The Miljacka ( sr-Cyrl, Миљацка) is a river in

Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina, sometimes known as Bosnia-Herzegovina and informally as Bosnia, is a country in Southeast Europe. Situated on the Balkans, Balkan Peninsula, it borders Serbia to the east, Montenegro to the southeast, and Croatia to th ...

that passes through

Sarajevo Sarajevo ( ), ; ''see Names of European cities in different languages (Q–T)#S, names in other languages'' is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, largest city of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a population of 2 ...

. Numerous city bridges have been built to cross it.

Characteristics

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 Pale may refer to: Jurisdictions * Medieval areas of English conquest: ** Pale of Calais, in France (1360–1558) ** The Pale, or the English Pale, in Ireland *Pale of Settlement, area of permitted Jewish settlement, western Russian Empire (179 ...

or Mokro). By the time this tributary flows into the Bosna river in

, 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 The Sava, is a river in Central and Southeast Europe, a right-bank and the longest tributary of the Danube. From its source in Slovenia it flows through Croatia and along its border with Bosnia and Herzegovina, and finally reaches Serbia, fee ...

, with its mouth in

Bosanski Šamac Bosnian may refer to: *Anything related to the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina or its inhabitants *Anything related to Bosnia (region) or its inhabitants * Bosniaks, an ethnic group mainly inhabiting Bosnia and Herzegovina and one of three constit ...

. That river in turn flows into the

Danube River The Danube ( ; see also other names) is the second-longest river in Europe, after the Volga in Russia. It flows through Central and Southeastern Europe, from the Black Forest south into the Black Sea. A large and historically important riv ...

, which goes southeast and enters the

Black Sea The Black Sea is a marginal sea, marginal Mediterranean sea (oceanography), mediterranean sea lying between Europe and Asia, east of the Balkans, south of the East European Plain, west of the Caucasus, and north of Anatolia. It is bound ...

chiefly in

Romania Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Bulgaria to the south, Moldova to ...

Paljanska Miljacka

The Paljanska Miljacka, in length, begins at Gornje Pale, eastward in the town of Pale, on the slopes of

Jahorina Jahorina ( sr-Cyrl, Јахорина, ) is a mountain in Bosnia and Herzegovina, located at the tripoint of the municipalities of Pale, Trnovo, Republika Srpska and Trnovo, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Part of the Dinaric Alps, it bord ...

, near Begovina), at an elevation of .

Mokranjska Miljacka

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 near the base of

Romanija Romanija ( sr-cyrl, Романија) is a mountain, karst plateau, and geographical region in eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina, including numerous villages and towns, such as Pale, Sokolac, Rogatica and Han Pijesak. Its highest point is Velik ...

mountain.

Mokranjska Miljacka cave

The cave at the spring of Mokranjska Miljacka, located about from the village of Mokro, near

, is officially the longest cave in Bosnia and Herzegovina. As of August 2015, the length of mapped caverns was . The Miljacka runs out of the cave practically as an underground flow, a

subterranean river A subterranean river (also known as an underground river) is a river or watercourse that runs wholly or partly beneath the ground, one where the riverbed does not represent the surface of the Earth. It is distinct from an aquifer, which may flow ...

, where its temperature is measured as low as 5 degrees and temperature of air as low as 8 degrees Celsius. 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. 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,

), 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 The cave bear (''Ursus spelaeus'') is a prehistoric species of bear that lived in Europe and Asia during the Pleistocene and became extinct about 24,000 years ago during the Last Glacial Maximum. Both the word ''cave'' and the scientific name '' ...

has also been found at the location.

Paleontological Paleontology, also spelled as palaeontology or palæontology, is the scientific study of the life of the past, mainly but not exclusively through the study of fossils. Paleontologists use fossils as a means to classify organisms, measure geolo ...

finds, traces of human habitation,

stalactites A stalactite (, ; , ) is a mineral formation that hangs from the ceiling of caves, hot springs, or man-made structures such as bridges and mines. Any material that is soluble and that can be deposited as a colloid, or is in suspension, or is ca ...

and

stalagmites A stalagmite (, ; ; ) is a type of rock formation that rises from the floor of a cave due to the accumulation of material deposited on the floor from ceiling drippings. Stalagmites are typically composed of calcium carbonate, but may consist o ...

, as well as

pisolite A pisolite () is a sedimentary rock made of pisoids, which are concretionary grains – typically of calcium carbonate which resemble ooids, but are more than 2 mm in diameter. These grains are approximately spherical and have concentric ...

rocks, the river Miljacka wellspring, all makes this cave among most valuable speleological objects in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Researchers believe to have discovered bubbles of air, a possible sign of tectonic activity.

Environment

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 The Bosnian War ( / Рат у Босни и Херцеговини) was an international armed conflict that took place in Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnia and Herzegovina between 1992 and 1995. Following several earlier violent incid ...

, water treatment was stopped and plant equipment 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. 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 Šeher Ćehaja Bridge ( Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian: ''Šeher-Ćehajina ćuprija'' / Шехер-Ћехајина ћуприја) is a bridge which crosses the river Miljacka in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The name can be translated as " ...

to Dolac Malta suburb bridge.

Floods of 2014

The river swelled almost to the level of city bridges during the

2014 Southeast Europe floods Between 13 and 18 May 2014 a low-pressure cyclone designated ''Tamara'' and ''Yvette'' affected a large area of Southeastern and Central Europe, causing floods and landslides. Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina suffered the greatest damage, as t ...

, which brought significant flooding to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Floods of 2021

The Miljacka was close to submerging some bridges in Sarajevo during the 2021 Bosnia and Herzegovina floods.

Bridges

There are over a dozen bridges over the river Miljacka. Some of the better known ones are: *

Goat's Bridge The Goat's Bridge ( Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian: ''Kozija ćuprija'' / Козја ћуприја) is a large stone bridge that crosses the Miljacka river to the east of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. History It was built by the Ottomans ...

() *

* *

Latin Bridge Latin Bridge (, named / – "Princip's Bridge" during the Yugoslav era) is an Ottoman-era bridge over the river Miljacka in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The northern end of the bridge was the site of the assassination of Archduke Fr ...

(also known as "''Principov most''", namesake of Archduke Franz Ferdinand's assassin

Gavrilo Princip Gavrilo Princip ( sr-Cyrl, Гаврило Принцип, ; 25 July 189428 April 1918) was a Bosnian Serb student who assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir presumptive to the throne of Austria-Hungary, and his wife Sophie, Duchess von ...

). The assassination carried out by Princip, which led to

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, took place at the entrance on this bridge. Gavrilo's co-conspirator

Nedeljko Čabrinović Nedeljko Čabrinović ( sr-Cyrl, Недељко Чабриновић; 1 February 1895 – 23 January 1916) was a Bosnian Serb typesetter and political activist, known for his role in the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo on 28 ...

, another member of the Bosnia-Herzegovinian

Mlada Bosna Young Bosnia ( sr-Cyrl-Latn, Млада Босна, Mlada Bosna) refers to a loosely organised grouping of separatist and revolutionary cells active in the early 20th century, that sought to end the Austro-Hungarian rule in Bosnia and Herzegovin ...

movement, jumped into the river Miljacka from the bridge, seconds after throwing a grenade toward the archduke's car. He intended to hide below the bridge so that he could take and swallow a

cyanide In chemistry, cyanide () is an inorganic chemical compound that contains a functional group. This group, known as the cyano group, consists of a carbon atom triple-bonded to a nitrogen atom. Ionic cyanides contain the cyanide anion . This a ...

powder wrapped into a piece of paper. But the poison got so wet from the fall into the shallow Miljacka (only deep) that it dissolved but lost its toxicity. Čabrinović was dragged alive from the river and arrested. *

Ćumurija Bridge The Ćumurija Bridge in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina, sometimes known as Bosnia-Herzegovina and informally as Bosnia, is a country in Southeast Europe. Situated on the Balkans, Balkan Peninsula, it borders Serbia t ...

Drvenija Bridge The Drvenija Bridge is a bridge located in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The bridge was built during the Austro-Hungarian reign in 1898 and crosses the river Miljacka The Miljacka ( sr-Cyrl, Миљацка) is a river in Bosnia and Herzego ...

Čobanija Bridge Čobanija Bridge (; sh-Cyrl, Чобанија мост) is an iron pedestrian bridge located in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, spanning the Miljacka River. Constructed in 1887 during the Austro-Hungarian period, it replaced an earlier wooden ...

* Festina lente bridge *

Skenderija Bridge The Skenderija Bridge (also called Ajfel or Ajfelov most) is a footbridge located in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina, sometimes known as Bosnia-Herzegovina and informally as Bosnia, is a country in Southeast Europe. ...

(a.k.a. "''Ajfelov most''") *

Suada and Olga bridge Suada and Olga Bridge ( Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian: ''Most Suade i Olge'' / Мост Суаде и Олге), also known by its old name Vrbanja Bridge (''Vrbanja most'' / Врбања мост), is a bridge across the Miljacka river in Saraj ...

(a.k.a. "''Vrbanja most''") * Bosmal Bridge (

Malaysia Malaysia is a country in Southeast Asia. Featuring the Tanjung Piai, southernmost point of continental Eurasia, it is a federation, federal constitutional monarchy consisting of States and federal territories of Malaysia, 13 states and thre ...

n-Bosnian Friendship Bridge), a.k.a. "''Malezijski most''" and "''Bosmalov most''". * and several unnamed modern bridges.

Diving

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 Sarajevo City Hall ( Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian: Gradska vijećnica Sarajevo / Градска вијећница Сарајево), known as Vijećnica (Вијећница), is located in the city of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was d ...

, a library and former City Hall). The diving location water depth is at 3.5 to 4.4 meters depending time of month. Support to this sport in Sarajevo was given by

Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series The Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series, established in 2009 and created by Red Bull GmbH, Red Bull, is an annual international series of Diving (sport), cliff diving events in which a limited number of competitors determine the Cliff Diving ...

champion

Rhiannan Iffland Rhiannan Iffland (born 9 September 1991) is an Australian high diver. She is a seven-time consecutive Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series champion (2016– 2019, 2021– 2023). She won her first championship in 2016 as a wildcard entrant in her ...

and competitor Jonathan Paredes who attended the 2019 edition. Past champions of the event: * 2019 - Dragan Milnović (head jump) / Aleš Karničnik (high jump) * 2018 - Igor Arsenić from Banja Luka * 2017 - N/A * 2016 - N/A * 2015 - Dino Bajrić from Sarajevo

Image gallery

Миљацка - извор 1.jpg, Paljanska Miljacka source at Gornje

, under the slopes of

Fishing on Miljacka river 01.JPG, Fishing on Dariva (Miljacka Canyon between Bentbaša and

) Sarajevo Wilsons-Promenade 2013-10-18.jpg, Wilson's Promenade, named after

Thomas Woodrow Wilson Thomas Woodrow Wilson (December 28, 1856February 3, 1924) was the 28th president of the United States, serving from 1913 to 1921. He was the only Democrat to serve as president during the Progressive Era when Republicans dominated the presi ...

The Bridge, site of the beginning of world war I.jpg, The

was the site of the

assassination of Franz Ferdinand The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand was one of the key events that led to World War I. Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, heir presumptive to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife, Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg, were assassinat ...

Bentbaša Miljacka river.JPG, Bentbaša dam (Cliff Diving location) Vijecnica (41626036484).jpg, Library and City Hall

Popular culture

A number of popular local songs were sung about Miljacka river, including "

Halid Bešlić Halid Bešlić (; born 20 November 1953) is a Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnian folk music, folk singer and musician who has been performing professionally since 1979. Bešlić's singing career was one of the most successful in SFR Yugoslavia, Yugo ...

Miljacka The Miljacka ( sr-Cyrl, Миљацка) is a river in Bosnia and Herzegovina that passes through Sarajevo. Numerous city bridges have been built to cross it. Characteristics The Miljacka river originates from the confluence of the Paljanska Mi ...

" and "

Himzo Polovina Himzo Polovina (; 11 March 1927 – 5 August 1986) was a Bosnian singer and songwriter, and one of the most famous and widely revered folk and sevdalinka artists in the region. In addition, Dr. Himzo Polovina was a neuropsychiatrist by professio ...

- Kad ja pođoh na Bembašu".

References

External links

A Clean River Miljacka: At the heart of the Future Sarajevo we all want and need

Great Runs: Miljacka River

ResearchGate: Level of pollution of the Miljacka river
{{Hydrography of Bosnia and Herzegovina Geography of Sarajevo Rivers of Bosnia and Herzegovina *Miljacka Subterranean rivers of Bosnia and Herzegovina Subterranean rivers of Sarajevo