Drava
Encyclopedia
Drava or Drave is a river in southern Central Europe
, a tributary
of the Danube
. It sources in Toblach
/Dobbiaco, Italy
, and flows east through East Tirol and Carinthia
in Austria
, into Slovenia
(142 km), and then southeast, passing through Croatia
and forming most of the border between Croatia and Hungary
, before it joins the Danube near Osijek
.
the river was called Dravus. The name is most likely Celtic
or pre-Celtic in origin (see Old European hydronymy
). The Drava and Spöl are the only two rivers that originate in Italy and drain into the Danube drainage basin
. It is the fourth largest and longest Danube tributary. The Gail
in Austria, the Meža
and Dravinja
in Slovenia, and the Bednja in Croatia from the right; the Gurk
and the Lavant
in Austria, and the Mur (near Legrad
) in Croatia from the left are its main tributaries.
The Drava flows through Innichen
/San Candido in Italy, Lienz
, Spittal an der Drau
, Villach
, and Ferlach
in Austria, Dravograd
, Vuzenica
, Muta
, Ruše, Maribor
, Ptuj
, and Ormož
in Slovenia, Varaždin
and Osijek
in Croatia, and Barcs
in Hungary, being navigable for about 90 km from Čađavica in Croatia to its outfall.
The hydrological parameters of Drava are regularly monitored in Croatia at Botovo, Terezino Polje
, Donji Miholjac
and Osijek
.
Central Europe
Central Europe or alternatively Middle Europe is a region of the European continent lying between the variously defined areas of Eastern and Western Europe...
, a tributary
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the Danube
Danube
The Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
. It sources in Toblach
Toblach
Toblach is a comune/Gemeinde in South Tyrol in the Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, located in the Puster Valley about 110 km northeast of the city of Trento and about 70 km northeast of the city of Bolzano, on the border with Austria.As of November 30, 2010, it had a...
/Dobbiaco, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, and flows east through East Tirol and Carinthia
Carinthia (state)
Carinthia is the southernmost Austrian state or Land. Situated within the Eastern Alps it is chiefly noted for its mountains and lakes.The main language is German. Its regional dialects belong to the Southern Austro-Bavarian group...
in Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, into 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...
(142 km), and then southeast, passing through Croatia
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 forming most of the border between Croatia and Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, before it joins the Danube near Osijek
Osijek
Osijek is the fourth largest city in Croatia with a population of 83,496 in 2011. It is the largest city and the economic and cultural centre of the eastern Croatian region of Slavonia, as well as the administrative centre of Osijek-Baranja county...
.
Overview
In the ancient timesAncient history
Ancient history is the study of the written past from the beginning of recorded human history to the Early Middle Ages. The span of recorded history is roughly 5,000 years, with Cuneiform script, the oldest discovered form of coherent writing, from the protoliterate period around the 30th century BC...
the river was called Dravus. The name is most likely Celtic
Celtic languages
The Celtic languages are descended from Proto-Celtic, or "Common Celtic"; a branch of the greater Indo-European language family...
or pre-Celtic in origin (see Old European hydronymy
Old European hydronymy
Old European is the term used by Hans Krahe for the language of the oldest reconstructed stratum of European hydronymy in Central and Western Europe...
). The Drava and Spöl are the only two rivers that originate in Italy and drain into the Danube drainage basin
Danube
The Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
. It is the fourth largest and longest Danube tributary. The Gail
Gail River
Gail is the name of a river in the Southern Limestone Alps of southern Austria, a right tributary of the Drava River.Originating in the Tyrolean municipality of Obertilliach, it flows from west to east, reaching Carinthia in Lesachtal, running through the Gail Valley parallel to the borders with...
in Austria, the Meža
Meža
The Meža is a long river in Carinthia, Slovenia. It has its source on the Austrian side of the state border near Mount Olševa, becomes subterranean a kilometer from its source, and reappears on the surface in Koprivna near Črna na Koroškem, Slovenia. It is the central river of the Mežica Valley...
and Dravinja
Dravinja
The Dravinja River is the largest tributary of the Drava River in Slovenia. It is long. Its source is on the Pohorje Massif southwest of Mount Rogla about 1,150 m above sea level. The river passes Zreče, the town of Slovenske Konjice, the ruins of the fort at Zbelovo, Poljčane, Makole, Štatenberg...
in Slovenia, and the Bednja in Croatia from the right; the Gurk
Gurk River
The Gurk is a river in Carinthia, Austria. It is the second longest river in that state after the Drava.A northern tributary of the river Drava, the 120 km long Gurk flows from under Nock Mountains, near the border of Austrian provinces of Styria and Carinthia. Its sources are two small lakes, the...
and the Lavant
Lavant River
The Lavant is a left tributary of the Drava in the Austrian state of Carinthia. It originates in the small Lavantsee at the southern slope of the Zirbenkogel mountain in Styria, then turns southeastwards and after 7 miles reaches the border to Carinthia...
in Austria, and the Mur (near Legrad
Legrad
Legrad is a municipality in northern Croatia, located north of Koprivnica and east of Ludbreg in the Koprivnica–Križevci County. There are 2,764 inhabitants in the municipality, absolute majority of which are Croats, besides whom there is also a Hungarian minority...
) in Croatia from the left are its main tributaries.
The Drava flows through Innichen
Innichen
Innichen is a market town and comune in South Tyrol in the Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol.It is located in the Puster Valley on the Drava river, about 120 km northeast of Trento and about 80 km northeast of Bolzano , on Italy's border with Austria.As November 2010, it had a...
/San Candido in Italy, Lienz
Lienz
Lienz is a medieval town in the Austrian state of Tyrol. It is the administrative centre of the Lienz district, which covers all of East Tyrol. The municipality also includes the cadastral subdivision of Patriasdorf.-Geography:...
, Spittal an der Drau
Spittal an der Drau
Spittal an der Drau is located in the western part of the Austrian federal state of Carinthia and the administrative centre of the federal state's second largest district, Spittal an der Drau. It lies between the Lurnfeld area and the Lower Drava Valley. The city consists of the seven...
, Villach
Villach
Villach is the second largest city in the Carinthia state in the southern Austria, at the Drava River and represents an important traffic junction for Austria and the whole Alpe-Adria region. , the population is 58,480.-History:...
, and Ferlach
Ferlach
Ferlach is the southernmost town in Austria, about 17 km south of the Carinthian capital Klagenfurt. It is situated in the Rosental/Rož Valley of the Drava River, at the northern slope of the Karawanken mountain range...
in Austria, Dravograd
Dravograd
Dravograd is a small town and a municipality in northern Slovenia, close to the border with Austria. It lies on the Drava River at the confluence with the Meža and the Mislinja. It is part of the traditional Slovenian province of Carinthia)....
, Vuzenica
Vuzenica
Vuzenica is a town and a municipality in northern Slovenia. It lies on the right bank of the Drava River and extends south into the Pohorje Hills. The area was part of the traditional region of Styria. It is now included in the Carinthia statistical region...
, Muta
Muta, Slovenia
Muta is a town and a municipality in the Carinthia region of northern Slovenia.The parish church in the settlement is dedicated to Saint Margaret and belongs to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Maribor. It was first mentioned in written documents dating to 1349. In the 17th century it was...
, Ruše, Maribor
Maribor
Maribor is the second largest city in Slovenia with 157,947 inhabitants . Maribor is also the largest and the capital city of Slovenian region Lower Styria and the seat of the Municipality of Maribor....
, Ptuj
Ptuj
Ptuj is a city and one of 11 urban municipalities in Slovenia. Traditionally the area was part of the Lower Styria region. The municipality is now included in the Podravje statistical region...
, and Ormož
Ormož
Ormož is a town and municipality in northeastern Slovenia. It lies on the left bank of the Drava River and borders with Croatia on the opposite bank of the river....
in Slovenia, Varaždin
Varaždin
Varaždin is a city in north Croatia, north of Zagreb on the highway A4. The total population is 47,055, with 38,746 on of the city settlement itself . The centre of Varaždin county is located near the Drava river, at...
and Osijek
Osijek
Osijek is the fourth largest city in Croatia with a population of 83,496 in 2011. It is the largest city and the economic and cultural centre of the eastern Croatian region of Slavonia, as well as the administrative centre of Osijek-Baranja county...
in Croatia, and Barcs
Barcs
Barcs is a border town in Somogy, Hungary. The Drava River flows through the town.-Geography:The town located at near to the Croatian borders, and surrounded by the Danube-Drava National Park.-Tourist sights:...
in Hungary, being navigable for about 90 km from Čađavica in Croatia to its outfall.
The hydrological parameters of Drava are regularly monitored in Croatia at Botovo, Terezino Polje
Terezino Polje
Terezino Polje is a village in Croatia, on the border with Hungary. It is connected by the D5 highway to Virovitica in the south and the eponymous border crossing over the Drava to Barcs, Hungary in the north....
, Donji Miholjac
Donji Miholjac
-Geography:Donji Miholjac is located on the river Drava at the border with Hungary, 34 km north of Našice; elevation 97 m.-Economy:Chief occupations are farming, rubber and plastics processing, production of vinegar, soft drinks and pasta.-Population:...
and Osijek
Osijek
Osijek is the fourth largest city in Croatia with a population of 83,496 in 2011. It is the largest city and the economic and cultural centre of the eastern Croatian region of Slavonia, as well as the administrative centre of Osijek-Baranja county...
.