Today, it is 295 kilometres (183 mi) long, including its source river Binačka Morava.

However these two large geological basins are connected by the Grdelica gorge (Serbian: Grdelička klisura/Грделичка клисура).

But the river's meanders have now been shortened by almost 30 km; and today it is shorter than the West Morava.

Areas in southern Serbia where the South Morava flows have been almost completely deforested, which has caused one of the most severe cases of erosion in the Balkans.

The South Morava has a significant potential for electricity production, and a huge hydroelectrical system (Vlasina- Vrla I-IV power stations) has been constructed in its drainage basin.

[3][4][5] This historical name derives from the Ottoman times when it was considered that as a whole the river was a natural border between Bulgarians from the east side, and Serbs and Albanians from the west one.