Bosnia and Herzegovina is widely known for its clean and pristine waters. In the high mountains, the rivers spring and feed on mountain streams, then they pave their way through the canyons to the south. All Bosnian and Herzegovinian rivers belong to the Black Sea and Adriatic basin.
Most of the big rivers in Bosnia and Herzegovina flow into Sava, the largest tributary of the Danube River, which flows along the border between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia and flows into the Black Sea, while Neretva is the only river that flows into the Adriatic Sea.
262 smaller or larger rivers are recorded in Bosnia and Herzegovina, thus it can be rightly said that our country is the land of rivers. We present you the ten most beautiful rivers in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Una – springs below the slopes of the mountains of Plješevica and Stražbenice in Croatia. The lenght of this river is about 212.5 kilometers. Small part it forms the western border of B&H and Croatia. Una is a home to 28 different species of fish that can reach weigh of more than 30 kilograms. River Una is unique in its pure water, waterfalls, cascades, olm, and in the opinion of many it is the most beautiful river in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where an important tourist and sport event Una regatta is held every year.
Neretva – a river which belongs to the Adriatic basin. It springs below the mountains of Zelengora and Lebršnik, flows through Bosnia and Herzegovina in a length of 225 kilometers. Neretva has all the characteristics of a mountain river and is considered one of the coldest in the world. It is very attractive due to its emerald green color, purity and richness of fish, but also because of the fact that its specific parts are suitable for rafting.
Drina – a river in eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina, which in its lower course forms a natural border between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia. It is formed by merging of the Montenegrin Rivers Tara and Piva in Šćepan Polje. Its length of about 346 kilometers passes through many places in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Surrounding mountain Tara, the Drina River made a magnificent canyon that reaches a depth of 1,000 meters and is considered one of the most beautiful canyons in the world. The Drina River in its particular parts is extremely attractive for rafting and other water sports.
Trebižat – a river in Herzegovina, in the south of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The largest tributary of the Neretva, when the entire course of this river is considered, which springs and ponies several times, due to which it has several names. In the municipality of Ljubuški, Trebižat creates two attractive wonders of the nature: Kravice and Kočuša waterfalls. It is extremely suitable for water sports.
Buna – the river in Bosnia and Herzegovina, left tributary of Neretva, which flows about 15 kilometers downstream of Mostar, in the town of Buna. It is nine kilometers long and has two tributaries: Posrt, which is a non-constant tributary, meaning it exists only in winter, and Bunica, which is a constant tributary, and it flows into Buna north of the town Buna. The highest water levels are in November, and the lowest in July and August. Immediately below the spring in Blagaj there is a meadow and a trout farm. It is rich in Adriatic trout, and in the lower course of the rive rit is rich in eel. There is also Bunski kanal in the stream, a true jewel of nature.
Vrbas – river and tributary of Sava in the western part of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is formed on the Zec Mountain (branch of Vranica Mountain). The Vrbas River drains the composite valley, passing through Skopaljska valley, Vinačka klisura, Jajce valley, the canyon valley Tijesno, Banja Luka valley, and in the lower flow through Lijevče field. Going south, Vrbas created a fantastic canyon in which there are series of natural rarities. River rapids, waterfalls, cascades, beaches, surrounding rocks, and the richness of the plant and animal world make this area special. The specificity of this river are also the Banja Luka boats – dajaks, named after a pole that serves to push the boat.
Sana – the river in Bosnian Krajina and the right tributary of the Una River, in the far west of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The name of the river was derived from the Latin word “Aqua Sanus”, which means “healthy water”. Sana springs from three strong karst springs, in the karst plateau near the village Donja Pecka and Jasenovi Potoci, municipality of Mrkonjić Grad. After approximately 1.5 km, these three springs connect in one flow. In the lower stream, from spring to the town of Ključ, Sana is a very cold and clean river. In the course of Ključ to Sanski Most it can be characterized as a transitional river and in that part of the stream, in the village of Vrhpolje, Sana receives its largest tributary, the river Sanica which flows from the direction of Grmeč. From Sanski Most, Sana loses all the features of the karst river and takes on the characteristics of a normal river flow.
Rakitnica – river in Bosnia and Herzegovina, right tributary of Neretva. Rakitnica flows through 26 kilometer long canyon, which is in places deep up to 1,000 meters, and in some places it is only one to two meters wide. The canyon is located between Bjelašnica and Visočica southeast of Sarajevo. Rakitnica is a home of trout and otters and they are the evidence of water quality. The “Tourist Route” traces the last 6-7 kilometers of the Rakitnica canyon to the mouth of the Neretva River, which meanders around the final bends around the top Oštro. The term “tourist” also provides an extraordinary experience, but demanding and not completely harmless, because it requires good physical readiness, low temperatures resistence, and agillity in the water.
Trebišnjica – Herzegovinian sinking river, one of the biggest of such kind in Europe. It is 96.5 kilometers long, springs at an altitude of 398 meters. The waters of the Trebišnjica river also appear as the source of the Dubrovnik river Omble, and the largest part goes by underground flow into Neretva. The area of the Trebišnjica River basin is one of the richest areas when it comes to precipitation in Europe. One year average is 1,800 mm. In vincinity of Trebišnjica basin there is a place Crkvice which has the highest level of rainfall in Europe, an average of 4.900 mm per year.
Pliva – the river in the western part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the left tributary of Vrbas, 33 kilometers long. The river flows west-east. It emerges from the two strong springs at the foot of Mountain Smiljevac – Jastrebnjak at 483 meters above the sea level, and its mouth is in Jajce, where it builds a famous 22 meter high waterfall. Pliva makes two lakes, Malo and Veliko Plivsko Lake. Water in lakes does not freeze so boating is possible throughout the year. Pliva lakes are suitable for rowing sports, because water is considered to be “tough”.
