Ljubljanica

For other uses, see Ljubljanica (disambiguation).

Ljubljanica
The Ljubljanica flows through Ljubljana.
Origin	Retovje, Ljubija, Bistra
Mouth	Podgrad
Basin countries	Slovenia
Length	41 km (25 mi) (including Little Ljubljanica)
Source elevation	300 m (980 ft)
Mouth elevation	260 m (850 ft)
Avg. discharge	25 m³/s (at the source near Vrhnika), 55 m³/s (at the outflow in Moste)
Basin area	1,860 km2 (720 sq mi)

The Ljubljanica (pronounced [ljuˈbljaːnitsa]), known in the Middle Ages as the Ljubija, is a river in the southern part of the Ljubljana Basin in Slovenia. The capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana, lies on the river. The Ljubljanica rises south of the town of Vrhnika and outflows in the Sava River about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) downstream from Ljubljana. Its largest affluent is the Mali Graben Canal. Including its source affluent the Little Ljubljanica (Slovene: Mala Ljubljanica), the river is 41 km (25 mi) in length. The Little Ljubljanica joins the Big Ljubljanica (Slovene: Velika Ljubljanica) after 1,300 m (4,300 ft) and the river continues its course as the Ljubljanica.

The Ljubljanica is the continuation of several karst rivers that flow from the Prezid Karst Field (Slovene: Prezidsko polje) to Vrhnika on the surface and underground in caves, and so the river is poetically said to have seven names (six name changes): Trbuhovica, Obrh, Stržen, Rak, Pivka, Unica, and Ljubljanica.

Archaeological significance

The Ljubljanica has become a popular site for archaeologists and treasure hunters to dive for lost relics and artifacts. Locations in the river between Ljubljana and Vrhnika have offered up pieces of history from the Stone Age to the Renaissance, belonging to a variety of groups, from local ancient cultures to more well-known groups like the Romans and the Celts. One of the more significant findings is a yew spearhead, found in 2009 in Sinja Gorica. It has been dated to about 35,000 to 45,000 before present, the Szeletien period, and supplements the scant data about the presence of Stone Age hunters in the Ljubljana Marshes area.

Exactly why the Ljubljanica became an article dumping ground is unknown, but most historians believe that it is related to how local tradition has always held the river as a sacred place. These treasures may have been offered "to the river during rites of passage, in mourning, or as thanksgiving for battles won."

The Ljubljanica has become a popular attraction in Europe for treasure hunters. This has created an ethical debate between local historians and international treasure seekers. It is believed that the river has offered up between 10,000 and 13,000 objects, of which many have been lost to the public. Many pieces have been sold into private collections, or are hidden away by the original treasure hunters. In 2003, to help curb this trend, Slovenia's national parliament declared the river a site of cultural importance and banned diving in it without a permit.

Gallery

• Play media

  Ljubljanica at Nove Fužine

• 

  Night view of river

• 

  Water reflection of houses at Cankar Embankment

• 

  In the center of Ljubljana with the Franciscan Church of the Annunciation in the background

See also

• Ljubljanica Sluice Gate

External links

• Condition of Ljubljanica - graphs, in the following order, of water level, flow and temperature data for the past 30 days (taken in Moste by ARSO)
• http://expo98.literal.si/eng/zakladi/vode-slovenije/ljubljanica.html
• http://www7.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0701/feature6/index.html