The Kupa () or Kolpa ( or ; from in Roman times; ) river, a right tributary of the Sava, forms a natural border between north-west Croatia and southeast Slovenia. It is long, with a length of serving as the border between Croatia and Slovenia and the rest located in Croatia.

Etymology

The name Colapis, recorded in antiquity, is presumed to have come from the Proto-Indo-European roots *quel- 'turn, meander' and *ap- 'water', meaning 'meandering water'. An alternative interpretation is *(s)kel-/*skul- 'shiny, bright', meaning 'clear river'.

Course

thumb|left|In its lower course, the Kupa [[meanders through the plains of the Pannonian Basin.]]

The Kupa originates in Croatia in the mountainous region of Gorski Kotar, northeast of Rijeka, in the area of Risnjak National Park. It flows a few kilometers eastwards, receives the small Čabranka River from the left, from which point it forms the Slovenian border.

It then continues eastwards between the White Carniola region in the north and Central Croatia in the south. The Kupa receives influx from the river Lahinja from the left in Primostek, passes Vrbovsko, and eventually detaches from the Slovenian border having passed Metlika.

It then reaches the city of Karlovac, where it receives influx from two other rivers from the right, the Dobra and Korana (which in turn is joined by the Mrežnica). The Kupa continues flowing to the east, where it merges with the Glina from the right. It then passes through two small towns called Šišinec and Brkiševina, and then proceeds to the town of Sisak where it merges with the Odra from the left and, after passing through Sisak town centre, flows into the Sava.

Pollution

Fairly unpolluted downstream to Karlovac, the upper Kupa is a popular place for bathing in summer. The section from Stari Trg down to Fučkovci since 2006 is part of the Slovenian Krajinski park Kolpa nature reserve.

The hydrological parameters of the Kupa are regularly monitored at Radenci, Kamanje, Karlovac, Jamnička Kiselica and Farkašić.

History

In 1899, the notary of Brod, M. Pavelić, set out to excavate an easier path down to the source of the Kupa.

<gallery>

Izvor rijeke Kupe.jpg|Main spring.

Izvor Kupe (9).jpg|Source canyon.

Valley of Kolpa river (49511580216).jpg|From Sodevska stena.

Kupa-lauf.JPG|At Ozalj.

Kupa River from Šišinec .jpg|In Šišinec.

</gallery>

See also

  • Slovenian border barrier

References

Sources

Further reading

General

  • Republished as

Biology

Ecology

Geology

Hydrology

  • source of Kupa pictures
  • Panoramic of the source
  • Awarded "EDEN - European Destinations of Excellence" non traditional tourist destination 2010