Toplica River
Encyclopedia
The Toplica is the river in southern Serbia
. The river is 130 km long and gives its name to the whole region it flows through, which constitutes most of the modern Toplica District
of Serbia.
mountain, just south of the highest peak, Pančićev vrh. It flows to the southeast, on the western slopes of the Lepa Gora
mountain, next to the villages of Merćez, Selova, Žuč, Miljeviće and Dankoviće. At the monastery of Mačkovac, it reaches the northern side of the Radan
mountain and turns to the east. This is also where the Toplica receives from the right its major tributary, Kosanica
. Near the mouth are located city of Kuršumlija
and medieval ruins of 'Marina kula' (The tower of Mara), and this is where Toplica region begins.
, Vidojevica
and Pasjača
from the south, with many smaller settlements on the river: Donje Krmčare, Grabovnica, Bogojeva, Barlovo, Donje Točane, Donji Pločnik, Tulare, Donja Konjuša, Donja Toponica, and the center of the whole region, the city of Prokuplje
. The river continues on the northern slopes of mountain Pasjača
, next to the villages of Podina, Voljčince, Badnjevac and the smaller regional center Žitorađa. After the Toplica reaches municipal center of Doljevac
, it enters the most densely populated part of the south Pomoravlje
, turns north and flows into the Južna Morava
at the village of Orljane, across the medieval ruins of Kurvin grad, as Južna Morava's longest left tributary.
drainage basin
with its own drainage area of 2,600 km³. The river is not navigable.
The river valley is a major traffic route in southern Serbia as both road and railway (Transbalkanic rail) pass through here. It connects northern and eastern Serbia with Kosovo and Metohija over the Prepolac ridge and Merdare
.
Above the Prokuplje, the Toplica curves around the huge rock, almost making it an island. The picturesque hill, the Hisar is the symbol of the city
Despite being fertile, the Toplica region is one of the highest depopulating areas of Serbia (population of 129.542 in 1971, or 58 per km²; population of 102.075 in 2002, or 45 per km²; down 22%).
in World War I
). The Toplica rebellion (Serbian: Toplički ustanak/Топлички устанак) broke out because of the many atrocities of the Bulgarian army (mass slaughters, pillage and burning of the houses and forceful drafting of the Serbian population into the Bulgarian army). Initially, under the leadership of Kosta Vojinoviċ (1890-1917), rebels had some success, liberating many places in the area (at that time, Niški okrug). All three occupying forces in Serbia, Austro-Hungary, Germany
and Bulgaria, joined forces and brought three artillery divisions in the area, crushing the rebellion in blood (several thousand killed, mostly civilians).
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...
. The river is 130 km long and gives its name to the whole region it flows through, which constitutes most of the modern Toplica District
Toplica District
The Toplica District expands in the southern part of Serbia. It has a population of 90,600 and has been named after the river Toplica. Seat of the District is in the city of Prokuplje.-Municipalities:It encompasses the municipalities of:*Prokuplje*Blace...
of Serbia.
Upper course
The Toplica originates under the name of Duboka from the eastern slopes of the KopaonikKopaonik
Kopaonik ; is one of the larger mountain ranges of Serbia. It is located in the central part of Serbia, while a small portion extendeds to North Kosovo. Its highest point, Pančić's Peak, is above sea level....
mountain, just south of the highest peak, Pančićev vrh. It flows to the southeast, on the western slopes of the Lepa Gora
Lepa Gora
Lepa Gora is a mountain in southern Serbia, near the town of Kuršumlija. Its highest peak Crna čuka has an altitude of 1196 meters above sea level....
mountain, next to the villages of Merćez, Selova, Žuč, Miljeviće and Dankoviće. At the monastery of Mačkovac, it reaches the northern side of the Radan
Radan
Radan may refer to:*Ahmad Reza Radan, Tehran's police chief, infamous for his crackdown on "unIslamic" hair and dress style*Bahram Radan , an award-winning Iranian actor, referred to in the West as the Iranian Brad Pitt...
mountain and turns to the east. This is also where the Toplica receives from the right its major tributary, Kosanica
Kosanica
The Kosanica is the river in southern Serbia. The river is 34 km long and gives its name to the area it flows through, which constitutes with the south part of Kuršumlija municipality in south Serbia....
. Near the mouth are located city of Kuršumlija
Kuršumlija
Kuršumlija is a town and municipality located in the south of Serbia, nearby the rivers Toplica, Kosanica and Banjska, on the southeast of mountain Kopaonik, and northwest of Radan Mountain...
and medieval ruins of 'Marina kula' (The tower of Mara), and this is where Toplica region begins.
Toplica region
The region is very fertile, especially for the grains, fruits and grapes (famous prokupačko vino, wine of Prokuplje). The central part of the region occupies Toplička (or Prokupačka) kotlina (Depression of Toplica/Prokuplje), between the mountains of Veliki Jastrebac from the north and SokolovicaSokolovica
'Sokolovica is a mountain in central Serbia, near the town of Prolom Banja. Its highest peak Sokolovac has an altitude of 1260 meters above sea level....
, Vidojevica
Vidojevica
Vidojevica is a mountain in central Serbia, near the town of Prokuplje. Its highest peak Bandera has an altitude of 1155 meters above sea level. On the top of the mountain, there is a new telescope station of the Astronomical Observatory of Belgrade....
and Pasjača
Pasjača
Pasjača can refer to:* Pasjača , village in Serbia* Pasjača , village* Pasjača , mountain in Serbia...
from the south, with many smaller settlements on the river: Donje Krmčare, Grabovnica, Bogojeva, Barlovo, Donje Točane, Donji Pločnik, Tulare, Donja Konjuša, Donja Toponica, and the center of the whole region, the city of Prokuplje
Prokuplje
Prokuplje is a town and municipality located in Serbia at 43.24° North, 21.59° East. According to 2011 census, the town has a total population of 27,163 inhabitants, while population of municipality is 43,631. It is the administrative center of the Toplica District of Serbia. It is one of the...
. The river continues on the northern slopes of mountain Pasjača
Pasjača
Pasjača can refer to:* Pasjača , village in Serbia* Pasjača , village* Pasjača , mountain in Serbia...
, next to the villages of Podina, Voljčince, Badnjevac and the smaller regional center Žitorađa. After the Toplica reaches municipal center of Doljevac
Doljevac
Doljevac is a village and municipality located in the Nišava District of Serbia. According to 2011 census, a village has a population of 1,657 inhabitants, while the municipality has 18,441.-Geography:...
, it enters the most densely populated part of the south Pomoravlje
Pomoravlje
Pomoravlje may refer to:* Pomoravlje , a geographical area around the Morava river, Serbia* Pomoravlje District, a district in Serbia...
, turns north and flows into the Južna Morava
Južna Morava
South Morava or in the past Bulgarian Morava is a river in the Republic of Macedonia and Serbia which represents the shorter headwater of Great Morava...
at the village of Orljane, across the medieval ruins of Kurvin grad, as Južna Morava's longest left tributary.
Characteristics
The Toplica belongs to the Black SeaBlack Sea
The Black Sea is bounded by Europe, Anatolia and the Caucasus and is ultimately connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Mediterranean and the Aegean seas and various straits. The Bosphorus strait connects it to the Sea of Marmara, and the strait of the Dardanelles connects that sea to the Aegean...
drainage basin
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
with its own drainage area of 2,600 km³. The river is not navigable.
The river valley is a major traffic route in southern Serbia as both road and railway (Transbalkanic rail) pass through here. It connects northern and eastern Serbia with Kosovo and Metohija over the Prepolac ridge and Merdare
Merdare
Merdare is a village in the municipality of Kuršumlija, Serbia. According to the 2002 census, the village has a population of 139 people. Merdare will be the end point of the Kosovan part of the Albania-Kosovo Highway that will further continue into Serbia at the E80....
.
Above the Prokuplje, the Toplica curves around the huge rock, almost making it an island. The picturesque hill, the Hisar is the symbol of the city
Despite being fertile, the Toplica region is one of the highest depopulating areas of Serbia (population of 129.542 in 1971, or 58 per km²; population of 102.075 in 2002, or 45 per km²; down 22%).
Toplica rebellion
The region was the site of a rebellion of the local Serbian population against Bulgarian occupational forces in 1917 (as this part of Serbia was occupied by BulgariaBulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
). The Toplica rebellion (Serbian: Toplički ustanak/Топлички устанак) broke out because of the many atrocities of the Bulgarian army (mass slaughters, pillage and burning of the houses and forceful drafting of the Serbian population into the Bulgarian army). Initially, under the leadership of Kosta Vojinoviċ (1890-1917), rebels had some success, liberating many places in the area (at that time, Niški okrug). All three occupying forces in Serbia, Austro-Hungary, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Bulgaria, joined forces and brought three artillery divisions in the area, crushing the rebellion in blood (several thousand killed, mostly civilians).