Morača
Encyclopedia
Morača is a river in Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...

. It originates in northern Montenegro, under Rzača mountain. It generally flows southwards for some 113 km (70.2 mi), before emptying into Lake Skadar.

In its northern part, the Morača is a fast mountain river, and has cut a canyon north of Podgorica
Podgorica
Podgorica , is the capital and largest city of Montenegro.Podgorica's favourable position at the confluence of the Ribnica and Morača rivers and the meeting point of the fertile Zeta Plain and Bjelopavlići Valley has encouraged settlement...

. After merging with its largest tributary, Zeta
Zeta River
Zeta is a river in Montenegro. It starts near Nikšić, under the Planinica hill flows eastwards for until it confluences into the Morača River just north of Podgorica....

, just north of Podgorica, the Morača enters the Zeta plain
Zeta plain
Zeta Plain is a fertile lowland in Montenegro. It stretches from Podgorica in the north to the Skadar Lake in the south. It is the biggest plains area in Montenegro, with an average elevation around above sea level....

. It flows through this flat area of Montenegro until it empties into Lake Skadar.

The Morača is a relatively small river, rarely more than 100 m (328.1 ft) wide and mostly shallow, so it is generally not navigable. Its canyon is currently a corridor for the main road leading from Montenegro's coast and Podgorica to northern Montenegro and Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...

. This road is considered very dangerous, and will likely be bypassed in future by a motorway which is currently being planned.

The Morača River is considered one of the symbols of Podgorica
Podgorica
Podgorica , is the capital and largest city of Montenegro.Podgorica's favourable position at the confluence of the Ribnica and Morača rivers and the meeting point of the fertile Zeta Plain and Bjelopavlići Valley has encouraged settlement...

, and is the biggest river that flows through the city. It is featured on some flags and country symbols.

The famous Morača monastery
Moraca monastery
Morača is a Serbian Orthodox monastery located in the valley of the Morača River in central Montenegro. It is one of the best known medieval monuments of Montenegro. It was founded in 1252 by Stefan, son of Vukan Nemanjić, the Grand Prince of Zeta, the grandson of Stefan Nemanja...

, founded in 1252 by Stefan, son of Vukan Nemanjić, king of Zeta
Principality of Zeta
Zeta was a medieval state, which territory encompassed parts of present-day Montenegro and Northernwestern Albania. From 1360. to 1421. Zeta was independent state administered by local noble family Balšić. From 1185. to 1360. and from 1421. - 1451, Zeta was province of medieval Serbia...

, is situated to the north part of the river's canyon.
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