Lahinja
Encyclopedia
Lahinja is a river
in White Carniola
, the extreme southeastern part of Slovenia
. It is 33.4 kilometres (20.8 mi) long and originates from several karstic sources at the end of a steephead valley
between the villages of Knežina
, Belčji Vrh
, and Mali Nerajec
.
In its upper part the river flows towards the north in a narrow bed with quite a shallow gradient, resulting in the fact that it meanders significantly. All of its major affluents join it from the west and all of them start with karstic sources. At Dragatuš
it receives a major tributary of Podturnščica, and at Črnomelj
of Dobličica. From the outflow of Podturnščica the bed of Lahinja is narrow and up to 20 meters deep, with numerous bends. At the vicinity of one of them stands the Gradac Castle. Whereas from Črnomelj to Gradac
the river has no surface affluents, below the Gradac it is joined by a water-rich and faster-flowing Krupa. After confluencing with Krupa, Lahinja turns towards the east. It joins Kolpa at Primostek
.
The Lahinja's river basin is asymmetric, as it receives the majority of its surface affluents from the right side. It is a part of the Sava river basin. From Knežina to Pusti Gradec
, along the first seven kilometers (4,5 mi) of Lahinja, extends the Lahinja Regional Park.
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 White Carniola
White Carniola
White Carniola is a traditional region in southeastern Slovenia on the border with Croatia and is the most southern part of the historical and traditional region of Lower Carniola. Its major towns are Metlika, Črnomelj, and Semič, and the principal river is the Kolpa, which also forms part of the...
, the extreme southeastern part of 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...
. It is 33.4 kilometres (20.8 mi) long and originates from several karstic sources at the end of a steephead valley
Steephead valley
A steephead valley, steephead or blind valley is a deep, narrow, flat bottomed valley with an abrupt ending. Such valleys arise in limestone or karst landscapes, where a layer of permeable rock lies above an impermeable substrate such as marl...
between the villages of Knežina
Knežina
Knežina is a settlement to the southeast of Dragatuš in the Črnomelj municipality in the Bela Krajina area of southeastern Slovenia. The area is part of the traditional region of Lower Carniola and is now included in the Jugovzhodna Slovenija statistical region.-External links:*...
, Belčji Vrh
Belčji Vrh
Belčji Vrh is a village to the south of the town of Črnomelj in the White Carniola area of southeastern Slovenia. The area is part of the traditional region of Lower Carniola and is now included in the Southeast Slovenia statistical region....
, and Mali Nerajec
Mali Nerajec
Mali Nerajec is a small settlement to the south of Dragatuš in the Črnomelj municipality in the Bela Krajina area of southeastern Slovenia. The area is part of the traditional region of Lower Carniola and is now included in the Jugovzhodna Slovenija statistical region.-External links:*...
.
In its upper part the river flows towards the north in a narrow bed with quite a shallow gradient, resulting in the fact that it meanders significantly. All of its major affluents join it from the west and all of them start with karstic sources. At Dragatuš
Dragatuš
Dragatuš is a village to the south of Črnomelj in the White Carniola area of southeastern Slovenia. The area is part of the traditional region of Lower Carniola and is now included in the Southeast Slovenia statistical region....
it receives a major tributary of Podturnščica, and at Črnomelj
Crnomelj
Črnomelj is a town and municipality in southeastern Slovenia. It lies on the left bank of the Lahinja and Dobličica rivers. The municipality is at the heart of the area of White Carniola, the southeastern part of the traditional region of Lower Carniola...
of Dobličica. From the outflow of Podturnščica the bed of Lahinja is narrow and up to 20 meters deep, with numerous bends. At the vicinity of one of them stands the Gradac Castle. Whereas from Črnomelj to Gradac
Gradac, Slovenia
Gradac is a settlement in the Municipality of Metlika in the White Carniola area of southeastern Slovenia. It lies close to the border with Croatia on the river Lahinja. The area is part of the traditional region of Lower Carniola and is now included in the Southeast Slovenia statistical region...
the river has no surface affluents, below the Gradac it is joined by a water-rich and faster-flowing Krupa. After confluencing with Krupa, Lahinja turns towards the east. It joins Kolpa at 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...
.
The Lahinja's river basin is asymmetric, as it receives the majority of its surface affluents from the right side. It is a part of the Sava river basin. From Knežina to Pusti Gradec
Pusti Gradec
Pusti Gradec is a small settlement to the east of Dragatuš in the Črnomelj municipality in the Bela Krajina area of southeastern Slovenia. The area is part of the traditional region of Lower Carniola and is now included in the Southeast Slovenia statistical region.The local church is dedicated to...
, along the first seven kilometers (4,5 mi) of Lahinja, extends the Lahinja Regional Park.