Timok

It is a branchy system of many shorter rivers, many of them having the same name (Timok), only clarified with adjectives. From the farthest source in the system, that of the Svrljiški Timok, until its confluence (as Veliki Timok), the Timok is 202 km long. The area of the river basin is 4,626 km (1,786 sq mi). Its average discharge at the mouth is 31 m/s (1,100 cu ft/s). The Timok Valley is known for the most important Vlach population in Eastern Serbia. Its name stems from antiquity, in Latin it was known as Timacus and in Ancient Greek Timachos, Τίμαχος. This in turn comes from Proto-Indo-European *tm̥Hes-, zero-grade of *témHes-, *témHos- (“darkness”), an s-stem from the root *temH- (“dark”), also present in the names of the Thames and Tamiš/Temes/Timiș, possibly with extension "-q" for water (present in Latin "aqua"). The Timok, also named Veliki Timok to distinguish it from its tributaries, is formed by the confluence of the rivers Beli Timok ("White Timok") and Crni Timok ("Black Timok") at Zaječar.