Vrbas River
Encyclopedia
The Vrbas is a major river
in western Bosnia and Herzegovina
.
It is a right tributary of the river Sava. The city of Banja Luka
is located on the river banks. It lent its name to one of the provinces (banovinas) of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia
, the Vrbas Banovina
.
The Vrbas river appears at the southern slope of the Vranica mountain near the town of Gornji Vakuf
, at around 1530 meters above sea level and it drains central part of the northern slopes of the Dinaric mountain massif. It empties into the Sava river at around 90 meters above sea level. Total length of the main watercourse is around 235 km.
Average annual rainfall is around 800 l/m2 at the mouth of the Vrbas to the Sava river and up to 1500 l/m2 in the southern part of the basin. Characteristic mean flow is around 34,6 l/s/km2 Maximum rainfall occurs in the southern parts of the Vrbas basin in the late autumn and winter months, with minimum quantities in summer, whereas the northern parts of the basin receive the largest quantities of rain during the summer months (June-July), with the maximum in November and December. The most important tributaries are Pliva
, Ugar, Crna Rijeka
and Vrbanja which are located in the middle part of the basin.
"Vrbas" means "willow" in Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian and a number of weeping willow trees adorn the river banks in Banja Luka.
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
in western Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
.
It is a right tributary of the river Sava. The city of Banja Luka
Banja Luka
-History:The name "Banja Luka" was first mentioned in a document dated February 6, 1494, but Banja Luka's history dates back to ancient times. There is a substantial evidence of the Roman presence in the region during the first few centuries A.D., including an old fort "Kastel" in the centre of...
is located on the river banks. It lent its name to one of the provinces (banovinas) of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia
Kingdom of Yugoslavia
The Kingdom of Yugoslavia was a state stretching from the Western Balkans to Central Europe which existed during the often-tumultuous interwar era of 1918–1941...
, the Vrbas Banovina
Vrbas Banovina
The Vrbas Banovina or Vrbas Banate was a province of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia between 1929 and 1941. It was named after the Vrbas River and consisted mostly of territory in western Bosnia with its capital at Banja Luka...
.
The Vrbas river appears at the southern slope of the Vranica mountain near the town of Gornji Vakuf
Gornji Vakuf
Gornji Vakuf-Uskoplje is a town and municipality in Central Bosnia , located between Bugojno, Prozor, Kupres, Novi Travnik and Konjic. It is under the administration of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina...
, at around 1530 meters above sea level and it drains central part of the northern slopes of the Dinaric mountain massif. It empties into the Sava river at around 90 meters above sea level. Total length of the main watercourse is around 235 km.
Average annual rainfall is around 800 l/m2 at the mouth of the Vrbas to the Sava river and up to 1500 l/m2 in the southern part of the basin. Characteristic mean flow is around 34,6 l/s/km2 Maximum rainfall occurs in the southern parts of the Vrbas basin in the late autumn and winter months, with minimum quantities in summer, whereas the northern parts of the basin receive the largest quantities of rain during the summer months (June-July), with the maximum in November and December. The most important tributaries are Pliva
Pliva River
Pliva is relatively small river in central parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina, however one of the most significant in terms of natural, cultural and historical heritage and value as a natural rarity...
, Ugar, Crna Rijeka
Crna Rijeka
Crna Rijeka is a village in the municipality of Novi Grad, Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina.-References:...
and Vrbanja which are located in the middle part of the basin.
"Vrbas" means "willow" in Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian and a number of weeping willow trees adorn the river banks in Banja Luka.