The Krivaja valley and the surrounding mountains are shaped by the river of the same name. From its source in Olovo, where it is formed by the confluence of the Stupčanica and Bioštica, the river is 74 kilometres long. In Zavidovići, after meandering its course as one of South-Eastern Europe’s most unspoilt rivers, it flows into the Bosna, which forms part of the Sava river basin. The riverbed is flanked by the Konjuh and Ozren mountain ranges to the north, and the Zvijezda and Tajan ranges to the south.
The mountains form part of the Dinaric Alps, but are not part of the Karst region. They are largely part of the so-called Konjuh-Krivaja massif and are characterised by ophiolite outcrops. In terms of fauna, flora and climate, the Krivaja is a unique refuge, home to, amongst other species, the European huchen, numerous snakes, butterflies, amphibians, bats and endemic herbs. Although the Krivaja is considered rugged, the area is also of particular interest in terms of its historical transport, economic and human geography.
References (Selection)
- Hrvatović, Hazim: Geological Guidebook Through Bosnia and Hercegovina 2006, Sarajevo 2006.
- Lakatoš, Joso: Der Bergbau Jugoslaviens. In: Ausgabe des Institutes zur Förderung des Aussenhandels (1931).
- Operta, Mevlida/Hyseni, S.: Krivaja – Konjuh Ophiolite Complex in Bosnia and Herzegovina Addition to Study on Mineral Composition of Metamorphic Rocks. In: International Journal of Engineering and Technology Volume 2 (2012), H. No. 4, S. 653–663.
- Spahić, Muriz: Krivaja River – Potamological Surveys. In: Geografski pregled 33–34 (1990), S. 38–49.
- Taletović, Nermin/Šabović, Almir/Jašarević, Eldar u. a.: Hydrogeological and Hydrological Characteristics of the Metalliferous Region North of Olovo. In: Archives for Technical Sciences 2 (2016), H. 15, S. 9–14.
- Elaborat endemičnih, rjetkih i ugroženih vrsta flore, gljiva i faune na ŠGP „Krivajsko“Zavidovići, 2019.