 275 m (902 ft) [1] |
| Mouth | |
• location | The Sava |
• coordinates | 45°53′37″N 15°36′1″E / 45.89361°N 15.60028°E |
• elevation | 141 m (463 ft) [1] |
| Length | 94.6 km (58.8 mi) [2] |
| Basin size | 2,247 km2 (868 sq mi) [2] |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Sava→ Danube→ Black Sea |
Name
editThe name Krka was first attested in written sources in 799 as Corca (and as Gurke in 1025, and in Gurka fluvio in 1249). The Slovene name is derived from Slavic *Kъrka, based on the Romance name *Corcra or *Corca, derived in turn from Corcora. Many rivers had this name, or similar names, in antiquity. The name is believed to be of pre-Romance origin and may be based on onomatopoeia.[3]
Sources
editThe Krka sources in a karst spring, lying in a pocket valley below Krka Cave, north of the village of Krka, around 25 km (16 mi) southeast of Ljubljana, before flowing southeast. In heavy downpours, water bursts through the main entrance of Krka Cave and flows in a torrential waterfall over the steps in front of it.
Course
editThe river passes the town of Žužemberk, Dolenjske Toplice, the town of Novo Mesto, Otočec Castle, and Kostanjevica na Krki, to meet the Sava at Brežice near the Croatian border. Its largest tributary is the Prečna, the continuation of the Temenica River.[4]
References
edit- ^ a b c Rivers, longer than 25 km, and their catchment areas, Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia
- ^ a b c "Sava River Basin Analysis Report" (PDF). International Sava River Basin Commission. September 2009. p. 13. Archived from the original (PDF, 9.98 MB) on 17 July 2010.
- ^ Snoj, Marko (2009). Etimološki slovar slovenskih zemljepisnih imen (in Slovenian). Ljubljana: Modrijan. pp. 214–215.
- ^ Ašič, Zala (2008). Geografska zasnova zavarovanja reke Krke kot naravnega spomenika v Mestni občini Novo mesto [Geographical Design of the Krka River Cover as a Natural Monument in the Municipality of Novo Mesto] (PDF) (in Slovenian and English). Department of Geography, Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana. p. 24. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 February 2014.
External links
edit
- Krka (od izvira do sotočja) An Interactive map of the Krka from source to confluence. Burger.si. Accessed 18 April 2012.
- Condition of Krka - graphs, in the following order, of water level and temperature data for the past 30 days (taken in Podbočje by ARSO)