{{Infobox river | name = Topolnitsa | image = Topolnitsa-river.jpg | image_size = | image_caption = The Topolnitsa as seen from Trakiya motorway | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 8 | source1_location = east of Bich, Sredna Gora | source1_coordinates = {{coord|42|37|8.04|N|24|17|35.16|E|region:BG_type:river}} | mouth_location = Maritsa | mouth_coordinates = {{coord|42|11|13.92|N|24|18|1.08|E|region:BG_type:river}} | progression = {{RMaritsa}} | subdivision_type1 = Country | subdivision_name1 = Bulgaria | length_km = 155 | source1_elevation = {{convert|1413|m|abbr=on}} | mouth_elevation = {{convert|205|m|abbr=on}} | discharge1_avg = | basin_size_km2 = 1789 | basin_size_ref = <ref name=Yearbook>[http://www.nsi.bg/sites/default/files/files/publications/God2017.pdf Statistical Yearbook 2017], National Statistical Institute (Bulgaria), p. 17</ref> | tributaries_left = | tributaries_right = }}
The '''Topolnitsa''' ({{langx|bg|Тополница}} {{IPA|bg|toˈpɔɫnit͡ʃɐ|}}) is a river in southern Bulgaria, an important left tributary of the Maritsa. The river's name is derived from the Bulgarian word топола, ''topola'' ("poplar"). Reaching length of 155 km,<ref name="Geographic Dictionary of Bulgaria 495">{{harvnb|Geographic Dictionary of Bulgaria|1980|pp=495–496}}</ref> the Topolnitsa is the fourth longest river in the Maritsa drainage, following the Tundzha (390 km), the Arda (290 km) and the Ergene (281 km).
== Geography == The river takes its source at an altitude of 1,413 m near the eastern foothills of the summit of Bich (1,449 m) in the mountain range of Sredna Gora.<ref name="Geographic Dictionary of Bulgaria 495"/> In its first 12 km, the Topolnitsa flows eastwards in a deep forested valley. It then turns in northern direction, flows through the Koprivshtitsa Valley and enters another deep valley. Following the Koprivshtitsa Railway Station, the river turns west-southwest and enters the Zlatitsa–Pirdop Valley, where its flows through its southern areas. At the village of Petrich, it turns southwards and flows through a deep valley dividing two major sections of Sredna Gora — Ihtimanska Sredna Gora to the west and Sashtinska Sredna Gora to the east.<ref name="Geographic Dictionary of Bulgaria 495"/> Downstream of the dam of the Topolnitsa Reservoir the river takes a southeastern turn. At the village of Kalugerovo the Topolnitsa enters the Upper Thracian Plain, where the riverbed is corrected with protective dikes. It flows into the Maritsa at an altitude of 205 m about one kilometer west of the city of Pazardzhik.<ref name="Geographic Dictionary of Bulgaria 495"/>
Its drainage basin covers a territory of 1789 km<sup>2</sup> or 3.4% of Maritsa's total.<ref name="Geographic Dictionary of Bulgaria 495"/> It borders the drainage basins of the rivers Iskar to the north and northwest, Vit to the north, Stryama to the northeast and Luda Yana to the east. The main tributaries are the Medetska reka, Berereyska, Zlatishka, Bunovska, Mativir and Pavel.<ref name="Geographic Dictionary of Bulgaria 495"/>
The Topolnitsa has predominantly rain-snow feed with high water in March–June and low water in August–October. The average annual discharge is 3.75 m<sup>3</sup>/s at the confluence of its tributary Medetska reka and 10 m<sup>3</sup>/s at the village of Lesichovo.<ref name="Geographic Dictionary of Bulgaria 495"/>
== Settlements and economy == The river is situated in Sofia Province and Pazardzhik Province. There are 11 settlements along its course: the town of Koprivshtitsa and the villages of Dushantsi, Petrich, Muhovo, Poibrene, Lesichovo, Kalugerovo, Dinkata, Pamidovo, Yunatsite and Dragor. There are two main roads through its valley, a 16.4 km stretch of the third class III-606 road Koprivshtitsa–Strelcha–Trud and a 35.3 km stretch of the third class III-803 road Ihtiman–Lesichovo–Pazardzhik.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.api.bg/index.php/bg/karti/republikanska-ptna-mrezha/|title=A Map of the Republican Road Network of Bulgaria|website=Official Site of the Road Infrastructure Agency|access-date=7 October 2023}}</ref>
Its waters are utilised for irrigation in the Zlatitsa–Pirdop Valley and the Upper Thracian Plain, via the reservoirs of Dushantsi, Zhekov Vir and Topolnitsa. The latter allows the irrigation of about 350 km<sup>2</sup> arable land and also has a small hydro power station (9 MW).<ref>{{harvnb|Geographic Dictionary of Bulgaria|1980|p=496}}</ref> In the area of its upper course there two tailings dams, related to the major Asarel Medet copper mine.
== Gallery == <gallery mode="packed"> File:Lesichovo E72.JPG | Topolnitsa at Lesichovo File:Topolnitsa-river-meanders-1.jpg | Topolnitsa between Tserovo and Muhovo File:Topolnitsa E2.jpg | Topolnitsa at Tserovo </gallery>
==Citations== {{Reflist}}
== References == {{commons category|Topolnitsa}} * {{cite book | title = Българска енциклопедия А-Я | publisher = БАН, Труд, Сирма | language = Bulgarian | year = 2002 | chapter = Тополница | isbn = 954-8104-08-3 | oclc = 163361648 }} * {{cite book | ref={{harvid|Geographic Dictionary of Bulgaria|1980}} | title = Географски речник на България | trans-title = Geographic Dictionary of Bulgaria | last1 = Мичев (Michev) | first1 = Николай (Nikolay) | last2 = Михайлов (Mihaylov) | first2 = Цветко (Tsvetko) | last3 = Вапцаров (Vaptsarov) | first3 = Иван (Ivan) | last4 = Кираджиев (Kiradzhiev) | first4 = Светлин (Svetlin) | chapter = | year = 1980 | language = Bulgarian | publisher = Наука и култура (Nauka i kultura) | location = София (Sofia) | isbn = }}
Category:Rivers of Bulgaria Category:Rivers of Sofia Province Category:Rivers of Pazardzhik Province