The Vltava (; ) is the longest river in the Czech Republic, running north from its source in ?umava through ?eský Krumlov, ?eské Bud?jovice, and Prague (Praha), merging with the Elbe (Labe) at M?lník. It is 430 kilometers long and drains about 28,090 square kilometers; 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 ?umava.

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 Bed?ich Smetana's set of six symphonic poems Má vlast (My Fatherland) is called Vltava (Moldau) and is an evocation of the course the river takes.

Physical Description

panorama upstream from the Charles Bridge]]

• The height difference from source to mouth is 1016 m.
• The largest stream at the source is named ?erný 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 ("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.

References

Rivers of the Czech RepublicPrague



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