Kupa (river)
Encyclopedia
The Kupa or Kolpa (Slovene) river forms a natural border between north-west Croatia
and southeast Slovenia
.
The Kupa originates in Croatia in the mountainous region of Gorski kotar
, northeast of Rijeka
, in the area of Risnjak National Park
. It flows a few kilometers eastwards, receives the small river Čabranka from the left, before reaching the Slovenian border.
It then continues eastwards, receives influx from the river Lahinja
from the left in Primostek
, passes Vrbovsko
, and eventually detaches from the Slovenian border in Metlika
. It then reaches the city of Karlovac
, where it receives influx from two other rivers from the right, Dobra
and Korana
(which in turn is joined by Mrežnica
).
It continues flowing to the east, where it merges with Glina
from the right as well as Odra from the left, and proceeds to the city of Sisak
where it flows into the Sava.
The hydrological parameters of Kupa are regularly monitored at Radenci
, Kamanje
, Karlovac
and Jamnička Kiselica.
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
and southeast Slovenia
Slovenia
Slovenia , officially the Republic of Slovenia , is a country in Central and Southeastern Europe touching the Alps and bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia borders Italy to the west, Croatia to the south and east, Hungary to the northeast, and Austria to the north, and also has a small portion of...
.
The Kupa originates in Croatia in the mountainous region of Gorski kotar
Gorski kotar
Gorski kotar is the mountainous region in Croatia between Karlovac and Rijeka. Together with Lika and the Ogulin-Plaški valley it forms Mountainous Croatia. Because 63% of its surface is forested it is popularly called the green lungs of Croatia or Croatian Switzerland...
, northeast of Rijeka
Rijeka
Rijeka is the principal seaport and the third largest city in Croatia . It is located on Kvarner Bay, an inlet of the Adriatic Sea and has a population of 128,735 inhabitants...
, in the area of Risnjak National Park
Risnjak National Park
Risnjak National Park is a national park in Croatia. It is located in Gorski kotar, the most mountainous and heavily forested region of the country, about 15 km inland from the Adriatic Sea. The park covers an area of 63.5 square kilometers including the central part of Risnjak and Snježnik...
. It flows a few kilometers eastwards, receives the small river Čabranka from the left, before reaching the Slovenian border.
It then continues eastwards, receives influx from the river Lahinja
Lahinja
Lahinja is a river in White Carniola, the extreme southeastern part of Slovenia. It is long and originates from several karstic sources at the end of a steephead valley between the villages of Knežina, Belčji Vrh, and Mali Nerajec....
from the left in Primostek
Primostek
Primostek is a village in the Metlika municipality in the Bela Krajina area of southeastern Slovenia. It lies on the right bank of the river Lahinja, close to its confluence with the Kolpa, next to the border with Croatia. The entire area is part of the traditional region of Lower Carniola and is...
, passes Vrbovsko
Vrbovsko
Vrbovsko is a town in western Croatia, situated at the far east of the mountainous region of Gorski kotar in the Primorje-Gorski Kotar county; on its 280 square kilometers area, Vrbovsko features 60 settlements and a total of 5,019 inhabitants...
, and eventually detaches from the Slovenian border in Metlika
Metlika
Metlika is a town and municipality in the southeastern Slovenia. It lies on the left bank of the river Kolpa on the border with Croatia. The municipality is at the heart of the area of Bela Krajina, the southeastern part of the traditional region of Lower Carniola. It is now included in the...
. It then reaches the city of Karlovac
Karlovac
Karlovac is a city and municipality in central Croatia. The city proper has a population of 49,082, while the municipality has a population of 59,395 inhabitants .Karlovac is the administrative centre of Karlovac County...
, where it receives influx from two other rivers from the right, Dobra
Dobra
-Geography:rivers:* Dobra , a tributary of the Kupa river, Croatia* Dobra , a river in the Amieva district of Asturias, Spainsettlements* Dobrá, Frýdek-Místek, a village in the Moravian-Silesian Region, Czech Republic...
and Korana
Korana
The Korana is a river in central Croatia and west Bosnia and Herzegovina. The river has a total length of and watershed area of .It rises in the eastern parts of Lika, creates the world-famous Plitvice Lakes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Downstream from Plitvice Lakes the Korana river forms a 25...
(which in turn is joined by Mrežnica
Mreznica
The Mrežnica is a river in Karlovac County, Croatia.It is long and its basin covers an area of .Mrežnica is considered special due to its large number of waterfalls, totalling 93...
).
It continues flowing to the east, where it merges with Glina
Glina (river)
Glina is a river in central Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, a right tributary of Kupa. It is long and its basin covers an area of .Glina rises in the mountainous forested areas of Kordun, northeast of Slunj, near the village of Glinsko Vrelo . It flows north before turning east near the...
from the right as well as Odra from the left, and proceeds to the city of Sisak
Sisak
Sisak is a city in central Croatia. The city's population in 2011 was 33,049, with a total of 49,699 in the administrative region and it is also the administrative centre of the Sisak-Moslavina county...
where it flows into the Sava.
The hydrological parameters of Kupa are regularly monitored at Radenci
Radenci
Radenci is a town and a municipality on the right bank of the Mura River in the Mura statistical region of northeastern Slovenia. It is a well-known spa town and was first mentioned in written documents dating to 1436. After 1833, when a new source of mineral water was discovered, it developed...
, Kamanje
Kamanje
Kamanje is a village in Croatia....
, Karlovac
Karlovac
Karlovac is a city and municipality in central Croatia. The city proper has a population of 49,082, while the municipality has a population of 59,395 inhabitants .Karlovac is the administrative centre of Karlovac County...
and Jamnička Kiselica.