Zrmanja, also known as Zermagna in Italian, is a river flowing through southern Lika and northern Dalmatia, Croatia. Stretching over 69 km (43 mi) in length, it covers a basin area of 907 km2 (350 sq mi). The river was referred to as Tedanius by the ancient Romans. Originating from the southern part of Lika beneath Postak, the southern peak of Pljesevica mountain, and near the southern end of Velebit mountain, Zrmanja is distinguished by its spring situated at the base of a nearly 200 m high funnel-shaped rock known as Misije. It flows southward through a narrow, arable valley encircling the southern tip of Velebit, carving a 200-meter-deep canyon, before turning westward towards Obrovac. Eventually, it empties into the Adriatic Sea in the bay named Novigradsko more. In the 1990s, the Velebit area was designated as a nature park. Rafting excursions on Zrmanja are typically conducted in spring and autumn, while kayaks and canoes are preferred during the low water levels of July and August. However, in December 2019, the river faced an ecological crisis when waste from a former alumina plant contaminated the karst underground, resulting in the release of alkaline mud. This waste had been stored in open pools since the plant's closure.

Zrmanja - Wikipedia