ISKUR RIVER

also spelled Isker, or Iskar, Latin Oescus, longest river in Bulgaria, formed south of Samokov in the Rila Mountains by its headstreams, the Beli (White) Iskur and Cherni (Black) Iskur. It cuts a 40-mi (65-km) gorge through the Balkan Mountains to bring the high basin of Sofia (1,800 ft ) into communication with the Danube tableland. The river empties into the Danube about 20 mi west of Nikopol after a course of 250 mi. Along its lower course, southeast of Sofia, is a chain of small hydro stations associated with the Iskur Reservoir. The Maluk Iskur and Panega are tributaries.