long right tributary to the Black Drin river.

     Radika River is a pearl among the rivers of Macedonia. Radika River has pure, clear and cool water with dark green colour, which is result of the calcium carbonate in it. Radika River rises on 2200 meters above sea level on the spectacular Bistra Mountain. From its source to the mouth of the river in Debar Lake, Radika River is 67 km long.
The valley of Radika River is one of the most attractive and picturesque canyon valleys in our country. The canyon has been formed over millions of years, breaking through the mountain sides of Bistra and Stogovo in the East and Korab and Deshat in the west.
     The canyon on the Radika River is truly enchanting with the clear mountain water, surrounded by thick vegetation, as well as with the abundance of trout fish, which lures the fishing lovers. The scientists have researched over 30 caves, 10 meters long, in the upper part of the Radika River. Outstanding with its beauty is the 500 meters long "Simka" Cave.

     Upper Radika is just 8 km (5 mi) long and due to the human managing of its course, it belongs to the Aegean Sea drainage basin, unlike the latter course of the Lower Radika which belongs to the Adriatic Sea drainage basin. It flows to the south between the mountains of Korab to the west and Ničipurska planina to the east. At the village of Volkovija, an artificial bifurcation is created, as the waters of the Upper Radika are conducted into the artificial lake Mavrovo at the village of Mavrovi Anovi and from there, via the Mavrovo system of the hydroelectric power plants, into the Vardar river.

     In the lower, 44 km (27 mi)-long section of the course, the Radika continues its general direction to the south. It carved a long and 1 km (0.62 mi) deep gorge between the mountains of Korab and Dešat on the west and Bistra (on the east) and. There are many interesting places along the Radika valley; including the villages of Velebrdo, Rostuša, Jance, Prisojnica, Skudrinje, the monastery of Sveti Jovan Bigorski, the spa of Kosovratska banja (with sulphuric water, hot up to 49 °C or 120 °F) and the unique Alčija cave, formed in alabaster. Alabaster is abundant in the surrounding terrain and it has been extractd and treated for industrial and commercial use in the town of Debar.

After the gorge, the Radika receives its major tributary, the Valovica river from the right and flows on the northern slopes of the Stogovo mountain. After the villages of Dolno Kosovrasti, Dolni Melničani, Gorenci and Rajčica, the Radika empties into the Black Drin, just south of Debar. Actually, the lowest section of the river is floodbed by the artificial lake Debar on the Black Drin, becoming one of lake's bays.
     Overall, the Radika belongs to the Adriac Sea drainage basin, drains an area of 665 km2 (257 sq mi) itself and it is not navigable.
     The Radika has huge possibilities for the hydroelectric power production, which is partially used in its upper course. Also, the river valley is the natural route for the major road road in Western Macedonia which connects the regions of Polog and Ohrid.