BISTRICA RIVER SPRING IN LIVNO

Author: Ekrem Tucaković, PhD, Riyasat of the Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Photo: Mirza Hasanefendić

The Bistrica is a river in the southwest part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which flows through the east part of Livanjsko polye. It springs from the hill of Bašajkovac, in the village of Duman in Livno. It is about three kilometer long. In summer months its bed is mostly dry, while in the fall it swells from heavy rain.

The name of the site where it springs derives from Turkish word duman, which means smoke or mist, because of the drops of water which sometimes make a water curtain during winter months. The spring is a beautiful natural phenomenon, particularly in the period when snow from the surrounding mountains melts at the end of winter and a great quantity of water flows out of rocks. The spring is easily accessible and is a geomorphological natural monument.

Close to the spring, the stone Firdus Bridge, or the Bridge on Duman was built, which complements the whole panorama. The bridge dates back to the Ottoman period and, according to a folk legend, it was built by tanners, who had workshops in the immediate vicinity of the bridge.