Zeta (river)

Zeta Зета
Data
location	Montenegro
River system	Buna (Boyana)
Drain over	Morača  → Buna  → Mediterranean
source	south of Nikšić 42 ° 40 ′ 55 ″  N , 19 ° 0 ′ 16 ″  E
muzzle	in Podgorica in the Morača coordinates: 42 ° 27 ′ 52 "  N , 19 ° 15 ′ 40"  E 42 ° 27 ′ 52 "  N , 19 ° 15 ′ 40"  E
length	86 km
Catchment area	1547 km²

The Zeta ( Cyrillic Зета ) is a 86 km long river in Montenegro . It rises from a karst spring near Nikšić in the west of the country and then flows in a south-easterly direction to the capital Podgorica , where it flows into the Morača , of which it is the largest tributary .

The city ​​of Danilovgrad lies on its meandering course through the Zeta Plain (also Bjelopavlićko Plain ) . The plain is fertile and therefore important for agriculture in the mostly very mountainous country. It has always been of great strategic importance; the Romans built a paved road and several settlements here. Shortly before the Zeta flows into the Morača, the ruins of the ancient city of Dioclea are located near the river .

Even today the road and the rail connection from Nikšić to Podgorica run through the Zeta Valley.

The principality of Zeta , which is considered to be the nucleus of the later state of Montenegro, owes its name to the river. Likewise, a bank was named after the river or the former principality during the time of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia .