The Krka River, from its source below Krško Cave to its confluence with the Sava near Brežice, is a purely Slovenian river. Spanning 93.1 km, it is the second longest entirely Slovenian river, surpassed only by the Savinja. Its journey begins at an altitude of 312 m and ends at 141 m, defined by iconic tufa sills and picturesque cascades.

Karst Hinterland and Radensko Polje

Much like the Ljubljanica, the Krka collects its waters from a vast karst area. The majority of its flow originates from the Radensko Polje, located 5 km away. This polje is a classic karst phenomenon where the streams Dobravka, Zelenka, and Šica disappear into the underground. A unique feature here is the Hum Kopanj (389 m), the only morphological hill of its kind in a Slovenian karst field, where the poet France Prešeren spent part of his youth.

*Hum is a residual hill on the flat floor of a karst polje, left behind as the surrounding limestone was dissolved by corrosion.

Upper Course and Tufa Sills

In the "Suha Krajina" (Dry Landscape), the Krka flows through a narrow, 10–25 m deep valley. Powerful karst springs like Globočec and Tominčev Studenec feed the river, with the latter reaching flows of up to 10 m³/s during high water. The region is famous for its tufa (lehnjak) sills. Tufa is formed by calcium carbonate depositing on moss and aquatic plants, creating a lightweight, porous stone once favored for construction.

The Gorge and Novo Mesto

Beyond the Dvor settlement, the valley narrows into a 5 km gorge between the Ajdovska plateau and Kočevski Rog. The river then makes a distinct turn toward Novo Mesto, where the historic town center is nestled tightly within a dramatic river bend. Further downstream at Otočec, the river surrounds the famous Otočec Castle, situated on a tufa island, before transforming into a slow lowland river winding toward the Krakovo Forest.

Historical Heritage

Historically, the Krka was the lifeblood of local industry. In the 19th century, 24 mills and 14 saws lined its banks. The valley was also a hub for ironworks, particularly at Dvor, where a massive iron foundry produced world-renowned cast-iron products until 1896. Today, the river is a center for tourism, fishing, and recreation, connecting historic landmarks like the Otočec and Žužemberk castles.