| Miljacka | |||||||||
| Map: |
| ||||||||
| Pushpin Map: | Bosnia and Herzegovina | ||||||||
| Subdivision Type1: | Country | ||||||||
| Subdivision Name1: | Bosnia and Herzegovina | ||||||||
| Subdivision Type3: | Municipality | ||||||||
| Subdivision Name3: | Pale, Istočni Stari Grad, Stari Grad, Novo Sarajevo, Novi Grad, Ilidža | ||||||||
| Length: | Mokranjska Miljacka ; Paljanska Miljacka ; from the confluence to mouth in Bosna | ||||||||
| Discharge1 Min: | cca. 2.5 m3/s | ||||||||
| Discharge1 Avg: | 5.7m3/s | ||||||||
| Source1: | Paljanska Miljacka Gornje Pale | ||||||||
| Source1 Location: | Pale | ||||||||
| Source1 Elevation: | 1025m (3,363feet) | ||||||||
| Source2: | Mokranjska Miljacka Mokro Cave | ||||||||
| Source2 Location: | Kadino Selo near Mokro | ||||||||
| Source2 Elevation: | 1135m (3,724feet) | ||||||||
| Source3: | Confluence of the two Miljacka, Mokranjska & Paljanska | ||||||||
| Source3 Location: | near Bulozi, Stari Grad | ||||||||
| Source3 Elevation: | 627m (2,057feet) | ||||||||
| Mouth: | Bosna river | ||||||||
| Mouth Location: | Bojnik, Sarajevo | ||||||||
| Mouth Coordinates: | 43.8694°N 18.2908°W | ||||||||
| Mouth Elevation: | 488m (1,601feet) | ||||||||
| River System: | Danube>Black Sea | ||||||||
| Basin Landmarks: | Bentbaša | ||||||||
| Tributaries Left: | Bistrica (Jahorinska), Bistrički Potko | ||||||||
| Tributaries Right: | Lapišnica, Mošćanica, Koševski Potok | ||||||||
| Waterbodies: | Bentbaša | ||||||||
| Bridges: | Goat's Bridge (bs|Kozija Ćuprija), Šeher-Ćehaja Bridge, Careva ćuprija, Latin Bridge (aka Principov most), Ćumurija Bridge, Drvenija Bridge, Čobanija Bridge, Festina lente bridge, Skenderija Bridge (aka Ajfelov most), Suada and Olga bridge (aka Vrbanja most) | ||||||||
The Miljacka (Serbian: Миљацка) is a river in Bosnia and Herzegovina that passes through Sarajevo. Numerous city bridges have been built to cross it.
The Miljacka river originates from the confluence of the Paljanska Miljacka and Mokranjska Miljacka rivers. The Miljacka is a rather small river, only long from the confluence, or and depending on source (Pale or Mokro). By the time this tributary flows into the Bosna river in Sarajevo, it has an average discharge of 5.7 m3/s. The Miljacka river flows from east to west in a general direction through the city.
The Bosna is a right tributary of the Sava River, with its mouth in Bosanski Šamac. That river in turn flows into the Danube River, which goes southeast and enters the Black Sea chiefly in Romania.
The Paljanska Miljacka, in length, begins at Gornje Pale, eastward in the town of Pale, under the slopes of Jahorina, near Begovina), at an elevation of 1025m (3,363feet).
The Mokranjska Miljacka, in length, springs from a large cave, yet to be fully explored, near the village of Kadino Selo at an elevation of 1135m (3,724feet) near the base of Romanija mountain.
See main article: Mokranjska Miljacka wellspring cave.
The cave at the spring of Mokranjska Miljacka, located about 7km (04miles) from the village of Mokro, near Pale, is officially the longest cave in Bosnia and Herzegovina. As of August 2015, the length of mapped caverns was 7.2km (04.5miles).[1] The Miljacka runs out of the cave practically as an underground flow, a subterranean river, where its temperature is measured as low as 5 degrees and temperature of air as low as 8 degrees Celsius.[1] [2]
The exact location of the cave is not yet mapped for the public, but local authorities have released a map which can be used to find its location, as well as a gallery of discoveries within the cave.[3]
A new species of spiders, named Nemanela Lade ("Lada's Little Monster" for its discoverer, Dr. Lada Lukić-Bilela from the Institute for Genetic Technology, Sarajevo), has been found here. Also found are at least five more species of spider, as well as certain species of bats. A skeleton head of a cave bear has also been found at the location.[4] [5]
Paleontological finds, traces of human habitation, stalactites and stalagmites, as well as pisolite rocks, the river Miljacka wellspring, all makes this cave among most valuable speleological objects in Bosnia and Herzegovina.[2] Researchers believe to have discovered bubbles of air, a possible sign of tectonic activity.[6]
Because of its poor discharge, the Miljacka is known for its peculiar smell and brown waters. Miljacka river cascades, which regulate the waterbed and enrich the water with oxygen, trap plastic scraps, stranded balls, car tires, and various other waste. The main collector that drains fecal matter is parallel to the flow of the river up to its mouth at the river Bosna. The sewer system is not connected to the main collector, causing leakage of fecal matter directly into the waters of the Miljacka in several places. During the Bosnian War, water treatment was stopped and plant equipment was looted, preventing the local government from dealing with the issue. Estimates of the cost to repair the wastewater plant range from 50 to 60 million euros.
In April 2015, a project called Čista rijeka Miljacka (Clean river Miljacka) was presented. The aim of the project was to bring the river status to category A, which would make the water clean enough for swimming.[7]
In August 2015, the city of Sarajevo signed a contract with ER Project d.o.o. company to clean up 48 river cascades from Šeher-Ćehaja bridge to Dolac Malta suburb bridge.[8]
See main article: 2014 Southeast Europe floods.
The river swelled almost to the level of city bridges during the 2014 Southeast Europe floods, which brought significant flooding to Bosnia and Herzegovina.[9] [10]
See main article: 2021 Bosnia and Herzegovina floods.
The Miljacka was close to submerging some bridges in Sarajevo during the 2021 Bosnia and Herzegovina floods.[11]
There are over a dozen bridges over the river Miljacka. Some of the better known ones are:
Bentbaša Cliff Diving is a sport organized at location Bentbaša dam every summer at the eastern entrance into the city of Sarajevo (in close proximity to Vijećnica, a library and former City Hall). The diving location water depth is at 3.5 to 4.4 meters depending time of month.[13] [14] Support to this sport in Sarajevo was given by Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series champion Rhiannan Iffland and competitor Jonathan Paredes who attended the 2019 edition.
Past champions of the event:
Dragan Milnović (head jump) / Aleš Karničnik (high jump)
Igor Arsenić from Banja Luka Dino Bajrić from SarajevoA number of popular local songs were sung about Miljacka river, including "Halid Bešlić - Miljacka" and "Himzo Polovina - Kad ja pođoh na Bembašu".