# Una

> river in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia

**Wikidata**: [Q212927](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q212927)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Una_(Sava))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/una-q212927-2

## Summary

The Una is a river flowing through Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia, serving as a significant natural boundary between the two countries. It is a tributary of the Sava River and is notable for its inclusion within Una National Park in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as for featuring the Štrbački buk waterfall, which spans both countries. The river holds strategic importance in the region, flowing through the Una-Sana Canton and Lika-Senj County, and passing near Republika Srpska.

## Key Facts

- **Classification**: River (larger natural watercourse)
- **Location**: Flows through Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia
- **Coordinates**: 44.39945649560774°N, 16.10379583593387°E and 45.27°N, 16.918055555556°E
- **Tributary of**: Sava River
- **Wikipedia Title**: Una (Sava)
- **Sitelink Count**: 45
- **Wikidata Description**: River in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia
- **Administrative Regions Traversed**: Una-Sana Canton (Bosnia and Herzegovina, inception: 1996-06-12), Lika-Senj County (Croatia)
- **Protected Area**: Una National Park (Bosnia and Herzegovina, inception: 2008)
- **Notable Feature**: Štrbački buk waterfall (located in both Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina)

## FAQs

**What countries does the Una river flow through?**

The Una river flows through Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia, serving as a natural border between the two countries in certain sections.

**What is the Una river's significance in Bosnia and Herzegovina?**

The Una river flows through the Una-Sana Canton, one of the ten cantons of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which was established on June 12, 1996. The river is also protected within Una National Park, established in 2008.

**What notable features does the Una river have?**

The Una river features the Štrbački buk waterfall, which is located on the border between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. This waterfall is a significant natural attraction in the region.

**Which administrative divisions does the Una river traverse?**

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the river flows through the Una-Sana Canton and passes near Republika Srpska (a political-administrative entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, established January 9, 1992). In Croatia, it flows through Lika-Senj County.

**What is the geographical context of the Una river?**

The Una river is a tributary of the Sava River, which itself is a major tributary of the Danube. The river's coordinates indicate it flows through the northwestern part of Bosnia and Herzegovina and into Croatia.

## Why It Matters

The Una river holds significant geographical, ecological, and administrative importance in the Balkans region. As a natural boundary between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia, it serves as a physical demarcation between two sovereign states that emerged from the breakup of Yugoslavia in the early 1990s. Bosnia and Herzegovina declared independence on March 1, 1992, while Croatia declared independence on June 25, 1991.

The river's inclusion within Una National Park (established in 2008) highlights its ecological significance, protecting the natural habitat and biodiversity along its course. The Štrbački buk waterfall represents a transboundary natural resource, existing simultaneously in both countries and serving as a symbol of shared natural heritage.

The Una-Sana Canton, through which the river flows, represents one of the ten cantons of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a unique federal structure established as part of the Dayton Agreement that ended the Bosnian War in 1995. The river thus traverses regions with complex political and administrative histories, making it a significant geographical feature in understanding the region's geopolitics.

## Notable For

- Serving as a natural border between Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia
- Flowing through the Una-Sana Canton, one of Bosnia and Herzegovina's ten cantons
- Being protected within Una National Park (established 2008)
- Featuring the transboundary Štrbačski buk waterfall
- Passing through Lika-Senj County in Croatia
- Traversing near Republika Srpska, one of Bosnia and Herzegovina's two main entities
- Being a tributary of the Sava River, which flows into the Danube

## Body

### Geography and Course

The Una river is a significant watercourse in the western Balkans, flowing through Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia. The river's coordinates at approximately 44.4°N latitude and 16.1°E longitude, with additional coordinates at 45.27°N and 16.92°E, indicate its path through the northwestern region of Bosnia and Herzegovina extending into Croatia. As a tributary of the Sava River, the Una contributes to the larger Danube river basin, making it part of one of Europe's major river systems.

### Political Geography

The river traverses several significant administrative divisions in both countries. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, it flows through the Una-Sana Canton, one of the ten cantons within the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Una-Sana Canton was established on June 12, 1996, following the restructuring of Bosnia and Herzegovina after the Dayton Agreement. The river also passes near Republika Srpska, one of the two main political-administrative entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which was officially established on January 9, 1992.

In Croatia, the river flows through Lika-Senj County, which is the largest county in Croatia by area. The river serves as a natural boundary between the two countries in certain sections, reflecting the complex border arrangements in the post-Yugoslav region.

### Protected Areas and Natural Features

The Una National Park, established in 2008 in Bosnia and Herzegovina, protects a significant portion of the river and its surrounding environment. This national park was created to preserve the unique natural heritage of the region, which includes the river's ecosystem, forests, and wildlife.

One of the most notable features along the river is the Štrbački buk waterfall, which is located on the border between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. This waterfall represents a transboundary natural resource, existing in both countries simultaneously and serving as a popular destination for tourists and nature enthusiasts.

### Regional Context

The river flows through a region with a complex political history. Bosnia and Herzegovina declared independence from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on March 1, 1992, while Croatia declared independence on June 25, 1991. Both countries have since become members of international organizations, with Croatia joining the United Nations on May 22, 1992, the European Union on July 1, 2013, and NATO on April 1, 2009. Bosnia and Herzegovina became a UN member on May 22, 1992, and joined the Council of Europe on April 24, 2002.

The region's administrative structure reflects this complex history, with Bosnia and Herzegovina operating as a federal republic comprising the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republika Srpska, and the Brčko District. The Una-Sana Canton represents one of the ten cantons within the Federation, demonstrating the intricate power-sharing arrangements designed to accommodate the country's diverse ethnic composition.

### Economic and Cultural Significance

The Una river and its surrounding region contribute to the local economy through tourism, particularly through Una National Park and the Štrbački buk waterfall. The river also supports agricultural activities in the surrounding areas of both countries. The region's cultural heritage reflects centuries of influence from various civilizations, including the Ottoman Empire and Austria-Hungary, which historically controlled these territories.

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
2. GeoNames
3. [Source](https://www.fishbase.se/TrophicEco/EcosysRef.php?ecosysname=Una+River&ve_code=737)