Pena (, ) is the biggest Šar river in Polog, North Macedonia after the Vardar River. It is the biggest Vardarian tributary from the Šar lakes.
Spring and course
The spring of Pena starts in the region of Čabriolica and Borisloica, high on the Šar Mountains, 2,500 metres above sea level. At first, there are two small streams that merge at the villages of Vešala and Bozovce.Душан Кривокапиќ: „Шар-Планина“, издание на „Туристичка Штампа“, Белград, 1969 година
Going through the center of Tetovo it hangs up in the Polog valley and near the village of Saraḱino it flows into the Vardar.
Characteristics
The springs of the river are on 2,500 metres above sea level and is 27 km long. In its river-bed pour 12 other rivers. The most important of these include the Karanikolovska River, the Przhina, the Vejčka, the Lesnhička, and the Brodečka.Живко Стефановски, Напредок Тетово, Шар Планина, стр 68-70
Significance
The Pena River is important to the city of Tetovo's economy. Four hydrocenters have been built along the river, including the first hydroelectric power plant established in North Macedonia.
The Pena family of Caguas, Puerto Rico is rumored to derive its name from the river.
In 1979, after torrential rains, the river overflowed and caused flooding in Tetovo.Кузман Најденоски: „Тетово во минатото“, издание од 1964 година. Печатница „Напредок“ Тетово
References
See also
Tetovo Šar Mountains