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For the infantry division, see 14 Infantry Division Isonzo.
Soca 4.jpg
The Soča near Bovec
Origin Julian Alps, west of Triglav
Mouth Adriatic Sea, near Monfalcone
Basin countries Slovenia, Italy
Length 138 kilometres (86 mi)
Source elevation 876 metres (2,874 ft)
Avg. discharge 172 m³/s[1]
Basin area 3,400 km²[1]

The Soča (pronounced [ˈsoːtʃa] in Slovene) or Isonzo (in Italian) (other names Friulian: Lusinç, archaic German: Sontig, Latin: Aesontius or Isontius[2]) is a 138 km (86 mi) long river that flows through western Slovenia (96 kilometres or 60 miles) and northeastern Italy (43 kilometres or 27 miles).[3]

An Alpine river in character, its source lies in the Trenta Valley in the Julian Alps in northwestern Slovenia, at an elevation of 876 metres (2,874 ft).[3] The river runs past the towns of Bovec, Kobarid, Tolmin, Kanal ob Soči, Nova Gorica (where it is crossed by the Solkan Bridge), and Gorizia, entering the Adriatic Sea close to the Italian town of Monfalcone.


The river was recorded in antiquity as Aesontius, Sontius, and Isontius. Later attestations include super Sontium (in 507–11), a flumine Isontio (1028), in Lisonçum (1261), an die Ysnicz (1401), and an der Snicz (ca. 1440). The Slovene name Soča is derived from the form *Sǫťa, which was borrowed from Latin (and Romance) Sontius. In turn, this is probably based on the substrate name *Aisontia, presumably derived from the PIE root *Hei̯s- 'swift, rushing', referring to a quickly moving river. Another possible origin is the pre-Romance root *ai̯s- 'water, river'.[4]

Major changes in the watershed[edit]

Course of the Soča/Isonzo

The present course of the river is the result of several dramatic changes that occurred during the past 2,000 years. According to the Roman historian Strabo, the river named Aesontius which in Roman times flowed past Aquileia to the Adriatic Sea was essentially the Natisone and Torre river system.[5]

In 585, a landslide cut off the upper part of the Natisone riverbed, causing its avulsion and subsequent stream capture by the Bontius river. The original subterranean discharge of the Bontius into the Timavo became obstructed, and another avulsion returned the new watercourse into the bed of the lower Natisone.

During the next centuries the estuary of this new river — the Soča — moved eastward until it captured the short coastal river Sdobba, through which the Soča now discharges into the Adriatic Sea. The former estuary (of the Aesontius, and the early Soča/Isonzo) in the newly formed lagoon of Grado became an independent coastal rivulet.[6]


Due to its emerald-green water, the river is marketed as "The Emerald Beauty." It is said to be one of the rare rivers in the world that retain such a colour throughout their length.[7] Giuseppe Ungaretti, one of the greatest Italian poets, describes the Isonzo in the poem "The Rivers."

The Soča inspired the poet Simon Gregorčič to write his best-known poem Soči (To the Soča), one of the masterpieces of Slovene poetry. This region served as a location for the 2008 Disney film Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.[8]

The Soča is also well known for its unique trout species Salmo marmoratus (known as the marble trout), which lives in the upper course of the crystal-clear river. This species is endangered due to the introduction of other non-indigenous trout species sometime between World War I and World War II.[9]

Significance in World War I[edit]

The Isonzo River in Italian region.
The Soča River


The Isonzo campaign comprised the following battles:

See also[edit]


  1. ^ a b "Drainage Basin of the Mediterranean Sea". Second Assessment of Transboundary Rivers, Lakes and Groundwaters. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. August 2011. p. 159. ISBN 978-92-1-117052-8. 
  2. ^ Richard J.A. Talbert, ed. (2000). Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World: Map-By-Map Directory I. Princeton, NJ and Oxford, UK: Princeton University Press. p. 273. ISBN 0691049459. 
  3. ^ a b "Reke, dolge nad 25 km, in njihova padavinska območja" [Rivers, longer than 25 km, and their catchment areas] (in Slovene, English). Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia. 2002. 
  4. ^ Snoj, Marko. 2009. Etimološki slovar slovenskih zemljepisnih imen. Ljubljana: Modrijan and Založba ZRC, pp. 386–387.
  5. ^ Strabo, Geography, Vol. V, Chapter 1
  6. ^ Brockhaus' Konversations-Lexikon. 14th ed., Leipzig, Berlin and Vienna 1894; Vol. 9, p. 727.
  7. ^ Soca River Whitewater Rafting
  8. ^ "Filming locations for The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian". 
  9. ^ "Marble trout (Salmo marmoratus)". Balkan Trout Restoration Group. Retrieved 2009-05-29. 
  10. ^ FirstWorldWar.Com The Battles of the Isonzo, 1915-17

External links[edit]

Coordinates: 45°59′40″N 13°38′29″E﻿ / ﻿45.99444°N 13.64139°E﻿ / 45.99444; 13.64139