Sava

Sava is a major river in Southeast Europe and a right-bank tributary of the Danube. It rises in the Julian Alps of northern Slovenia and flows southeast and east across the region, passing through parts of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia before joining the Danube at Belgrade. The river is roughly 950 kilometers long and drains a basin of about 97,000 square kilometers.

The Sava's lower stretch is navigable and the river supports irrigation, water supply, and hydroelectric power generation along its course. It is an important component of the Danube–Sava–Adriatic waterway, a corridor of European transportation and commerce, linking the Northern and Central European interior with the Adriatic Sea.

Saint Sava, born Rastko Nemanjić (1174–1236), was a medieval Serbian prince who became a monk and the first Archbishop of the Serbian Orthodox Church. He played a central role in church organization and education in the early Serbian state. He is one of the most venerated figures in Serbia, and his feast day is widely observed.

Outside of the river, Sava is used as a given name in South Slavic languages. It is also a surname in some contexts. The name is associated with various places and institutions, particularly in Serbia and Croatia.