Yantra River

Yantra River is the second largest river by catchment area after Iskar in the Danubian region. Yantra rises from the Balkan Range, below the Buzludja peak. Yantra is the third longest affluent of the Danube River as it is 285 km long. The Thracian name of the river was Yatrus (fast running), and the Slavonic one – Etar. The upstream riverbanks are covered mainly with beeches. The waters of the Yantra River surround the hill of Tsarevets on three sides and turn it into a natural stronghold. Tsarevets used to be a residence of the Bulgarian tsars and the high clergy. One of the characteristic features of the Yantra River is that it has formed a lot of defiles passing across the Prebalkan. The Southern Defile, via which Yantra enters the town of Veliko Tarnovo, is called Ustie (Mouth). The northern one is longer, and its width between the rocks is 1 km. Going out of it, Yantra keeps its stream in north direction passing through the village of Samodevene and the town of Gorna Oryahovitsa. In 19 century vines were planted along the Northern Defile. Here are located two famous springs – Mechi Kladenets (Bear’s well) and Shishmanets. The legend tells that once, during the Ottoman invasion, the Bulgarian tsar Ivan Shishman, leaving Tarnovo, passed through the site. His mother asked him for some water, the king stuck his sword into the land, and a spring rose there. The Yantra River flows into Danube near the village of Vardim.