Vltava

Vltava
Černý potok, Teplá Vltava
River
The Vltava's bend in Prague
Country	Czech Republic
Regions	South Bohemia, Central Bohemia
Tributaries
- left	Otava River, Berounka
- right	Lužnice, Sázava River
Cities	Český Krumlov, České Budějovice, Prague
Source	Černý potok
- location	Černá hora, Šumava
- elevation	1,172 m (3,845 ft)
- coordinates	48°58′29″N 13°33′39″E / 48.97472°N 13.56083°E / 48.97472; 13.56083
Mouth	Elbe
- location	Mělník
- elevation	155 m (509 ft)
- coordinates	50°20′29″N 14°28′30″E / 50.34139°N 14.475°E / 50.34139; 14.475
Length	430 km (267 mi)
Basin	28,090 km2 (10,846 sq mi)
Discharge
- average	149.9 m3/s (5,294 cu ft/s)
The course and drainage basin of the Vltava from its source to its confluence with the Elbe (magenta)
Wikimedia Commons: Vltava

The Vltava ( listen (help·info); German: Moldau) is the longest river in the Czech Republic, running north from its source in Šumava through Český Krumlov, České Budějovice, and Prague (Praha), merging with the Elbe (Labe) at Mělník. It is 430 km long and drains about 28,090 km²; at their confluence the Vltava actually has more water than the Elbe, but joins the Elbe at a right angle to its flow so that it appears a mere tributary. Several dams were built on it in the 1950s, the biggest being Lipno Dam in Šumava.

In August 2002 a flood of the Vltava killed several people and caused massive damage and disruption along its length.

The best-known of the classical Czech composer Bedřich Smetana's set of six symphonic poems Má vlast ("My Fatherland") is called Vltava (or The Moldau), and is a musical depiction of the river's course through Bohemia.

Physical Description

Prague panorama upstream from the Charles Bridge

The height difference from source to mouth is 1016 m and the largest stream at the source is named Černý Potok (Black Brook).

Etymology

Both the Czech name Vltava and the German name Moldau are believed to originate from the old Germanic words *wilt ahwa^{[citation needed]} ("wild water") (cf. Latin aqua).

Honors

A minor planet 2123 Vltava discovered in 1973 by Soviet astronomer Nikolai Stepanovich Chernykh is named after the river.^[1]

References

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