{"id":4170,"date":"2026-03-20T12:42:41","date_gmt":"2026-03-20T12:42:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uzisibalkaninak.com\/?p=4170"},"modified":"2026-10-08T13:48:51","modified_gmt":"2026-10-08T13:48:51","slug":"following-in-the-footsteps-of-the-indians-along-the-rio-pecos-river","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uzisibalkaninak.com\/index.php\/en\/2026\/03\/20\/following-in-the-footsteps-of-the-indians-along-the-rio-pecos-river\/","title":{"rendered":"Following in the footsteps of the Indians along the \u2018Rio Pecos\u2019 river…"},"content":{"rendered":"

Of course, the title of the article is misleading. But who could forget the films about the legendary Apache chief, Winetou, and his blood brother, Old Shatterhand? One of the film\u2019s legendary scenes takes place on the banks of the American river, the Rio Pecos, where Old Shatterhand must fight a duel against Winetua\u2019s father \u2013 In\u010du\u010duna \u2013 in order to save his friends. And today I\u2019m going to take you to the places where this film scene was actually shot.<\/p>\n

*The River Zrmanja*<\/strong><\/p>\n

Did you know that this duel, as well as other scenes from the \u2018Winetou\u2019 films, were filmed on the banks of the Croatian river Zrmanja? It rises beneath Po\u0161tak Hill, which forms part of the southern Velebit range. It emerges from the Misije rock formation, which can be reached on foot from the village of Zrmanja Vrelo \u2013 a distance of about 3 km \u2013 and offers a truly breathtaking view. This geographical point forms part of the international Via Dinarica hiking trail, which passes through Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and ends in Albania.<\/p>\n

This is where the River Zrmanja rises \u2013 the Misije formation<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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The river itself is 69 kilometres long and flows into the Novigrad Sea. Every single kilometre offers fascinating views of cliffs, some over 200 metres high, towering above the river. There are several waterfalls along its course, as well as historical monuments.<\/p>\n

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You can view the Zrmanja \u2018from above\u2019, but I wanted to see all that splendour from the water. Besides, I wanted to show this beauty to my dad as well. That\u2019s why I decided to go on a sightseeing boat trip instead of hiking. It was already September, so I knew the canyon wouldn\u2019t be crowded with boats and tourists and that we\u2019d more or less have it \u2018all to ourselves\u2019. And as it turned out later \u2013 I was right \ud83d\ude42 …<\/p>\n

There are several companies operating in the Zadar area that offer boat trips along the River Zrmanja. However, not all of them are willing to provide a private boat trip for just a few people. I found one such company, Zrmanja River Tours<\/a>, based in the town of Novigrad. They were happy to provide us with a boat and a captain for the whole day. What a luxury \u2013 all to ourselves on the boat \ud83d\ude42 …<\/p>\n

*Starting point*<\/strong><\/p>\n

Our departure was scheduled for the following morning; we were due to set off from the town of Novigrad. This is situated on the shore of the so-called \u2018inland\u2019 sea named after the town (the Novigrad Sea). In 1220, the original Roman fortifications on the site of present-day Novigrad were renovated and given the name Castrum Novum. From the 15th century onwards, Novigrad was under the administration of the Venetian Republic, and it is precisely for this reason that it never fell under Turkish rule. There are several interesting historical monuments here.<\/p>\n

In Novigrad, we found our boat, met our captain Goran and set off on our cruise. On board, we were treated to some fantastic figs \u2013 I must have eaten a kilo of them \ud83d\ude42 \u2013 as well as other fruit.<\/p>\n

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*Crossing the Novigrad Sea*<\/strong><\/p>\n

A few words about the Novigrad Sea. Some people also call it Novigrad Bay. It is named after the town of Novigrad, from where we set sail. To the south-west, it is separated from the smaller Karinsko Sea by the Karinsko Strait. It is connected to the Adriatic Sea (or the Velebit Channel) by the Novi Strait. The River Zrmanja is practically the sea\u2019s only tributary. On its shores lie four seaside resorts which are very popular with tourists in the summer \u2013 Maslenica, Novigrad, Podgradina and Posedarje.<\/p>\n

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We had originally expected to head straight for the mouth of the River Zrmanja, but to our surprise, our captain steered the ship across the sea towards the Novska Strait. Seeing the question in my eyes, he explained that we still had time, as our boat could only pass under the bridge in the town of Obrovac at a specific time. Until then, the river level was still too high. So he first took us on a tour of the Novska Strait. And there certainly was plenty to see.<\/p>\n

The Novska Strait is 4 kilometres long, approximately 200 metres wide and has a maximum depth of 60 metres.<\/p>\n

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As well as the high rocky cliffs and several caves hidden within the rock faces, we also have the chance to admire two bridges from below:<\/p>\n

The Old Maslenica Bridge<\/strong> \u2013 a bridge 315 metres long and 10.5 metres wide on the Adriatic Highway (the old road). It was built in 1961, but was destroyed on 21 November 1991 during the Yugoslav Civil War. And as all the roads connecting Dalmatia with the rest of the country had been cut off and occupied by Serbian forces, the Croats were left with no choice but to build a new bridge, approximately 1.5 km further north. It was rebuilt and opened to traffic in 2005. Today, it also features an adrenaline-fuelled attraction \u2013 bungee jumping.<\/p>\n

The old bridge is the one at the back \ud83d\ude42 …<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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The Novi Masleni\u010dki Bridge<\/strong> \u2013 construction began in January 1993. The entire construction site was within range of Serbian artillery for almost a year. It was opened to traffic in 1997. It is over 377 metres long and 20 metres wide. Its supporting structure consists of a reinforced concrete arch with a span of 200 metres, making it one of the bridges with the largest arches in the world. In 2003, it became part of the A1 motorway. A notable feature of this bridge is that it is frequently closed due to extremely strong gusts of wind. The absolute record was set on 21 December 1998, when wind gusts of up to 248 km\/h were recorded there.<\/p>\n

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*A boat trip on the River Zrmanja*<\/strong><\/p>\n

After exploring the Novska Strait, our captain set course eastwards towards the mouth of the River Zrmanja. We are sailing upstream towards the town of Obrovac, which lies approximately 12 kilometres from the river\u2019s mouth. The mouth itself is 240 metres wide. From the mouth to the town of Obrovac, the river\u2019s depth ranges from 5 to 7 metres. The cliffs rise to a height of up to 300 metres.<\/p>\n

Delta of the River Zrmanja<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

We are approaching the cliffs known as \u2018Prince Mark\u2019s Gate\u2019. On the right-hand side of the river, we can see the ruins of a fortress called Pr\u017eunac, which looks like a huge nest perched on top of a cliff. I tried to find out more about this fortress. Information about it is scarce and can be divided into two categories. According to one account, this fortress served as a prison for the Croatian Queen Jelena. According to the other, it was from this very fortress that Jelena commanded her troops during a naval battle with the Turks.<\/p>\n

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The remains of Pr\u017eunac Fortress can be found on the rock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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The road then winds its way between limestone cliffs. The closer we get to the town of Obrovac, the greener the slopes become, and we pass the occasional building and ruin. On our left, we can see the remains of the Benedictine monastery of St George of Koprivsko. When we finally reach the town of Obrovac…<\/p>\n

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This town is situated on both banks of the River Zrmanja. In the past, this small town suffered greatly during the fighting between Croats and Serbs in the 1990s. The first records of this town date back to 1337. It was founded by the so-called Princes of Krbava; later, the town was ruled by both the Turks and the Venetians.<\/p>\n

A few photos from the trip to Obrovac<\/p>\n

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We manage to paddle successfully under the local bridge and can continue on to the Jankovi\u0107 buk waterfall, which is still about 4.5 km away. This is the first waterfall on the River Zrmanja if you are travelling upstream from the river\u2019s mouth. From its mouth to the Jankovi\u0107 buk waterfall, the river flows at sea level, which means it is navigable by boat.<\/p>\n

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Below this waterfall, the river water begins to mix with the sea water. But just a few metres further upstream, the river water is purely fresh. Next to the waterfall itself are the remains of several old mills.<\/p>\n

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Neither Dad nor I could resist the sight of the river\u2019s crystal-clear surface. We changed into our swimsuits and were pleasantly surprised by how warm the water was. I swam all the way to the waterfall and had my work cut out for me \u2013 the current beneath the falls was incredibly strong. But it was definitely worth it for the experience.<\/p>\n

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After a swim, we head back to Novigrad, stopping for lunch in Obrovac.<\/p>\n

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*A view of the Zrmanje Canyon from above*<\/strong><\/p>\n

After thanking our captain Goran and saying goodbye to him, I have another surprise in store for Dad. I decide to take him to the Pari\u017eeva\u010dka glavica viewpoint, which offers one of the most beautiful views of the river. It\u2019s very easy to miss this spot, so I recommend following these directions to find it. If you\u2019re travelling from Maslenica towards Obrovac along the old road (D54), you\u2019ll pass through the village of Jasenice. It\u2019s 2.3 km from the bus stop on the main road to the turn-off onto the dirt track leading to the viewpoint. The turn-off isn\u2019t signposted in any way. After turning off, you\u2019ll need to slow down to avoid a puncture, and after about 600 metres you\u2019ll reach a signposted car park where you can leave your car. A further 250 metres on, you\u2019ll be blown away by the views on offer. See for yourself…<\/p>\n

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Although I\u2019m the active type and prefer to get about under my own steam, I would definitely recommend this experience to everyone. The best time to go is in May, June or September, when the Zrmanja isn\u2019t full of boats carrying tourists.<\/p>\n

With my dad from our base in Starigrad<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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If you decide to follow in my footsteps and need advice on accommodation, food, hiking trails or other ways to spend your time around the Novigrad Sea, please don\u2019t hesitate to contact me via email at ajka@uzisibalkaninak.com<\/strong>, my Facebook page \u2018Enjoy the Balkans differently<\/a>\u2019 or Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Andrea<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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P.S.: All photos are protected by copyright \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Of course, the title of the article is misleading. But who could forget the films about the legendary Apache chief, Winetou, and his blood brother, Old Shatterhand? One of the film\u2019s legendary scenes takes place on the banks of the American river, the Rio Pecos, where Old Shatterhand must fight a duel against Winetua\u2019s father […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":558,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[878,824],"tags":[830,2188,1145,2407,1254,2413,2415,2401,2417,2419,2403,2405,2421,2423,2397,2425,2427,2409,2399,1169,2411,1946],"class_list":["post-4170","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-croatia","category-uncategorized","tag-balkans","tag-canyon","tag-croatia","tag-cruise","tag-fortress","tag-jankovica-buk","tag-maslenica","tag-maslenicki-bridge","tag-misija","tag-novigrad","tag-novigrad-sea","tag-novska-strait","tag-obrovac","tag-parizevacka-glavica","tag-prince-marks-gate","tag-przunac","tag-rio-pecos","tag-ruins","tag-ship","tag-starigrad","tag-viewpoint","tag-zrmanja"],"lang":"en","translations":{"en":4170,"sk":593},"pll_sync_post":{},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/uzisibalkaninak.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4170","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/uzisibalkaninak.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/uzisibalkaninak.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uzisibalkaninak.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uzisibalkaninak.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4170"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/uzisibalkaninak.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4170\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4171,"href":"https:\/\/uzisibalkaninak.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4170\/revisions\/4171"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uzisibalkaninak.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/558"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/uzisibalkaninak.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4170"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uzisibalkaninak.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4170"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uzisibalkaninak.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4170"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}