Slovenian Watercourses – Clean Water as the Country's Greatest Asset
Slovenia is one of the few European countries that boasts an exceptionally rich network of watercourses. There are thousands of rivers, streams, karst sinking streams, and springs on our territory, giving Slovenia the character of a "land of water." This natural gift is not just an aesthetic or tourist value, but represents a fundamental life commodity: clean drinking water. The right to drinking water is constitutionally guaranteed in Slovenia, meaning that access to it is a fundamental human right and the country's greatest wealth.
At a time when many countries are facing water shortages, pollution of water sources, and climate change, Slovenia's advantage in preserved nature and relatively clean water is invaluable. Watercourses are not only a source of drinking water but also a habitat for numerous plant and animal species, a source of energy, recreation, and cultural identity.
The Longest Slovenian Rivers
- Sava (218 km), Drava (142 km), Kolpa (117.4 km), Savinja (102 km), Soča (94 km), Krka (93.1 km), Mura (91.3 km), Sotla (88 km).
Dragonja (29.5 km)
Virtual Exploration of the Dragonja River
Kamniška Bistrica (33 km)
Virtual Exploration
Krka (93.1 km)
Virtual Exploration
Soča (139 km)
Virtual Exploration
Watercourse Data Table
| WATERCOURSE | LENGTH in SLO | Source/Elevation |
|---|---|---|
| Bistrica (Vrata) | 10 km | 981 m |
| Bistrica (Ribnica) | 22.4 km | 745 m |
| Cerknica | 13.17 km | 1130 m |
| Dobrnica | 13.3 km | 863 m |
| Dragonja | 28 km (29.5) | 335 m |
| Drava | 142 km (115.8) | 340 m |
| Dravinja | 69.5 km | 1,018 m |
| Hudinja | 30.5 km | 1,240 m |
| Idrijca | 60 km | 902 m |
| Kamniška Bistrica | 32.7 km | 623 m |
| Kokra | 33 km | 1,125 m |
| Kolpa | 117.4 km | Croatia |
| Krka | 93.1 km | 312 m |
| Krupa | 2.5 km | 153 m |
| Lahinja | 34.4 km | 149 m |
| Ledava | 68 km | 250 m |
| Ljubljanica | 40.4 km | 304 m |
| Meža | 41.6 km | Austria |
| Mirna | 42.3 km | 484 m |
| Mislinja | 35.8 km | 1,470 m |
| Mura | 91.3 km | 247 m |
| Sava | 218 km | 413 m |
| Sava Bohinjka | 32 km | 532 m |
| Savinja | 94.5 km | 1,370 m |
| Soča | 94.3 km | 1,087 m |
| Sora | 9.3 km | 340 m |
| Sotla | 88 km | Croatia |
| Vipava | 49 km | 110 m |
Note and Methodology: River lengths are not 'official' lengths but are the result of personal mapping (B. Burger) based on a 1:25,000 digital model and GPS field work. Length is measured from the center line. Most measurements were conducted between 2004 and 2006.
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