Timok

{{Short description|River in Serbia and Bulgaria}} {{Other uses}} {{Infobox river | name = Timok | native_name = {{native name list |tag1=sr|name1={{lang-sr-Cyrl-Latn|Тимок|Timok|separator=" / "|label=none}} |tag2=bg|name2=Тимок |tag3=ro|name3=Timoc}} | name_other = Great Timok | name_etymology =  | image = April2003 (22) Timok.JPG | image_size = 250px | image_caption = View of the Timok at [[Baley, Bulgaria|Baley]], Bulgaria | map = | map_size = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = | pushpin_map_size = | pushpin_map_caption=  | subdivision_type1 = Countries | subdivision_name1 = {{hlist|[[Serbia]]|[[Bulgaria]]}} | subdivision_type2 = | subdivision_name2 = | subdivision_type3 = | subdivision_name3 = | subdivision_type4 = | subdivision_name4 = | subdivision_type5 = Towns | subdivision_name5 = '''Serbia'''': {{hlist|[[Zaječar]]|[[Brusnik, Zaječar|Brusnik]]}}{{-}}'''Bulgaria''': {{hlist|[[Bregovo]]|[[Baley, Bulgaria|Baley]]}}  | length_km = 202 | length_ref = <ref name="Yearbook"/> | width_min = | width_avg = | width_max = | depth_min = | depth_avg = | depth_max = | discharge1_location= [[River mouth|mouth]] | discharge1_min = | discharge1_avg = {{convert|31|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}} | discharge1_max =  | source1 = [[Zaječar]], Serbia | source1_location = Junction of the [[Beli Timok]] and the [[Crni Timok]] | source1_coordinates= {{coord|43|55|12|N|22|17|52|E|display=inline}} | source1_elevation = | mouth = [[Danube]] | mouth_location = north of [[Bregovo]], Bulgaria / east of [[Negotin]], Serbia | mouth_coordinates = {{coord|44|12|49|N|22|40|13|E|display=inline,title}} | mouth_elevation = | progression = {{RDanube}} | river_system = | basin_size_km2 = 4626 | basin_size_ref = <ref name=ICPDR /> | tributaries_left = [[Crni Timok]] | tributaries_right = [[Beli Timok]] | custom_label = | custom_data = | extra = }}

The '''Timok''' ([[Serbian language|Serbian]] and {{langx|bg|Тимок}}, {{langx|ro|Timoc}}), sometimes also known as '''Great Timok''' ({{lang-sr-Cyrl-Latn|Велики Тимок|Veliki Timok|separator=" / "}}, {{langx|ro|Timocul Mare}}), is a river in eastern [[Serbia]], a right tributary of the [[Danube]]. For the last 15 km of its run it forms a border between eastern Serbia and western [[Bulgaria]].

It is a branchy system of many shorter rivers, many of them having the same name (Timok), only clarified with adjectives. From the farthest source in the system, that of the [[Svrljiški Timok]], until its confluence (as ''Veliki Timok''), the Timok is 202 km long.<ref name="Yearbook">{{Serbia Yearbook 2017|pages=16}}</ref> The area of the river basin is {{convert|4626|km2|abbr=on}}.<ref name=ICPDR>[https://www.icpdr.org/main/sites/default/files/FAP12_Velika_Morava.pdf Velika Morava River Basin], [[International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River|ICPDR]], November 2009, p. 2</ref> Its average [[discharge (hydrology)|discharge]] at the [[River mouth|mouth]] is {{cvt|31|m3/s}}.{{GeoSource|Danube||12}} The [[Timok Valley]] is known for the most important Vlach population in Eastern Serbia.

Its name stems from antiquity, in [[Latin]] it was known as ''Timacus'' and in [[Ancient Greek]] ''Timachos'', Τίμαχος.<ref>The Cambridge Ancient History Vol. 10, John Boardman, p 579, 1996, {{ISBN|978-0-521-85073-5}}</ref>

This in turn comes from [[Proto-Indo-European language|Proto-Indo-European]] *tm̥Hes-, zero-grade of *témHes-, *témHos- (“darkness”), an s-stem from the root *temH- (“dark”), also present in the names of the [[Thames]] and [[Timiș|Tamiš/Temes/Timiș]], possibly with extension "-q" for water (present in Latin "aqua").

== Drainage system == The Timok, also named ''Veliki Timok'' to distinguish it from its tributaries, is formed by the confluence of the rivers [[Beli Timok]] ("White Timok") and [[Crni Timok]] ("Black Timok") at [[Zaječar]]. The Beli Timok is formed by the confluence of the rivers [[Svrljiški Timok]] ("[[Svrljig]] Timok") and [[Trgoviški Timok]] ("[[Trgovište (Knjaževac)|Trgovište]] Timok") at [[Knjaževac]].

== Course ==

The Timok turns north-west after its formation at Zaječar, running next to the villages of [[Vražogrnac]], Trnavac, Čokonjar, and [[Brusnik, Zaječar|Brusnik]]. Passing between the last two it leaves the [[Timok Valley]] and enters the [[Negotin Valley]].

In the lower course the Timok has no major settlements on the Serbian side (though flowing only 7 km from [[Negotin]]). Some 15 km before it empties into the Danube as its right tributary, the Timok becomes a border river, passing next to the Bulgarian town of [[Bregovo]] and the Bulgarian village of [[Baley, Bulgaria|Baley]]. The river's mouth represents the northernmost point of Bulgaria, and is only 28 m above sea level, which makes it the lowest point of Serbia. The average discharge is 24 m3/s, but it can grow to 40 m3/s, and the Timok is part of the [[Black Sea]] drainage basin. The main (right) tributaries in this section are ''Crna reka'', ''Salaška reka'', ''Sikolska reka'' and ''Čubarska reka'' (Cyrillic: Црна река, Салашка река, Сиколска река and Чубарска река).

== Cultural Impact ==

Apart from the Timok Valley, the Timok gave its name to the two tribes who lived on its banks, [[Thracian]] or Thraco-[[Celts|Celtic]] [[Timachi]] in the I to III century common era, and [[Slavs|Slavonic]] [[Timočani]] in the VI to IX and to a rebellion against Serbian king [[Milan I of Serbia|Milan Obrenović IV]] in 1883, known as the [[Timok Rebellion]].

== Economy and ecology ==

At [[Čokonjar]], the ''Sokolovica'' power plant was constructed in 1947–1951. Opportunities for higher electricity production are not used.

The river has been greatly ecologically damaged in recent years by the [[mining]] and [[Heavy metals|heavy metal]] [[Industry (economics)|industry]] in Bor and [[Krivelj]] and is consequently polluting the Danube with [[lead]], [[copper]] and [[cadmium]].

The river valley is a natural route for the road and railway [[Niš]] - [[Prahovo]].

== See also == * [[Rivers in Serbia]] * [[Rivers in Bulgaria]]

== References == {{Reflist}} * ''Mala Prosvetina Enciklopedija'', Third edition (1985); Prosveta; {{ISBN|86-07-00001-2}} * Jovan Đ. Marković (1990): ''Enciklopedijski geografski leksikon Jugoslavije''; Svjetlost-Sarajevo; {{ISBN|86-01-02651-6}}

==External links== {{commons category-inline|Timok}}

[[Category:Rivers of Serbia]] [[Category:Timok Valley]] [[Category:Nišava District]] [[Category:Zaječar District]] [[Category:Bor District]] [[Category:Rivers of Bulgaria]] [[Category:Rivers of Vidin Province]] [[Category:International rivers of Europe]] [[Category:Bulgaria–Serbia border]] [[Category:Lowest points of countries]]