Editing Vltava

{{Short description|Longest river in the Czech Republic}}
{{About|the river in the Czech Republic|the composition by Bedřich Smetana|Má vlast|the restaurant in Helsinki, Finland|Vltava (restaurant)}}
{{Infobox river
| name              = Vltava
| image             = Prague skyline view.jpg
| image_caption     = The Vltava in Prague
| map               = {{superimpose|align=center|width=275px|base=Czechia - background map.png|float=Vltava River (CZE) - location and watershed.svg}}
| map_caption       = The course and [[drainage basin]] of the Vltava from its source to its confluence with the Elbe (magenta)
| mapframe          = yes
| mapframe-zoom     = 6
| source1           = [[Teplá Vltava]]
| source1_location  = [[Kvilda]], [[Bohemian Forest]]
| source1_coordinates= {{coord|48|58|29|N|13|33|39|E|display=inline}}
| mouth_location    = [[Elbe]]
| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|50|20|29|N|14|28|30|E|display=inline,title}}
| progression       = {{RElbe}}
| subdivision_type1 = Country
| subdivision_name1 = [[Czech Republic]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[Regions of the Czech Republic|Regions]]
| subdivision_name2 = {{hlist|[[South Bohemian Region|South Bohemian]]|[[Central Bohemian Region|Central Bohemian]]}}
| subdivision_type3 = Cities
| subdivision_name3 = {{hlist|[[České Budějovice]]|[[Prague]]}}
| length_km         = 431.3
| source1_elevation = {{cvt|1174|m}}
| mouth_elevation   = {{cvt|156|m}}
| discharge1_avg    = {{convert|149.9|m3/s|abbr=on}} near estuary
| basin_size_km2    = 28089.9
| tributaries_left  = [[Otava (river)|Otava]], [[Berounka]]
| tributaries_right = [[Lužnice (river)|Lužnice]], [[Sázava (river)|Sázava]]
| extra             = 
}}

The '''Vltava''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|v|ʊ|l|t|ə|v|ə|,_|ˈ|v|ʌ|l|-}} {{respell|VU(U)L|tə|və}},<ref>{{citation|last=Wells|first=John C.|year=2008|title=Longman Pronunciation Dictionary|edition=3rd|publisher=Longman|isbn=9781405881180}}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20190331075734/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/us/Vltava "Vltava"] (US) and {{Cite dictionary |url=http://www.lexico.com/definition/Vltava |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322182115/https://www.lexico.com/definition/vltava |url-status=dead |archive-date=2020-03-22 |title=Vltava |dictionary=[[Lexico]] UK English Dictionary |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite Merriam-Webster|Vltava|access-date=March 31, 2019}}</ref> {{IPA|cs|ˈvl̩tava|lang|Cs-Vltava.ogg}}; {{langx|de|Moldau}} {{IPA|de|ˈmɔldaʊ||de-Moldau.ogg}}) is the longest river in the [[Czech Republic]], a left [[tributary]] of the [[Elbe]] River. It runs southeast along the [[Bohemian Forest]] and then north across [[Bohemia]], through [[Český Krumlov]], [[České Budějovice]], and [[Prague]]. It is commonly referred to as the "Czech national river".<ref>{{cite book |last1=Mahoney |first1=William |title=The History of the Czech Republic and Slovakia |date=2001 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=0313363064 |page=3}}</ref>

==Etymology==
Both the Czech name ''{{lang|cs|Vltava}}'' and the German name ''{{lang|de|Moldau}}'' are believed to originate from the [[Proto-Germanic|old Germanic]] words ''{{lang|gem-x-proto|wilt ahwa}}'' 'wild water' (compare [[Latin]] ''{{lang|la|aqua}}'').<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Šmilauer |first1=Vladimír |title=O jménech našich řek |trans-title=Names of our rivers |journal=Naše řeč |volume=30 |issue=9–10 |pages=161–165 |publisher=[[Institute of the Czech Language]] |year=1946 |url=http://nase-rec.ujc.cas.cz/archiv.php?art=3983 |issn=0027-8203 |language=cs}}</ref> In the ''{{lang|la|[[Annales Fuldenses]]}}'' (872 AD) it is called ''{{lang|la|Fuldaha}}''; from 1113 AD it is attested as ''{{lang|zlw|Wultha}}''. In the ''{{lang|la|[[Chronica Boemorum]]}}'' (1125&nbsp;AD) it is attested for the first time in its [[Czech language|Bohemian]] form, ''{{lang|cs|Wlitaua}}''.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Vltava River – Historical Communication Link in the Český Krumlov Region|url=http://www.ckrumlov.info/docs/en/region_histor_vltava.xml|website=Český Krumlov – UNESCO World Heritage|access-date=19 June 2015 |date=2023 |quote=The length of its flow to the mouth of the river to the Labe River near Mělnik is 430.2 km. Down to Český Krumlov it has a catchment area of 1,339 km2, the whole basin of the Vltava river is 28,090 km2.}}</ref> 

==Course==
[[File:Vltava, čtvrť Sedlec a PR Podhoří.jpg|thumb|Vltava from [[Bohnice]] viewing point]]
The Vltava originates by a confluence of two rivers, the [[Teplá Vltava]], which is longer, and the [[Studená Vltava]], originating in [[Bavaria]]. From a water management point of view, the Vltava and Teplá Vltava are one river with single numbering of [[River mile|river kilometres]]. The Teplá Vltava originates in the territory of [[Kvilda]] in the [[Bohemian Forest]] at an elevation of {{cvt|1174|m}}, on the slope of the [[Černá hora (Bohemian Forest)|Černá hora]] mountain. Together with the Teplá Vltava, the Vltava is {{convert|431.3|km}} long. Without the Teplá Vltava, the Vltava is {{convert|377.0|km}} long. The river flows north across Bohemia, through [[Český Krumlov]], [[České Budějovice]] and [[Prague]]. It merges with the [[Elbe]] River at [[Mělník]] at an elevation of {{cvt|156|m}}. The height difference from source to mouth is {{convert|1018|m}}.<ref>{{cite web |title=Základní charakteristiky toku Vltava a jeho povodí|url=https://www.dibavod.cz/download.php?id_souboru=2238|publisher=T. G. Masaryk Water Research Institute|language=cs|access-date=2024-10-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Základní charakteristiky toku Teplá Vltava a jeho povodí|url=https://www.dibavod.cz/download.php?id_souboru=2236|publisher=T. G. Masaryk Water Research Institute|language=cs|access-date=2024-10-22}}</ref>

The Vltava River drains an area of {{convert|28089.9|km2}} in size, over half of Bohemia and about a third of the Czech Republic's entire territory.{{GeoQuelle|DE-BY|GV}} The waters ultimately drain to the North Sea.

As it runs through Prague, the river is crossed by 18 [[bridge]]s (including the [[Charles Bridge]]) and covers {{convert|31|km}} within the city.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.avantgarde-prague.com/about-prague/?utm_medium=redirect&utm_source=direct&utm_campaign=direct |title=About Prague |work=Avantgarde Prague |access-date=11 April 2024 |quote=River Vltava (Moldau in German): It flows from south to north through the city for 31 kilometres, before joining the River Elbe near Prague. Nineteen bridges span the river.}}</ref> The water from the river was used for drinking until 1912 when the [[Vinohrady Water Tower]] ceased pumping operations, and is now a place to view the city.<ref name=stove>{{cite web |url=https://virtualni.praha.eu/veze/index |title=Prague Water Tower of Vinohrady, Hundred Years over the Vltava, virtual tour |work=Prague of the Centuries |date=2024 |access-date=12 April 2024 |language=cs}}</ref> It is, however, the source of drinking water in case of failures of or repairs to the water supply from the Želivka and Kárané sources. The Podolí water processing plant is on standby for such cases with the long section of the river upstream of the Podolí plant under the stricter, second degree of pollution prevention regulations.

Along its course, the river receives many tributaries. The longest tributaries of the Vltava are:<ref>{{cite web |title=Vodní toky|url=https://mapy.chmi.cz/ords/chmi_app/r/fewshlprf/stream-list?|work=Evidence hlásných profilů|publisher=[[Czech Hydrometeorological Institute]]|language=cs|access-date=2024-10-22}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Tributary !! Length (km) !! River km !! Side
|-
| [[Berounka]] || 244.6 || 63.4 || left
|-
| [[Sázava (river)|Sázava]] || 225.9 || 78.3 || right
|-
| [[Lužnice (river)|Lužnice]] || 197.9 || 202.2 || right
|-
| [[Otava (river)|Otava]] || 134.8 || 169.1 || left
|-
| [[Malše]] || 96.0 || 240.0 || right
|-
| [[Mastník (river)|Mastník]] || 49.5 || 104.6 || right
|-
| [[Kocába]] || 47.7 || 82.8 || left
|-
| [[Bakovský potok]] || 44.6 || 13.7 || left
|-
| [[Bezdrevský potok]] || 43.1 || 231.0 || left
|-
| Rokytka || 37.2 || 47.4 || right
|-
| Botič || 33.8 || 55.2 || right
|-
| Polečnice || 32.8 || 281.3 || left
|-
| Křemžský potok || 31.8 || 258.5 || left
|}

From a strict hydrological point of view, it is the Elbe upstream of [[Mělník]] that is a tributary of the Vltava rather than the other way around, owing to the Vltava's longer distance upstream ({{convert|434|km}} against {{convert|294|km}} of the Elbe), greater discharge, and larger [[drainage basin]]; however, since at the confluence point the Elbe flows through the main valley in a straight line, relative to which the Vltava flows at a right angle, the combined river downstream is identified as the Elbe.

{{clear left}}

==Navigation==
[[File:Pristaviste Naplavka Smichov.jpg|thumb|"Náplavka Smíchov" ferry dock in [[Prague]]]]
Between the confluence with the [[Elbe]] at [[Mělník]] and [[Prague]], the river is navigable by vessels of up to {{convert|1000|tonnes}} displacement. Most of the river upstream of Prague as far as [[České Budějovice]] is navigable by craft of up to {{convert|300|tonnes}} displacement, but such vessels cannot pass the dams at [[Orlík Reservoir|Orlík]] and [[Slapy Reservoir|Slapy]], and are also restricted by a low bridge at [[Týn nad Vltavou]]. Work is planned to complete [[boat lift]]s, planned for but never completed, at the two dams, and to rebuild the bridge, in order for them to navigate throughout. Much smaller craft, of up to {{convert|3.5|tonnes}} displacement and under {{convert|3|m}} beam and {{convert|3|m}} air draft, can avoid these obstacles.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.inlandwaterwaysinternational.org/downloads/Newsletter0717.pdf |title=Upper Vltava navigation inaugurated in May |work=IWI news |publisher=Inland Waterways International |date=July 2017 |access-date=3 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200303173706/http://www.inlandwaterwaysinternational.org/downloads/Newsletter0717.pdf |archive-date=3 March 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Upstream of České Budějovice, the river's section around [[Český Krumlov]] (specifically from [[Vyšší Brod]] to [[Boršov nad Vltavou]]) is a very popular destination for [[water tourism]].<ref>[https://www.vltava-river.com/en/trip/along-the-river-branna-nove-spoli-xindtj2dy8 Along the River Branna Nove Spoli - vltava-river.com]</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20180709162858/http://americaninprague.eu/Prague/Czech-Republic/Vltava-River.shtml American in Prague (2018 webpage)]</ref>

==Dams==
[[File:Historic Centre of Český Krumlov-111740.jpg|thumb|Historic Centre of [[Český Krumlov]] near the Vltava River]]
Nine hydroelectric dams have been built on the Vltava south of Prague to regulate the water flow and generate [[hydroelectric power]], starting in the 1930s. Beginning at the headwaters, these are: [[Lipno Reservoir|Lipno]], [[Lipno II Reservoir|Lipno II]], [[Hněvkovice Reservoir|Hněvkovice]], [[Kořensko Reservoir|Kořensko]], [[Orlík Reservoir|Orlík]], [[Kamýk Reservoir|Kamýk]], [[Slapy Reservoir|Slapy]], [[Štěchovice Reservoir|Štěchovice]] and [[Vrané Reservoir|Vrané]]. The Orlík Reservoir supports the largest reservoir on the Vltava by volume, while the Lipno Reservoir retains the largest reservoir by area. The [[Štěchovice Reservoir]] is built over the site of [[St John's Rapids]].

The river also features numerous [[weirs]] that help mitigate its flow from {{convert|1172|m}} in elevation at its source near the German border to {{convert|155|m}} at its mouth in Mělník.

==Floods==
The Vltava basin has flooded multiple times throughout recorded history. Markers have been created along the banks denoting the water line for notable floods in 1784, 1845, 1890, 1940, and the highest of all in 2002.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Papadaniil|first1=Sofia|last2=Schütze|first2=Susann|last3=Alukwe|first3=Isaac|title=I. Flood Protection Measures of the City of Prague|url=http://intranet.floodmaster.de/wiki/Sunday_16_September|website=Technische Universitat Dresden|access-date=19 June 2015|date=16 September 2007|quote=Several flood marks along the river show the water levels of the different events in history and try to keep this danger of flooding in mind of the people.}}</ref><ref name=floodingInPrague>{{cite web|last1=Yates|first1=Ricky|title=Flooding in Prague|url=http://rickyyates.com/flooding-in-prague/|website=Ricky Yates – an Anglican in Prague|access-date=19 June 2015|date=9 February 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Yates|first1=Ricky|title=The Vltava River|url=http://rickyyates.com/the-vltava-river/|website=Ricky Yates – an Anglican in Prague|access-date=19 June 2015|date=15 April 2012}}</ref>

In August of 2002, the basin was heavily affected by the [[2002 European floods]] when the flooded river killed several people and caused massive damage and disruption along its length, including in Prague. It left the oldest bridge in Prague, Charles Bridge, seriously weakened, requiring years of work to repair.<ref name="floodingInPrague"/>

Prague was again [[2013 European floods#Vltava river|flooded in 2013]]. Many locations within the Vltava and Elbe basins were left under water, including the [[Prague Zoo]], but metal barriers were erected along the banks of the Vltava to help protect the historic city centre.<ref name="BBC" >{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22752544|title=Thousands flee as central Europe flood waters rise|date=3 June 2013|publisher=BBC News|access-date=3 June 2013}}</ref><ref name="RadioPraha">{{cite news|title=News|url=http://www.radio.cz/en/section/news/news-2013-06-03|access-date=3 June 2013|newspaper=Radio Praha|date=3 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130804231911/http://www.radio.cz/en/section/news/news-2013-06-03|archive-date=2013-08-04|url-status=dead}}</ref>

{{wide image|Panorama-prag-metronom2.jpg|900px|The Vltava as it flows along the north side of central Prague, taken from the [[Stalin Monument (Prague)|Stalin Monument]] socle in [[Letná Park]]|95%|center|alt=Panoramic view of the river}}

==References in culture and science==
In the classic narrative of the [[golem]] in [[Jewish folklore]], the mystic [[Judah Loew ben Bezalel]] made the artificial giant "out of clay from the banks of the Vltava River and brought it to life through rituals and Hebrew incantations to defend the Prague ghetto from [[Antisemitism|antisemitic]] attacks and [[Pogrom|pogroms]]."<ref>{{Cite web |last=elisniv |date=2011-02-01 |title=The Golem in the Attic |url=https://momentmag.com/the-golem-in-the-attic/ |access-date=2025-01-06 |website=Moment Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref>

One of the best-known works of [[classical music]] by a Czech composer is [[Bedřich Smetana]]'s ''[[Má vlast#Vltava|Vltava]]'', sometimes called ''The Moldau'' in English. It is from the [[Romantic music|Romantic era]] of classical music and is a musical description of the river's course through Bohemia.

Smetana's symphonic poem also inspired a song of the same name by [[Bertolt Brecht]]. An English version of it, by [[John Willett]], features the lyrics ''Deep down in the Moldau the pebbles are shifting'' / ''In Prague three dead emperors moulder away.''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.antiwarsongs.org/canzone.php?lang=en&id=5159#agg117930 |title=The song of the Moldau|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=21 August 2012 |website=Anti War Songs |access-date=25 September 2013}}</ref>

The Vltava River has been used as the setting for a number of films, including the 1942 Czech drama ''[[The Great Dam (film)|The Great Dam]]''. More recently, the Vltava has been used as a film location for such films as ''[[Amadeus (film)|Amadeus]]'' in 1984 and ''[[Mission: Impossible (film)|Mission: Impossible]]'' in 1996.

A [[minor planet]], [[2123 Vltava]], discovered in 1973 by [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] astronomer [[Nikolai Stepanovich Chernykh]], is named after the river.<ref>{{cite book |last=Schmadel|first=Lutz D.|title=Dictionary of Minor Planet Names|page=172|edition=5th|year=2003|publisher=Springer Verlag|location=New York|isbn=3-540-00238-3}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Moldavite]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links ==
{{Attached KML}}
*{{osmrelation-inline|1730536}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Vltava| ]]
[[Category:Vltava basin| ]]
[[Category:Rivers of the Central Bohemian Region]]
[[Category:Rivers of the South Bohemian Region]]
[[Category:Rivers of Prague]]
[[Category:Rivers of the Czech Republic]]