Vltava

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Vltava
Černý potok, Teplá Vltava
The Vltava in Prague
Country	Czech Republic
Regions	South Bohemia, Central Bohemia
Major cities	Český Krumlov, České Budějovice, Prague
Length	430 km (267 mi)
Watershed	28,090 km² (10,846 mi²)
Discharge	mouth
- average	149.9 m³/s (5,294 ft³/s)
Source	Černý potok
- location	Černá hora, Šumava
- coordinates	48°58′29″N, 13°33′39″E
- elevation	1,172 m (3,845 ft)
Mouth	Elbe
- location	Mělník
- coordinates	50°20′29″N, 14°28′30″E
- elevation	155 m (509 ft)
Major tributaries
- left	Otava River, Berounka
- right	Lužnice, Sázava River
The course and drainage basin of the Vltava from its source to its confluence with the Elbe (magenta)

The Vltava (listen (help·info); German: Moldau) is the longest river in the Czech Republic, draining into the north from its source in Šumava through Český Krumlov, České Budějovice, and Prague (Praha), merging with the Elbe (Labe) at Mělník. 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 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 Country) is called Vltava and is an evocation of the course the river takes.

[edit] Physical Description

Prague panorama upstream from the Charles Bridge

Drain vs mouth height difference is 1016 m.

The main current carrying from the drain is named Černý potok

[edit] Etymology

Both the Czech name Vltava and the German name Moldau are believed to originate from an old word meaning 'river' (cf. Scandinavian älv).^{[citation needed]}