Svitava (river) explained

Svitava
Source1 Location:Svitavy, Svitavy Uplands
Mouth Location:Svratka
Mouth Coordinates:49.1422°N 16.6283°W
Subdivision Type1:Country
Subdivision Name1:Czech Republic
Subdivision Type2:Regions
Length:98.4km (61.1miles)
Discharge1 Avg:5.22m3/s near estuary
Basin Size:1149.4km2

The Svitava (German: Zwittawa) is a river in the Czech Republic, a left tributary of the Svratka River. It flows through the Pardubice and South Moravian regions. It is 98.4km (61.1miles) long.

Etymology

The river's name referred to its clear water and was derived from svítat, which meant "[be] clear" in Old Czech.[1] The river is first documented in 1125 in Chronica Boemorum.[2]

Characteristic

The Svitava originates in the territory of Svitavy in the Svitavy Uplands at the elevation of and flows to Brno, where it enters the Svratka River at an elevation of . It is 98.4km (61.1miles) long. Its drainage basin has an area of 1149.4km2.[3]

The longest tributaries of the Svitava are:

Tributary Length (km) River km Side
Křetínka 31.4 66.4 right
29.0 32.9 left
Bělá 21.3 49.5 left

Settlements

The river valley is densely populated and there are many relatively notable settlements on the river.[4] Apart from the city of Brno, the most significant towns on the river are Blansko and Svitavy, named after the river.[2] The river flows through the municipal territories of Svitavy, Hradec nad Svitavou, Banín, Březová nad Svitavou, Brněnec, Rozhraní, Stvolová, Skrchov, Letovice, Svitávka, Boskovice, Skalice nad Svitavou, Lhota Rapotina, Doubravice nad Svitavou, Rájec-Jestřebí, Ráječko, Blansko, Olomučany, Adamov, Bílovice nad Svitavou and Brno.

Bodies of water

There are 583 bodies of water in the basin area. The largest of them is the Letovice Reservoir with an area of, built on the Křetínka.[3] Two fishponds are built on the upper course of the Svitava.

Use

There are a large number of mills and hydroelectric power stations on the river.[5]

Tourism

The Svitava is suitable for river tourism. The river is navigable all year round, but there are many weirs on it. The most popular section for paddlers is between Letovice and Blansko.[5]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Svitavy: městu dala jméno průzračná řeka. Czech Radio. cs. 2014-09-17. 2021-10-14.
  2. Web site: Historie. Město Svitavy. cs. 2023-10-27.
  3. Web site: Základní charakteristiky toku Svitava a jeho povodí. T. G. Masaryk Water Research Institute. cs. 2023-10-27.
  4. Web site: Řeka Svitava. CzechTourism. cs. 2023-10-27.
  5. Web site: Svitava – řeka plná jezů. Pádler. cs. 2017-11-10. 2023-10-27.