River Krka - Slovenia

spring (source):

flow length:
83 km

This small river  fascinates especially with its attractive, easily passable weirs.

From watermen point of view, it is interesting 16 kms long section between villages of Krka and Žužemberk, with average slope of  8%o.

Car-attendance is possible in sections, thanks to many bridges, where it is possible to approach the river. The river is navigable in late spring and after heavy rains, when water-level rises for several days. Anyway, its optimal stage is in a moment when a concrete block under a weir in Krka-village sticks out 10-15 cm from water-level.

So, we start our navigation  below a bridge in village of Krka (but it is possible to start 1 km up). From here, there is a moderate water stream to a weir, placed 30 m over a bridge. This weir is 1 m high and is passable from left part. 100 m ahead (behind a bridge), there is placed a pier made of concrete rests of old bridge, it is possible to pass it from right part.

We continue with moderate stream 500 m ahead to 1 m high weir , its passage is possible in the middle or on right part.

After 1,5 kms long navigation on moderate stream, we reach a bridge of Lese village.

In a distance of 500 m ahead, there is placed 1,5 m high weir ( there is a house on right bank ).

This weir is passable in the middle or on right side, between two boulders placed under the weir. After 150 m, we reach a bridge in Marinči. After right bend ahead, we find 2 m high weir ( we see an old mill on right part). We pass it through a point (place) 5-6 m distant from left  bank-edge. We continue our navigation in moderate water stream approx. 1,5 kms ahead to the weir of electric power station in Zagradac. This weir can be passed in any place.

Behind a weir we pass an old bridge. ( on left bank in approx. 50 m distance, there is a railway stop).

Further, in 150 m distance , we find further weir, 2 m high, which is passable by dike-lock at right bank (easier) or at left bank. After 100 m distance, behind rests of old bridge, follows the other weir (on left side we see an old house), passable through dike-lock at left bank.

After 1 km drive (with several small cascades) we reach  2 m high weir. It is passable in a place of 3 m distant of left bank and 1 m to the right. Further cascade weir is 1 km of moderate water stream distant  and we overcome small, 0,5 high cascades. Further, on left bank of a weir we find a house, the weir is passable in a middle. After further 500 m of navigation ( variegated by 0,5 m high cascades) we reach a bridge in Drašč. After a bridge, we meet two weirs, the second one is situated in a places of  broken weir.

We navigate the distance of 1,5 kms across several small slopes to 1,5 m high weir , in a distance of 100 m, there is an old bridge. The cascades here change to small rapids

( up to WW II). Further, within 1 km of navigation, we reach a bridge near to Šmihel village.

From this bridge, there is a distance of 1 km  of  uneasy water stream, where rapids change to small cascades. Afterthat, it follows  2,5 kms distance of calm water.level with small cascades, following by 1 m high weir passable on left part from middle. After 100 m distance, we reach the weir at Prapreč village. On right side above, there is placed an old mill. We enter direct canal situated to the right. After two stages, the water lever is a little moderate, we navigate couple of meters to the left from a point in a weir, and so we overcome last jump,

2 m high.

Further, in 100 m distance, it is situated an old railway bridge , afterthat we find 150 m distance, cascade, its left part enables easiest passage. To further weir in Žužemberk, there is only 150 m distance. So. here is the best passage direct across cascades in right or left part of weir.  We overcome 4m high jump so, that we enter in canal near to railway on right part, where the river is rectified, and after 10 m we quickly turn left.

Behind a weir, there is a bridge where the navigation is terminated. When the water level is more calm, the navigation is not interesting for watermen. In Dvor ( 4 kms distant) there are several small rapids , to village of  Soteske we have further 6 kms distance. So, we easily navigate to Nove Mesto ( 15 kms) , however, the water is too dirty.