The place where the love of Buna and Neretva is born! Buna canal is a phenomenon that you have to experience

We have written about the area of the Buna River on several occasions. There is, of course, its Blagaj tekke, which is located just above the spring of the Buna, Stjepangrad, which, apart from its history, has an incredible view of it, all the way to the hotel and restaurant itself, where, with a great meal and the occasional duck, you can enjoy its murmur.

This time we went downstream, more precisely to its mouth known as Buna Canal (bosn. Bunski kanal), where it joins the queen of all rivers, the famous Neretva, in a completely natural, special, and mysterious way.

Buna, Photo: Dudlajzov, Depositphotos

Buna is a river with two sources. The first, which, as we have already mentioned, begins below the tekke, and the second, that of the Bunica river, whose source is in Malo Polje, not far from Blagaj. 

Although it is only 9 kilometers long, it is very important for this area, both for agriculture and for breeding fish such as trout. It is an attractive habitat for various species of birds and more than 20 endemic plant and animal species.

Despite its stunning color, murmur, and purity, few passers-by are aware of its magical estuary.

Source of the Buna River, Blagaj, Photo: Mujo Hasanović, Unsplash

Besides its springs, Buna’s next biggest attraction is certainly the Buna Canal. This natural phenomenon arose gradually over the centuries, where the Buna created travertine barriers with its power and overflowed over them into the arms of the Neretva, where it created beautiful waterfalls.

This wonderful location, which will surely amaze you in autumn and winter when its flow is even greater due to rainfall, is located south of Mostar along the main road M-17 that leads to Čapljina.

Buna canal, Photo: LuckyTD, Depositphotos

Many nature lovers and associations advocate for the protection of the canal because it does not have the status it had during Yugoslavia. Despite previous attempts to build a hydroelectric power plant, this natural wonder has remained untouched until now.

Its future, as a tourist destination or protected area, remains uncertain.

Be that as it may, it is a place that you can enjoy today differently and uniquely.

Visit it, explore it, look around, capture its beauty with a photo and, of course, leave only your footprints so that future generations after you can enjoy it too.