Karst is a topography formed from the dissolution of soluble rocks such as limestone, dolomite, and gypsum. It is characterized by underground drainage systems with sinkholes and caves. It has also been documented for more weathering-resistant rocks, such as quartzite, given the right conditions. Subterranean drainage may limit surface water, with few to no rivers or lakes. However, in regions where the dissolved bedrock is covered or confined by one or more superimposed non-soluble rock strata, distinctive karst features may occur only at subsurface levels and can be totally missing above ground.
A subterranean river is a river that runs wholly or partly beneath the ground surface – one where the riverbed does not represent the surface of the Earth. It is distinct from an aquifer, which may flow like a river but is contained within a permeable layer of rock or other unconsolidated materials. A river flowing below ground level in an open gorge is not classed as subterranean.
The Miljacka is a river in Bosnia and Herzegovina that passes through Sarajevo. Numerous city bridges have been built to cross it.
The Neretva, also known as Narenta, is one of the largest rivers of the eastern part of the Adriatic basin. Four HE power-plants with large dams provide flood protection, power and water storage. It is recognized for its natural environment and diversity of its landscape.
The Una is a border river between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia and a right tributary of the Sava river. It is part of the Black Sea drainage basin, and its watershed has a size of 10.200 km2, of which 8.080 km2 belongs to Bosnia and Herzegovina, and 2.120 km2 to Croatia. The total length of the river is 212 km. The source of the river is located in the town of Donja Suvaja in Croatia, and its mouth is located near the town of Jasenovac, on the border with Bosnia. The largest right tributaries are the Krka, Unac, Krušnica and Sana rivers, and the largest left tributary is the Klokot river. Its longest headwater is the Unac river. The largest and most important city located on the river is Bihać. Other, important cities and towns are Bosanska Krupa, Bosanski Novi and Bosanska Kostajnica. The river is characterized by a multitude of waterfalls, rapids, karst springs and relatively untouched nature. A large part of the upper river is part of the Una National Park.
A polje, also karst polje or karst field, is a large flat plain found in karstic geological regions of the world, with areas usually 5–400 km2 (2–154 sq mi). The name derives from the Slavic languages and literally means 'field', whereas in English polje specifically refers to a karst plain or karst field.
Vjetrenica is the largest cave in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the most biodiverse cave in the world. It is part of the Dinaric Alps mountain range, which is known for its karstic and speleological features. The cave is located in the Popovo field in Ravno, East Herzegovina in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
A losing stream, disappearing stream, influent stream or sinking river is a stream or river that loses water as it flows downstream. The water infiltrates into the ground recharging the local groundwater, because the water table is below the bottom of the stream channel. This is the opposite of a more common gaining stream which increases in water volume farther down stream as it gains water from the local aquifer.
The Trebišnjica is a river in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It used to be a sinking river, 96.5 km (60.0 mi) long above the ground. With a total length of 187 km (116 mi) above and under the ground, it is one of the longest sinking rivers in the world.
A ponor is a natural opening where surface water enters into underground passages; they may be found in karst landscapes where the geology and the geomorphology is typically dominated by porous limestone rock. Ponors can drain stream or lake water continuously or can at times work as springs, similar to estavelles. Morphologically, ponors come in forms of large pits and caves, large fissures and caverns, networks of smaller cracks, and sedimentary, alluvial drains.
The Trebižat is a river in the southern part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and major right tributary of the Neretva River.
Mostarska Bijela or simply Bijela is a mountain creek and gorge in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Despite its low discharge and relatively short flow, this river takes a significant place in Bosnia and Herzegovina's Dinaric karst's geology and hydrology.
Vrelo Bune is the natural and architectural ensemble at the Buna river spring near Blagaj kasaba (village-town) and a part of the wider "Townscape ensemble of the town of Blagaj — Historical and Natural Heritage of Bosnia and Herzegovina", southeast of Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is impossible to separate the natural values from the cultural and historical heritage of Blagaj, since its distinctive quality is in the coexistence of the natural and the man-made, in the integration of the physical structure into the landscape.
Rama is a river in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and a major tributary of the Neretva. It joins it from the right by discharging into Neretva's artificial reservoir, Jablaničko lake, at place called Marina Pećina, near village of Gračac, between location of underground powerhouse of Rama Hydroelectric Power Station and Jablanica Dam, depending on water level in Jablaničko lake, some 15 kilometers upstream from Jablanica.
The Zalomka is a karstic river in the southern part of Bosnia and Herzegovina and one of the largest sinking rivers in the country and the world. It collects its waters from Gatačko Polje.
Mokranjska Miljacka wellspring cave is the source of Mokranjska Miljacka, located about 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) from the village of Mokro, near Pale. The cave is officially the longest in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with length of mapped caverns so far at 7.2 kilometres (4.5 mi), as of August 2015. The Miljacka runs out of the cave practically as an underground flow, a subterranean river, where its temperature is measured as low as 5 degrees and temperature of air as low as 8 degrees Celsius.
Vilina Pećina is a cave and a karst resurgence wellspring in Dinaric Alps karst of Bosnia and Herzegovina, also previously known from research descriptions of older date as "Vilić Pećina", such as one from 1896, conducted by Austria-Hungary geologists.
Trebišnjica wellspring-group is a system of two geographically and hydrologically distinct principal groupings of strong karstic springs, Trebišnjica and Čeplica, which together constitute source of the Trebišnjica river. Wellsprings are located just below town of Bileća in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The entire area where founts are situated is submerged under Bilećko Lake since 1967, formed after the construction of Trebinje-1 Hydroelectric Power Station and its large arch dam at Grnčarevo village.
The Ribnik is a river in the western part of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is a headwaters tributary of the Sana, which it meat at Strane and Velije hamlets of the Gornji Ribnik village, 17 km below the Sana's own spring, bringing a large amounts of waters to the still young Sana. It is among shortest of the Sana tributaries but at the same time among largest by water volume it discharge into the receiving Sana. The Ribnik is well known as prime fly fishing destination and is popular throughout the world.
