Radika
Encyclopedia
The Radika is a river in southern Kosovo
and western Macedonia
, a 70 km (43 mi)-long right tributary to the Black Drin
river.
The Radika proper is 52 km (32 mi) long, but measured from the most distant source in its watershed, that of the Crni Kamen river, it is 70 km (43 mi) long.
region, bends around the Vraca and sharply turns to the south and empties into the Kosovo-Macedonian border river Ćafa Kadis (Serbian Cyrillic: Ћафа Кадис; Macedonian: Ќафа Кадис; Albanian: Qafa e Kadisë).
The Ćafa Kadis originates from the southern slopes of the Vraca mountain and northern slopes of the Mangulova Kula mountain, another extension of the Šar Mountains. It flows westwards, on the northern section of the mountain of Ničipurska planina (Brodec peak, still part of the Šar massif) and for several kilometers forms the Kosovo-Macedonian border. After it receives the Crni Kamen from the right and another stream coming from Kosovo, the Ćafa Kadis turns south into the Macedonian proper again and from this point it is known as the Radika.
drainage basin
, unlike the latter course of the Lower Radika which belongs to the Adriatic Sea
drainage basin. It flows to the south between the mountains of Korab
to the west and Ničipurska planina to the east. At the village of Volkovija, an artificial bifurcation
is created, as the waters of the Upper Radika are conducted into the artificial lake Mavrovo
at the village of Mavrovi Anovi
and from there, via the Mavrovo system of the hydroelectric power plants, into the Vardar
river (in this bifurcational flow, it even receives a tributary, small stream of Beličica from the right).
(on the east) and. There are many interesting places along the Radika valley; including the villages of Velebrdo, Rostuša
, Jance, Prisojnica, Skudrinje, the monastery of Sveti Jovan Bigorski, the spa of Kosovratska banja (with sulphuric water, hot up to 49 °C or 120.2 °F) and the unique Alčija cave, formed in alabaster
. Alabaster is abundant in the surrounding terrain and it has been extractd and treated for industrial and commercial use in the town of Debar
.
After the gorge, the Radika receives its major tributary, the Valovica river from the right and flows on the northern slopes of the Stogovo
mountain. After the villages of Dolno Kosovrasti, Dolni Melničani, Gorenci and Rajčica, the Radika empties into the Black Drin, just south of Debar. Actually, the lowest section of the river is floodbed by the artificial lake Debar on the Black Drin, becoming one of lake's bays.
Overall, the Radika belongs to the Adriac Sea drainage basin, drains an area of 665 km² (257 sq mi) itself and it is not navigable.
The Radika has huge possibilities for the hydroelectric power production, which is partially used in its upper course. Also, the river valley is the natural route for the major road road in Western Macedonia which connects the regions of Polog
and Ohrid
.
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
and western Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
, a 70 km (43 mi)-long right tributary to the Black Drin
Black Drin
The Black Drin is a river in Albania and the Republic of Macedonia. It flows out of Lake Ohrid in Struga, Macedonia. After approximately it crosses the border to Albania, west of Debar. It merges with the White Drin in Kukës to form the Drin, which flows into the Adriatic Sea...
river.
The Radika proper is 52 km (32 mi) long, but measured from the most distant source in its watershed, that of the Crni Kamen river, it is 70 km (43 mi) long.
Origin
The Crni Kamen (Cyrillic: Црни Камен; "black stone") springs out from the northern slopes of the Vraca mountain, the southern extension of the Šar Mountains, under the Golema Vraca peak (2582 m or 8,471 ft). The Crni Kamen originally flows westward, through the GoraGora (region)
Gora is a geographical region in southern Serbia and northeastern Albania, inhabited by Albanians and a Gorani minority. The name "Gora" is a Slavic word for "mountain" or "forest"....
region, bends around the Vraca and sharply turns to the south and empties into the Kosovo-Macedonian border river Ćafa Kadis (Serbian Cyrillic: Ћафа Кадис; Macedonian: Ќафа Кадис; Albanian: Qafa e Kadisë).
The Ćafa Kadis originates from the southern slopes of the Vraca mountain and northern slopes of the Mangulova Kula mountain, another extension of the Šar Mountains. It flows westwards, on the northern section of the mountain of Ničipurska planina (Brodec peak, still part of the Šar massif) and for several kilometers forms the Kosovo-Macedonian border. After it receives the Crni Kamen from the right and another stream coming from Kosovo, the Ćafa Kadis turns south into the Macedonian proper again and from this point it is known as the Radika.
Upper Radika
Upper Radika is just 8 km (5 mi) long and due to the human managing of its course, it belongs to the Aegean SeaAegean Sea
The Aegean Sea[p] is an elongated embayment of the Mediterranean Sea located between the southern Balkan and Anatolian peninsulas, i.e., between the mainlands of Greece and Turkey. In the north, it is connected to the Marmara Sea and Black Sea by the Dardanelles and Bosporus...
drainage basin
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
, unlike the latter course of the Lower Radika which belongs to the Adriatic Sea
Adriatic Sea
The Adriatic Sea is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan peninsula, and the system of the Apennine Mountains from that of the Dinaric Alps and adjacent ranges...
drainage basin. It flows to the south between the mountains of Korab
Mount Korab
Mount Korab is the highest mountain of the Republic of Macedonia and Albania, its peak forming a frontier between the two countries...
to the west and Ničipurska planina to the east. At the village of Volkovija, an artificial bifurcation
River bifurcation
River bifurcation occurs when a river flowing in a single stream separates into two or more separate streams which continue downstream. Some rivers form complex networks of distributaries, especially in their deltas...
is created, as the waters of the Upper Radika are conducted into the artificial lake Mavrovo
Mavrovo
Mavrovo is a region in the northwest of the Republic of Macedonia. It is home to Mavrovo National Park and a winter sports center. Some of the villages and smaller hamlets include: Mavrovo, Nikiforovo, Leunovo, and Mavrovi Anovi...
at the village of Mavrovi Anovi
Mavrovi Anovi
Mavrovi Anovi is a city in the Mavrovo and Rostuša Municipality of Macedonia. Its FIPS code was MK64.- References :...
and from there, via the Mavrovo system of the hydroelectric power plants, into the Vardar
Vardar
The Vardar or Axios is the longest and major river in the Republic of Macedonia and also a major river of Greece. It is long, and drains an area of around . The maximum depth of river is ....
river (in this bifurcational flow, it even receives a tributary, small stream of Beličica from the right).
Lower Radika
In the lower, 44 km (27 mi)-long section of the course, the Radika continues its general direction to the south. It carved a long and 1 km (0.621372736649807 mi) deep gorge between the mountains of Korab and Dešat on the west and BistraBistra
Bistra may refer to:* Bistra, Silistra Province, a village in Silistra Province, Bulgaria* Bistra, Targovishte Province, a village in Targovishte Province, Bulgaria* Bistra, Croatia, a village in Zagreb County, Croatia...
(on the east) and. There are many interesting places along the Radika valley; including the villages of Velebrdo, Rostuša
Rostuša
Rostuša is a village in Republic of Macedonia. It is a seat of the Mavrovo and Rostuša municipality.In 1426 Gjon Kastrioti from Albania and his three sons donated the right to the proceeds from taxes collected from the villages Rostuša and Trebište and from the church of Saint Mary, which was in...
, Jance, Prisojnica, Skudrinje, the monastery of Sveti Jovan Bigorski, the spa of Kosovratska banja (with sulphuric water, hot up to 49 °C or 120.2 °F) and the unique Alčija cave, formed in alabaster
Alabaster
Alabaster is a name applied to varieties of two distinct minerals, when used as a material: gypsum and calcite . The former is the alabaster of the present day; generally, the latter is the alabaster of the ancients...
. Alabaster is abundant in the surrounding terrain and it has been extractd and treated for industrial and commercial use in the town of Debar
Debar
Debar is a city in the western part of the Republic of Macedonia, near the border with Albania, on the road from Struga to Gostivar. It is the seat of Debar Municipality.-Geography:...
.
After the gorge, the Radika receives its major tributary, the Valovica river from the right and flows on the northern slopes of the Stogovo
Stogovo
Stogovo is a mountain in the western part of the Republic of Macedonia. It has impressive peaks: Golem Rid , Babin Srt , Kanesh and many more higher that 2000 meters above the sea level....
mountain. After the villages of Dolno Kosovrasti, Dolni Melničani, Gorenci and Rajčica, the Radika empties into the Black Drin, just south of Debar. Actually, the lowest section of the river is floodbed by the artificial lake Debar on the Black Drin, becoming one of lake's bays.
Overall, the Radika belongs to the Adriac Sea drainage basin, drains an area of 665 km² (257 sq mi) itself and it is not navigable.
The Radika has huge possibilities for the hydroelectric power production, which is partially used in its upper course. Also, the river valley is the natural route for the major road road in Western Macedonia which connects the regions of Polog
Polog
Polog also known as the Polog Valley , is located in the north-western part of the Republic of Macedonia near the border with Serbia.It is divided into Upper and Lower Polog...
and Ohrid
Ohrid
Ohrid is a city on the eastern shore of Lake Ohrid in the Republic of Macedonia. It has about 42,000 inhabitants, making it the seventh largest city in the country. The city is the seat of Ohrid Municipality. Ohrid is notable for having once had 365 churches, one for each day of the year and has...
.