Retizhe

Retizhe
The upper course of Retizhe
Location
Country	Bulgaria
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Popovo Lake, Pirin
• elevation	2,234 m (7,329 ft)
Mouth
• location	Nestos (Mesta)
• coordinates	41°45′32.04″N 23°40′33.96″E / 41.7589000°N 23.6761000°E / 41.7589000; 23.6761000Coordinates: 41°45′32.04″N 23°40′33.96″E / 41.7589000°N 23.6761000°E / 41.7589000; 23.6761000
• elevation	646 m (2,119 ft)
Length	19 km (12 mi)
Basin size	44 km2 (17 sq mi)
Basin features
Progression	Nestos→ Aegean Sea

The Retizhe (Bulgarian: Ретиже) is a river in south-western Bulgaria, a right tributary of the Mesta.^[1][2] The river is 19 km long and drains parts of the eastern slopes of the Pirin mountain range.^[1]

The river takes its source from Pirin's largest and deepest glacial lake, Popovo, at an altitude of 2,234 m. At an altitude of 2,174 m near the Fish Popovi Lakes it is joined by two mountain streams — one from the north sloping down the summit of Polezhan (2,851 m), and one from the west coming from the . Further downstream another stream coming from the Kremenski Lakes flows into the Retizhe. It then flows in north-eastern direction in a deep valley, forming rapids and small waterfalls.^[1] Downstream the valley becomes deeper and is covered with dense forests. Some four kilometres before its mouth the Retizhe turns in eastern direction and forms a deep impassable canyon. It flows into the Mesta at Momina Klisura Gorge at an altitude of 646 m near the village of Mesta, Bansko Municipality.^[1][2] The village is the only settlement along the course of the river.

Its drainage basin covers a territory of 44 km² or 1.33% of Mesta's total.^[1] The main tributary is the Kremeshnitsa, which flows into the Retizhe close to its confluence with the Mesta. The river has predominantly snow-rain feed with high water in summer (June) and low water in winter (February).^[1] The average annual flow is 1.33 m³/s.^[1]

Only a small part of the river's water resources are utilised for hydroelectricity. There are five small hydro power stations with a combined installed capacity of 10 MW. The river sustains large populations of brown trout.^[2]

Honours[]

Retizhe Cove in Antarctica is named after the river.

Citations[]

References[]

• Мичев (Michev), Николай (Nikolay); Михайлов (Mihaylov), Цветко (Tsvetko); Вапцаров (Vaptsarov), Иван (Ivan); Кираджиев (Kiradzhiev), Светлин (Svetlin) (1980). Географски речник на България [Geographic Dictionary of Bulgaria] (in Bulgarian). София (Sofia): Наука и култура (Nauka i kultura).
• Душков (Dushkov), Добри (Dobri) (1972). Пирин. Туристически речник [Pirin. Tourist Dictionary] (in Bulgarian). София (Sofia): Наука и култура (Nauka i kultura).