Ralja (river)

Content sourced from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Ralja (river)

Ralja is a river in the Šumadija region of Serbia. It is 51 kilometers long and is a left tributary of the Jezava, which is a distributary of the Great Morava. The river’s name also gives its surrounding subregion in Šumadija its name.

Course
The Ralja starts on the Kosmaj mountain, north of Velika Ivanča, in the Sopot municipality near Belgrade. From early on, the river valley runs along the Belgrade–Niš railway. Near Popović and Mali Požarevac, the Ralja turns east for the rest of its course, and the Belgrade–Niš highway follows the river at this point. It flows past the Belgrade suburbs of Dražanj, Umčari and Živkovac, and separates the Podunavlje plain from the Ralja region of Šumadija. It leaves the Belgrade area at Malo Orašje. After passing Binovac, Kolari, Vrbovac and Ralja, the river turns north at Vranovo and empties into one of the Jezava’s arms near Radinac, in the Smederevo area.

Characteristics
The Ralja drains about 310 square kilometers and is part of the Black Sea drainage basin. It is not navigable.

Flood monitoring
In July 2021, Belgrade announced a flood-warning project for several rivers, including the Ralja. Hydrological stations and rain gauges were planned to monitor water levels. The Ralja is a relatively small stream but can flood surroundings during heavy rains. By March 2023, three hydrological stations were installed along the river at Dražanj, Umčari and Živkovac, with a fourth at the confluence of Kamendol creek.

Pollution
In the lower section, the Ralja receives wastewater from the Smederevo Ironworks. Measurements in 2021 and 2022 showed high levels of cadmium, lead, copper and zinc in the river’s mud, and the water in that area can appear red.