Neretva
The Neretva, also known as Narenta, is one of the largest rivers of the eastern part of the Adriatic basin. Four hydroelectric power plants with large dams provide flood protection, electricity and water storage. The Neretva is recognized for its natural environment and diverse landscapes.
Freshwater ecosystems have suffered from an increasing population and the associated development pressures. One of the most valuable natural resources of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia is its freshwater resource, contained by an abundant wellspring and clear rivers. Situated between the major regional rivers the Neretva basin contains the most significant source of drinking water.
The Neretva is notable among rivers of the Dinaric Alps region, especially regarding its diverse ecosystems and habitats, flora and fauna, cultural and historic heritage.
Its name has been suggested to come from the Indo-European root *ner, meaning "to dive". The same root is seen in the Serbo-Croatian root "roniti".
Geography and hydrology
The Neretva flows through Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia before reaching the Adriatic Sea. It is the largest karst river in the Dinaric Alps in the eastern part of the Adriatic basin/watershed. Its total length is, of which are in Bosnia and Herzegovina, while the final are in the Dubrovnik-Neretva County of Croatia.The Neretva watershed is in total; in Bosnia and Herzegovina with the addition of the Trebišnjica river watershed and in Croatia,. The average discharge at profile Žitomislići in Bosnia and Herzegovina is and at the mouth in Croatia is in addition to the Trebišnjica River's. The Trebišnjica River basin is included in the Neretva watershed due to a physical link of the two basins by the porous karst terrain.
The hydrological parameters of Neretva are regularly monitored in Croatia at Metković.
Sections
Geographically and hydrologically the Neretva is divided into three sections.Its source and headwaters gorge are situated deep in the Dinaric Alps at the base of the Zelengora and Lebršnik mountains, specifically under the Gredelj saddle. The river source is at 1,227 meters above sea level and consists of five small and distinct wellsprings. On its 90 kilometers course through the first section the Neretva cuts two distinct deep and narrow canyons and two distinct wide and fertile valleys, around Ulog and then Župa Komska, wider area around Glavatičevo, before it reaches the town of Konjic. This section is also better known as the Upper Neretva, and here the river flows generally from east-southeast to north-northwest as do most rivers in Bosnia and Herzegovina belonging to the Danube watershed, and covers some with an average elevation of 1.2%. Right below Konjic, the Neretva again expands into a third and largest valley which provided fertile agricultural land before it was flooded by large artificial reservoir, Jablaničko Lake, formed after construction of a Jablanica Dam near town of Jablanica.
File:Nejuzsi misto kanonu Neretvy.jpg|200px|thumb| The Neretva rich fresh water karstic aquifer - Second of three distinct canyons, just downstream of Glavatičevo and before Konjic
The second section begins from the confluence of the Neretva and the Rama between Konjic and Jablanica where the Neretva suddenly takes 180-degree turn toward east-southeast and flows a short stretch before it reaches the town of Jablanica, from which point turns again toward south. From Jablanica, the Neretva enters third and the largest canyon on its course, running through the steep slopes of the mountains of Prenj, Čvrsnica and Čabulja reaching in depth. Three hydroelectric dams operate between Jablanica and Mostar.
When the Neretva expands for the second and final time, it reaches its third section. This area is often colloquially called the "Bosnian and Herzegovinian California". The last of its course forms wide alluvial delta, before the river empties into the Adriatic Sea.
Tributaries
The right tributaries of the Neretva are: Tatinac, the Gornji Krupac and Donji Krupac, Ljuta, Jesenica, Bjelimićka Rijeka, Slatinica, Račica, Rakitnica, Ljuta, Trešanica, Neretvica, Rama, Doljanka, Drežanka, Grabovica, Radobolja, and the Trebižat. From the left the Neretva receives Jezernica, Živanjski Potok, Lađanica, Krupac, Bukovica, Šištica with its Šištica Waterfall, Bijela, Baščica, Glogošnica, the Mostarska Bijela, Buna,Bregava, and the Krupa.Towns and villages
Towns and villages on the Neretva include Ulog, Glavatičevo, Konjic, Čelebići, Ostrožac, Jablanica, Grabovica, Drežnica, Bijelo polje, Vrapčići, Mostar, Buna village, the historical town of Blagaj, Žitomislići, the historical village of Počitelj, Tasovčići, Čapljina, and Gabela in Bosnia and Herzegovina; and Metković, Opuzen, Komin, Rogotin, and Ploče in Croatia. The biggest town on the Neretva River is Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina.Upper Neretva
The upper course of the Neretva river is simply called the Upper Neretva . It includes numerous streams and well-springs, three major glacial lakes near the river and more lakes scattered across the mountains of Treskavica and Zelengora in the wider area, mountains, peaks and forests, flora and fauna of the area. The Upper Neretva has water of Class I purity. Rising from the base of the Zelengora and Lebršnik Mountain, Neretva headwaters run in undisturbed rapids and waterfalls, carving steep gorges reaching in depth.Rakitnica River
The Rakitnica is the main tributary of the first section . The Rakitnica River forms a long canyon, out of its length, that stretches between Bjelašnica and Visočica to the southeast from Sarajevo.Middle Neretva
Hydrographically the Middle Neretva section begins from the town of Konjic, but after the construction of Jablanica Hydroelectric Power Station and flooding of the large fertile valley between Konjic and Jablanica, known simply as "Neretva" since Middle Ages. The new point for hydrographical division became the dam of the Jablanica HPP where there also is a place of confluence of the rivers Neretva and Rama. Here the Neretva river suddenly takes an almost 180° turn towards the east-southeast and flows for a short leg before it reaches the town of Jablanica. From this point it turns again toward the south and enters the third and largest canyon on its course, running through the steep slopes of the mountains of Prenj, Čvrsnica, and Čabulja, reaching between in depth. This section is characterized by a steep and relatively narrow canyon, and rugged karstic geology and hydrology.Four enormous vale-size rifts appear in the mountainsides forming canyon walls, two from each side of the river, intersecting with the main canyon almost perpendicularly. The Neretva receives only four small streams in this section, all running through these side vales, which are relatively short. Going downstream from Jablanica, the first two from each side are the Glogošnica stream, its eponymous canyon and small village on the left, and the Grabovica stream with its eponymous canyon and historical village, from the right side. Further downstream two much larger vales appear again on each side, first on the right the stream of Drežanka and its large and steep valley, with two eponymous villages, Donja and Gornja Drežnica, and than Mostarska Bijela, as one of the most pristine vales in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with its eponymous uniquely characteristic subterranean stream, embedded deep into the Prenj mountain, on the left.
Although these streams are of low outflow, there are also numerous wellsprings rising on both sides of the canyon at the river banks, with high-capacity discharge.
Three large hydroelectric power stations operate in this section of the Neretva, between Jablanica and Mostar, namely Grabovica HPP, Salakovac HPP and Mostar HPP.
Lakes
is a large artificial lake on the Neretva river, right below Konjic where the Neretva expands into a wide valley. The river provided fertile, agricultural land before the lake flooded most of it. The lake was created in 1953 after construction of a large gravitational hydroelectric dam near Jablanica in central Bosnia and Herzegovina. The lake has an irregular, elongated shape, and its width varies along its length. The lake is a popular vacation destination.Lower Neretva
Downstream from the confluence of its tributaries, the Trebižat and Bregava Rivers, the valley spreads into an alluvial fan covering. The upper valley, the 7,411 hectares in Bosnia and Herzegovina, is called Hutovo Blato.Hutovo Blato wetlands
The Neretva Delta has been recognised as a Ramsar site since 1992, and Hutovo Blato since 2001. Both areas form one integrated Ramsar site that is a natural entity divided by the state border. The Important Bird Areas programme, conducted by Birdlife International, covers protected areas in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.Since 1995, Hutovo Blato has been protected as Hutovo Blato Nature Park and managed by a public authority. The whole zone is protected from human impact and provides habitat for many plants and animals. The historical site Old Fortress Hutovo Blato is in the Nature Park.
Gornje Blato-Deransko Lake is supplied by the karstic water sources of the Trebišnjica River, emerging from bordering hills. It is hydro-geologically connected to the Neretva River through its effluent, the Krupa River, formed out of five lakes. Large portions are permanently flooded and isolated by wide groves of reedbebds and trees. It represents a more interesting preserved area.