The Meža (Slovene) or Mieß (German; pronounced[miːs]ⓘ) is a river in the Austrian state of Carinthia and in Slovenia, a right tributary of the Drava. It is 43 kilometers (27 mi) long, of which 42 kilometers (26 mi) are in Slovenia.[1] Its catchment area is 551.7 square kilometers (213.0 sq mi),[2] of which 543 square kilometers (210 sq mi) in Slovenia.[1]
The Meža River was attested as Mis in 1361, Mys in 1424, and Miß in 1476. The name is etymologically related to Czech Mže and the Russian river names Mzha and Mozha, derived from Slavic *mьz′a 'dripping, drizzling'.[3]
CourseEdit
It has its source on the Austrian side of the border north of Mount Olševa in the Karawanks range, becomes subterranean a kilometre from its source, and reappears on the surface in Koprivna west of Črna na Koroškem in Slovenia. From Črna the river turns northwards and flows between the slopes of the Peca massif and the St. Ursula Mountain to Mežica and Poljana. From here the river again flows eastwards to Prevalje, and Ravne na Koroškem, and into the Drava at Dravograd.
In its first part the Meža falls rapidly and is a typical Alpine river with its tributaries from the Kamnik Alps and the Karawanks mountain range. After Črna it becomes a slow meandering lowland river. Its main tributary is the Mislinja River, which joins the Meža River northwest of the village of Otiški Vrh near Dravograd, only a couple hundred meters before the Meža joins the Drava River.
The average monthly discharge of the Meža at Otiški Vrh (1971–2000)
The Meža Valley (Mežiška dolina or Mießtal) within the southern Karawanks range was part of the Austrian Duchy of Carinthia up to 1919, before it was ceded to the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes according to the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye. Together with the adjacent Mislinja Valley and Upper Drava Valley, it has formed the traditional Carinthia (Koroška) region of independent Slovenia since 1991.
The Meža has been the most polluted river in Slovenia. In 1982 the singer-songwriter Marijan Smode [sl] wrote a song about it titled "Mrtva reka" (The Dead River). This song has even been published in primary school textbooks. The main polluter has been the Mežica lead mine and the Ravne Steelworks (Železarna Ravne) conglomerate.
^ abSurface streams and water balance of Slovenia, Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning
^Snoj, Marko (2009). Etimološki slovar slovenskih zemljepisnih imen. Ljubljana: Modrijan. pp. 261–262.
External linksEdit
Media related to Meža at Wikimedia Commons
Confluence of the Meža, Mislinja, and Drava Rivers, interactive map on Geopedia
October 21, 2023
meža, slovene, mieß, german, pronounced, miːs, river, austrian, state, carinthia, slovenia, right, tributary, drava, kilometers, long, which, kilometers, slovenia, catchment, area, square, kilometers, which, square, kilometers, slovenia, mießupper, near, Črnal. The Meza Slovene or Miess German pronounced miːs is a river in the Austrian state of Carinthia and in Slovenia a right tributary of the Drava It is 43 kilometers 27 mi long of which 42 kilometers 26 mi are in Slovenia 1 Its catchment area is 551 7 square kilometers 213 0 sq mi 2 of which 543 square kilometers 210 sq mi in Slovenia 1 MezaMiessUpper Meza near CrnaLocationCountriesAustria and SloveniaRegionsCarinthia AustriaCarinthia SloveniaPhysical characteristicsSource locationMt Olseva near Eisenkappel coordinates46 28 9 N 14 41 13 E 46 46917 N 14 68694 E 46 46917 14 68694 elevation1 358 m 4 455 ft Mouth locationDrava near Dravograd coordinates46 35 11 N 15 1 20 E 46 58639 N 15 02222 E 46 58639 15 02222Length43 km 27 mi 1 Basin size551 7 km2 213 0 sq mi 2 Basin featuresProgressionDrava Danube Black Sea Contents 1 Name 2 Course 3 References 4 External linksName EditThe Meza River was attested as Mis in 1361 Mys in 1424 and Miss in 1476 The name is etymologically related to Czech Mze and the Russian river names Mzha and Mozha derived from Slavic mz a dripping drizzling 3 Course EditIt has its source on the Austrian side of the border north of Mount Olseva in the Karawanks range becomes subterranean a kilometre from its source and reappears on the surface in Koprivna west of Crna na Koroskem in Slovenia From Crna the river turns northwards and flows between the slopes of the Peca massif and the St Ursula Mountain to Mezica and Poljana From here the river again flows eastwards to Prevalje and Ravne na Koroskem and into the Drava at Dravograd In its first part the Meza falls rapidly and is a typical Alpine river with its tributaries from the Kamnik Alps and the Karawanks mountain range After Crna it becomes a slow meandering lowland river Its main tributary is the Mislinja River which joins the Meza River northwest of the village of Otiski Vrh near Dravograd only a couple hundred meters before the Meza joins the Drava River nbsp The average monthly discharge of the Meza at Otiski Vrh 1971 2000 The Meza Valley Meziska dolina or Miesstal within the southern Karawanks range was part of the Austrian Duchy of Carinthia up to 1919 before it was ceded to the Kingdom of Serbs Croats and Slovenes according to the Treaty of Saint Germain en Laye Together with the adjacent Mislinja Valley and Upper Drava Valley it has formed the traditional Carinthia Koroska region of independent Slovenia since 1991 The Meza has been the most polluted river in Slovenia In 1982 the singer songwriter Marijan Smode sl wrote a song about it titled Mrtva reka The Dead River This song has even been published in primary school textbooks The main polluter has been the Mezica lead mine and the Ravne Steelworks Zelezarna Ravne conglomerate References Edit a b c Rivers longer than 25 km and their catchment areas Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia a b Surface streams and water balance of Slovenia Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning Snoj Marko 2009 Etimoloski slovar slovenskih zemljepisnih imen Ljubljana Modrijan pp 261 262 External links Edit nbsp Media related to Meza at Wikimedia Commons Confluence of the Meza Mislinja and Drava Rivers interactive map on Geopedia Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Meza amp oldid 1178022251, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
