List of rivers of Serbia facts for kids

Rivers and main drainage basins in Serbia.

Serbia is a country in Europe with many amazing rivers! These rivers are super important for nature, people, and even for connecting different countries. Let's explore the cool rivers that flow through Serbia, from the mighty Danube to smaller, but equally important, streams.

Where Do Serbia's Rivers Flow?

Imagine all the rain and snow that falls in Serbia. It all ends up flowing into one of three big "drainage basins," which are like giant natural funnels. These funnels lead to different seas: the Black Sea, the Adriatic Sea, or the Aegean Sea.

The Black Sea Basin: Serbia's Biggest River Funnel

The largest drainage basin in Serbia is the Black Sea basin. It covers a huge area, about 92% of Serbia's land! All the water from this basin flows into just one river, the mighty Danube, which then travels all the way to the Black Sea. Many of Serbia's most famous rivers, like the Tisa, Sava, Velika Morava (Great Morava), and Drina, are part of this huge system.

The Adriatic Sea Basin: Heading West

The Adriatic Sea basin is much smaller, covering about 5% of Serbia. This area is mostly in the western part of Kosovo. The main river here is the White Drin. It flows into Albania and joins another river, the Black Drin, to form the Drin River. The Drin then empties into the Adriatic Sea. A tiny part of this basin in the far south of Serbia also sends its water towards the Black Drin in North Macedonia.

The Aegean Sea Basin: The Smallest Funnel

The Aegean Sea basin is the smallest, making up only 3% of Serbia. You'll find this basin in the southern parts of Serbia, near the borders with North Macedonia and Bulgaria. Three rivers drain this area: the Lepenac, Pčinja, and Dragovištica. The Lepenac and Pčinja rivers flow into the Vardar river in North Macedonia. The Dragovištica flows into the Struma river in Bulgaria. Both the Vardar and Struma rivers eventually reach the Aegean Sea.

Where Three Basins Meet

It's pretty cool that all three of these river basins meet at one special spot! This place is called Drmanska glava peak, located on the Crnoljeva mountain in central Kosovo. This peak is a major water divide for the whole Balkans region, separating three of the four main drainage basins there.

Serbia's Major Rivers: A Closer Look

Here's a list of Serbia's most important rivers, especially those longer than 50 kilometers. The lengths you see are for the entire river, not just the part that flows through Serbia. Sometimes, a river system includes smaller rivers that join together. In those cases, the length includes the longest starting branch.

Major Sub-Rivers: Rivers within Rivers

Some rivers that have their own names are actually considered part of bigger river systems. This table shows some of these important "sub-rivers."

Other Rivers in Serbia

Serbia has many other rivers that are shorter than 50 kilometers. While they might not be as long, they are still important parts of the country's water system! Here are some of them:

See also

• List of mountains in Serbia
• List of lakes in Serbia