Karaš

For the village in Vratsa Province, Bulgaria, see Karash.

The Karaš (in Serbian, also Cyrillic: Караш) or Caraș (in Romanian) is a 110-kilometre (68 mi) long river in the Banat region of Vojvodina, Serbia and Romania forming the left tributary of the Danube.

Name

In Roman times the river was known as Apo, from a Thracian word meaning "water".

Romania

The Caraș originates in the Anina Mountains, northeast of the town of Anina, close to the sources of the Bârzava and Nera rivers. It runs through Romania for 50 kilometres (31 mi), flowing to the north in its early reaches before turning southwest at the town of Caraşova where it receives many short tributaries, most notably, the left tributary of the Lisava, then passes many villages including (Giurgiova, Ticvaniu Mare, Grădinari, Vărădia, Mercina, Vrani) before it enters the Serbian province of Vojvodina.

Serbia

Right after crossing the border, the Karaš receives its two major tributaries, the Borugu from the right, and the Ilidija (Romanian: Ilidia) from the left. It passes the villages of Kuštilj, Vojvodinci, Dobričevo, Straža and Jasenovo and reaches the eastern side of the Deliblatska Peščara and Dumača hill, the easternmost side of the Hills of Zagajica. From this point, the Karaš is channeled and incorporated into the last part of the Danube-Tisa Canal. It runs alongside the villages of Dupljaja, Grebenac, Kajtasovo and Banatska Palanka before it ends its 60-kilometre (37 mi) course through Serbia, emptying into the Danube near the village of Stara Palanka, across from the tourist resort of Ram.

The Karaš drains an area of 1,400 square kilometres (540 sq mi) and although it has been channeled it is not navigable.

Settlements located near the river

In Romania: Caraşova, Goruia, Ticvaniu Mare, Grădinari, Vărădia, Vrani

In Serbia: Kuštilj, Vojvodinci, Dobričevo, Straža, Jasenovo, Dupljaja, Grebenac, Kajtasovo, Banatska Palanka, Stara Palanka

Tributaries

The following are tributaries of the Karaš:

Left: Buhui, Raicovacea, Şereniac, Gârlişte, Goruia, Jitin, Lișava, Bucovăț, Ciclova, Vicinic, Ilidia

Right: Izvoru Mare, Jervanu Mare, Comarnic, Gelug, Dognecea, Barcheș, Cernovăț, Borugu

Krašovani

Krašovani or Karašani (Cyrillic: Крашовани or Карашани; People from the Karaš), are people of South Slavic origin, settled around the town of Caraşova in the river's upper course. Known as good farmers and craftsmen with an estimated number of 20,000 after World War II.

References

• Mala Prosvetina Enciklopedija, Third edition (1985); Prosveta; ISBN 86-07-00001-2
• Jovan Đ. Marković (1990): Enciklopedijski geografski leksikon Jugoslavije; Svjetlost-Sarajevo; ISBN 86-01-02651-6
• Administrația Națională a Apelor Române - Cadastrul Apelor - București
• Institutul de Meteorologie și Hidrologie - Rîurile României - București 1971
• Trasee turistice - județul Caraș [1]

Maps

• Harta Județului Caraș-Severin [2]
• Harta munții Aninei [3]