Retizhe
River in Bulgaria
Retizhe | |
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The upper course of Retizhe
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|
Location | |
Country | Bulgaria |
Physical characteristics | |
Source | |
• location | Popovo Lake , Pirin |
• elevation | 2,234 m (7,329 ft) |
Mouth | |
•
location
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Nestos (Mesta) |
•
coordinates
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41°45′32.04″N 23°40′33.96″E / 41.7589000°N 23.6761000°E / 41.7589000; 23.6761000 |
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elevation
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646 m (2,119 ft) |
Length | 19 km (12 mi) |
Basin size | 44 km 2 (17 sq mi) |
Basin features | |
Progression | Nestos → Aegean Sea |
The Retizhe ( Bulgarian : Ретиже ) is a river in south-western Bulgaria , a right tributary of the Mesta . [1] [2] The river is 19 km long and drains parts of the eastern slopes of the Pirin mountain range. [1]
The river takes its source from Pirin's largest and deepest glacial lake, Popovo , at an altitude of 2,234 m. At an altitude of 2,174 m near the Fish Popovi Lakes it is joined by two mountain streams — one from the north sloping down the summit of Polezhan (2,851 m), and one from the west coming from the Polezhanski Lakes . Further downstream another stream coming from the Kremenski Lakes flows into the Retizhe. It then flows in north-eastern direction in a deep valley, forming rapids and small waterfalls. [1] Downstream the valley becomes deeper and is covered with dense forests. Some four kilometres before its mouth the Retizhe turns in eastern direction and forms a deep impassable canyon. It flows into the Mesta at Momina Klisura Gorge at an altitude of 646 m near the village of Mesta , Bansko Municipality . [1] [2] The village is the only settlement along the course of the river.
Its drainage basin covers a territory of 44 km² or 1.33% of Mesta's total. [1] The main tributary is the Kremeshnitsa, which flows into the Retizhe close to its confluence with the Mesta. The river has predominantly snow-rain feed with high water in summer (June) and low water in winter (February). [1] The average annual flow is 1.33 m 3 /s. [1]
Only a small part of the river's water resources are utilised for hydroelectricity. There are five small hydro power stations with a combined installed capacity of 10 MW. The river sustains large populations of brown trout . [2]
Honours
Retizhe Cove in Antarctica is named after the river.
Citations
References
- Мичев (Michev), Николай (Nikolay); Михайлов (Mihaylov), Цветко (Tsvetko); Вапцаров (Vaptsarov), Иван (Ivan); Кираджиев (Kiradzhiev), Светлин (Svetlin) (1980). Географски речник на България [ Geographic Dictionary of Bulgaria ] (in Bulgarian). София (Sofia): Наука и култура (Nauka i kultura).
- Душков (Dushkov), Добри (Dobri) (1972). Пирин. Туристически речник [ Pirin. Tourist Dictionary ] (in Bulgarian). София ( Sofia ): Наука и култура (Nauka i kultura).