Târnava
{{Other uses}}
{{Infobox river
| name = Târnava
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| name_other = Küküllő, Kokel
| name_etymology =
| image =
| image_size =
| image_caption =
| pushpin_map = Romania
| subdivision_type1 = Country
| subdivision_name1 = Romania
| subdivision_type2 = Counties
| subdivision_name2 = Alba County
| length = {{convert|23|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| width_min =
| width_avg =
| width_max =
| depth_min =
| depth_avg =
| depth_max =
| discharge1_location=
| discharge1_min =
| discharge1_avg = {{convert|25|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}
| discharge1_max =
| source1 = Confluence of the Târnava Mare and the Târnava Mică
| source1_location = Blaj, Romania
| source1_coordinates= {{coord|46|10|18|N|23|53|35|E|display=inline}}
| source1_elevation =
| mouth = Mureș
| mouth_location = Teiuș, Romania
| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|46|9|16|N|23|41|56|E|display=inline,title}}
| mouth_elevation =
| progression = {{RMureș}}
| river_system =
| basin_size = {{convert|6253|km2|abbr=on}}
| tributaries_left = Târnava Mare, Secaș
| tributaries_right = Târnava Mică, Dunărița
| custom_label =
| custom_data =
| extra =
}}
The Târnava (full name in {{langx|ro|Râul Târnava}}; {{langx|hu|Küküllő}}; {{langx|de|Kokel}}; {{langx|tr|Kokul or Kokulu}}) is a river in Romania{{GeoSource|RO|Annex7|337-340}}{{GeoSource|RO|Atlas|156-169|IV.1.96}}. It is formed by the confluence of the Târnava Mare and Târnava Mică in the town of Blaj. The Târnava flows into the Mureș after 23 km{{GeoSource|RO|Atlas|156-169|IV.1.96}}[http://www.insse.ro/cms/sites/default/files/field/publicatii/anuarul_statistic_al_romaniei_carte_en.pdf 2017 Romanian Statistical Yearbook], p. 13 near the town of Teiuș. The two source rivers of the Târnava are the Târnava Mare and Târnava Mică, and its tributaries include the Tur, Izvorul Iezerului, Secaș, and the Dunărița{{GeoSource|RO|Atlas|156-169|IV.1.96}}. Its drainage basin covers an area of {{convert|6253|km2|abbr=on}}{{GeoSource|RO|Atlas|156-169|IV.1.96}}.[https://www.icpdr.org/main/sites/default/files/Tisza_RB_Analysis_2007.pdf Analysis of the Tisza River Basin 2007], IPCDR{{rp|22}}
Etymology
{{Unreferenced section|date=September 2021}}
The name Târnava is of Slavic origin from trn,See Trnka, Trnava, etc. meaning "thorn".
Other proposed origins for the river's Romanian name is Turn (tower) + dav from Dacian dava (structure/fortress), i.e. "the river that flows amongst towers and davas{{Citation needed|reason=Who thinks that this name originates from this?|date=August 2021}}"; or a reference to the Romanian city of Turda, forming Tur + ava from dava{{Citation needed|reason=Who thinks that this name originates from this?|date=August 2021}}.
The Hungarian name Küküllő is of Old Turkic origin from kukel meaning sloe, and is thought to have originated from the Avar people{{Citation needed|reason=Who thinks that this name originates from the Avars?|date=August 2021}}.
{{Gallery
| title =Etymological origins of the Târnava river.
| align =center
| height =150px
| width =150px
| File:Cactus Spines (aka).jpg
| alt1=Cactus Spines
| {{langx|ro|Târnava}}
| File:Prunus spinosa 002.jpg
| alt2=Prunus spinosa
| Küküllő {{langx|hu|kökényes}}
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Tributaries of Mureș River}}
{{Portal bar|Romania}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Târnava}}
Category:Rivers of Alba County
Category:Place names of Slavic origin in Romania
{{Alba-river-stub}}