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List of rivers of the Czech Republic facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Vltava in Prague
Vltava River in Prague
Czech rivers - top 50
Map of the 50 longest rivers of the Czech Republic

This is a list of rivers of the Czech Republic.

Naming conventions

Czech language distinguishes between larger (river) and smaller (stream, creek, brook etc.) watercourses; the respective nouns being řeka (feminine, "river") and potok (masculine, "stream"). River names are mostly self-standing nouns and not accompanied with the generic word for river (except when confusion might arose because name is shared with some towns, e.g. Jihlava; in such cases one sometimes says řeka Jihlava).

In contrast, stream names mostly consist of two words because they contain an adjective (usually stemming from physical properties (e.g. Černý potok-"Black Stream"), usage (e.g. Mlýnský potok – "Mill Stream") or derived from location through which it flows (e.g. Rakovnický potok-"Rakovník Stream")). These two-word names are used as a whole, the word potok making an inseparable part of the name (i.e. Mlýnský potok, not just Mlýnský). There are also streams with one-word names (either masculine or feminine) akin to rivers (e.g. Botič or Modla) but they are simply considered streams due to their small size. In such cases the word potok is optional and precedes the name (potok Modla).

Drainage basins

Povodí Labe Vltavy Moravy
Catchment areas of the Elbe-Vltava system (dark grey) and the Morava-Thaya (light grey) before they leave Czech territory. The remaining white areas in the northeast and north belong to the Oder and its tributaries while narrow white strip along southwestern border denotes some smaller direct tributaries of the Danube.
Klepý-vrchol 1
Triple Divide Point marked on summit of Mt. Klepáč

As the Main European Watershed passes through the Czech Republic, there are three directions and principal areas of drainage (very roughly overlapping with historical territories of Bohemia, Moravia and Silesia): Almost 2/3 of the country is drained in NW direction through the Elbe into the North Sea. The Morava flowing towards SE collects water from eastern regions of the Czech Republic and discharges into Danube which flows to the Black Sea. The northeast and some northern portions of the territory is drained by the Oder and its tributaries like Lausitzer Neisse into the Baltic Sea. The corresponding watershed tripoint with a marker for symbolic "roof of Europe" (50°9'27"N 16°47'27"E) is located at Czech-Polish border on Mt. Klepáč near Dolní Morava in Králický Sněžník Mountains.

The catchment area of the Elbe down to Czech-German border in Hřensko/Schöna covers 51,394 square kilometres (19,843 sq mi). This figure includes upper courses of some tributaries starting in neighbouring countries. The area solely within Czech borders is slightly smaller and this is the figure given in the following table, which shows Czech territory divided after drainage basins.

River level 1 level 2 level 3
Elbe 49,933
Vltava 27,006.70
Ohře 4,601.05
Danube 21,736
Morava 20,692.4
Thaya 11,164.7
Oder 7,217
total (km2) 78,886

Table of rivers

While the Elbe is the longest Czech-related river when measured through its overall length (i.e. including its lower course in Germany), its tributary the Vltava surpasses it as the longest river within the territory of the Czech Republic itself. (In fact the Vltava also carries more water than the Elbe at their confluence.)

Rank River Length
within the CR
(km)
Avg.
discharge
(m³/s)
Total
basin
(km2)
Tributary
to
Mouth
location
Photo
1st Vltava 430 151 28,090 Elbe Mělník Slapy Reservoir on middle course of the Vltava
2nd Elbe 370 308 144,055 North Sea Cuxhaven (Germany) Confluence of the Elbe and Ploučnice in Děčín
3rd Morava 284 65 26,658 Danube Bratislava (Slovakia) Morava near Uherský Ostroh
4th Ohře 256 38 5,606 Elbe Litoměřice Ohře near Doksany during a dry summer
5th Berounka (+Mže) 242 36 8,854 Vltava Prague Berounka flowing through Bohemian Karst near Tetín
6th Sázava 225 25 4,350 Vltava Davle Sázava near ruin of Zbořený Kostelec Castle
7th Thaya 209 44 13,419 Morava Hohenau (Austria) Thaya in Podyjí National Park
8th Jihlava 181 12 2,997 Svratka Ivaň Jihlava near Dolní Kounice
9th Svratka 174 15 7,119 Thaya Pouzdřany Svratka in Brno-Bystrc
10th Jizera 167 24 2,193 Elbe Lázně Toušeň Jizera near Malá Skála
11th Lužnice 158 24 4,235 Vltava Hosty A weir on the Lužnice in Dobronice near Bechyně
12th Oder 136 48 118,861 Baltic Sea Świnoujście (Poland) Oder in Ostrava
13th Otava (+Vydra) 135 26 3,827 Vltava Zvíkovské Podhradí Otava in Sušice
14th Orlice (+Divoká Orlice) 129 22 2,036 Elbe Hradec Králové Orlice near Třebechovice pod Orebem
15th Opava (+Černá Opava) 129 18 2,089 Oder Ostrava Opava near Háj ve Slezsku
16th Bečva (+Vsetínská Bečva) 120 18 1,626 Morava Troubky Bečva near Grymov
17th Radbuza 110 11 2,182 Berounka Plzeň Radbuza in Staňkov
18th Chrudimka 106 6 866 Elbe Pardubice Chrudimka in Chrudim
19th Úhlava 104 6 908 Radbuza Plzeň Úhlava in Nýrsko
20th Želivka (+Hejlovka) 104 4 1,188 Sázava Soutice Želivka before its confuence with the Sázava
21st Tichá Orlice 102 7 756 Orlice Žďár nad Orlicí Tichá Orlice in Orlické Podhůří
22nd Střela 102 3 922 Berounka Liblín Střela near Žlutice
23rd Ploučnice 101 8 1,188 Elbe Děčín Ploučnice near Česká Lípa
24th Oslava 101 3 867 Jihlava Ivančice Oslava in Oslavany
25th Moravice 101 8 900 Opava Opava Moravice in Branka u Opavy

Hierarchical list

Rivers not located themselves within the Czech Republic but possessing tributaries originating on the Czech territory are shown in strikethrough italics. Rivers over 100 km long or having average discharge greater than 10 m³/s are emphasized in bold.

Rivers flowing to the North Sea (Elbe basin)

tributaries joining the Elbe during its course through Germany (from area along Czech-German border in NW of the country, esp. from the Ore Mountains)
Sachsen2
Some rivers of Saxony, Thuringia and Brandenburg have their headwaters located in the Czech Republic
Elbe tributaries discharge diagram
Scheme of principal tributaries and their contribution to average discharge of the Elbe (in m³/s)
Krinice Horni splav
Křinice Gorge in the rocks of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains
  • Elbe; leaves the Czech Republic at Hřensko, empties into the North Sea)
    • Havel
      • Spree (c. 1 km section of upper course in Fukov salient; in Lusatian Highlands)
    • Saale
      • Rokytnice (German: Südliche Regnitz; originates in the Fichtel Mountains)
      • White Elster (originates in the Fichtel Mountains)
    • Mulde
      • Zwickauer Mulde
      • Moldavský potok (German: Freiberger Mulde; originates in Ore Mountains)
        • Zschopau
          • Polava (German: Pöhlbach; originates in the Ore Mountains)
          • Přísečnice (German: Preßnitz; originates in the Ore Mountains)
            • Černá voda (German: Schwarzwasser)
          • Flöha (originates in the Ore Mountains)
            • Černá (German: Schwarze Pockau)
            • Načetínský potok (German: Natzschung)
            • Svídnice (German: Schweinitz)
    • Weißeritz
      • Divoká Bystřice (German: Wilde Weißeritz; originates in the Ore Mountains)
        • Rašelinový potok
    • Müglitz
      • Mohelnice (German: Weiße Müglitz; originates in the Ore Mountains)
      • Černý potok (German: Schwarzbach, Schwarze Müglitz)
      • Rybný potok (German: Gottleuba; originates in the Ore Mountains)
        • Slatina (German: Bahra, Mordgrundbach)
          • Petrovický potok (German: Buschbach)
            • Olšový potok
              • Rájecký potok
        • Hraniční potok
        • Větrovský potok
        • Lišči potok (German: Fuchsenbach)
    • Ostrovská Bělá (German: Biela; originates in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains)
      • Sněžnický potok
      • Liščí potok (German: Fuchsbach, Cunnersdorfer Bach)
        • Dubný potok (German: Taubenbach)
          • Mlžný potok
        • Sporný potok
    • Lachsbach
      • Vilémovský potok (a.k.a. Sebnice, German: Sebnitz; originates in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains)
    • Křinice (German: Kirnitzsch; originates in the Elbe Sandstone Mountains)
tributaries joining the Elbe within Czech Republic, i.e. rivers from major part of Bohemia
Bílina
The Bílina in Stadice before Ústí nad Labem
Klecany, nákladní loď
A barge with sand on the Vltava below Prague
Berounka River CZ from Dolany Bridge 596
Berounka as seen from Dolany Bridge near Dolany
Soutok Vltavy a Sázavy (02)
Confluence of Vltava and Sázava in Davle
Orlík 1
Orlík Dam on the Vltava in south-central Bohemia. The most important series of dams in the country, so called Vltava Cascade, is located on the middle Vltava above Prague.
Písek, Kamenný most
Písek Stone Bridge over the Otava, the oldest bridge in the country
Lužnice a vodáci, u Klece
Canoeing on the Lužnice, a favorite river of water tourists
Dolní Kořenov, Jizera, po proudu
Riverbed full of boulders in upper course of the Jizera near Kořenov
Cidlina
Cidlina on its lower course in Libice nad Cidlinou
Hradec Králové - soutok Labe a Orlice
Confluence of the Elbe and Orlice in Hradec Králové
Babiččino údolí, Viktorčin splav
Viktorka's Weir on the Úpa featured in the popular Czech novel The Grandmother by Božena Němcová
    • Kamenice (in Hřensko)
    • Ploučnice (in Děčín)
      • Robečský potok
      • Svitávka (German: Zwittebach, near Zákupy)
    • Jílovský potok (in Děčín)
    • Bílina (in Ústí nad Labem)
      • Srpina
    • Modla (in Lovosice)
    • Ohře (German: Eger; in Litoměřice)
      • Čepel (in Doksany)
      • Chomutovka (below Postoloprty)
      • Hasina
      • Blšanka
      • Liboc (in Libočany)
      • Bystřice
      • Teplá (in Karlovy Vary)
        • Otročínský potok
        • Pramenský potok
      • Rolava (in Karlovy Vary)
      • Svatava (in Sokolov)
      • Libocký potok (in Kynšperk nad Ohří)
      • Odrava (German: Wondreb)
      • Plesná (German: Fleißenbach)
    • Liběchovka (in Liběchov)
    • Pšovka (in Mělník)
    • Vltava (in Mělník; Vltava is the name given to Teplá Vltava after its confluence with Studená Vltava)
      • Bakovský potok
      • Zákolanský potok (in Kralupy nad Vltavou)
      • Únětický potok (in Roztoky)
      • Śárecký potok (in Prague-Dejvice)
      • Rokytka (in Prague-Libeň)
      • Brusnice (in Prague)
      • Motolský potok (in Prague-Smíchov)
      • Botič (in Prague-Vyšehrad)
      • Berounka (in Prague-Lahovice; Berounka is the name given to the lower Mže following its confluence with the Radbuza)
        • Loděnice (a.k.a. Kačák)
        • Litavka (in Beroun)
        • Klíčava
        • Rakovnický potok
        • Javornice
        • Střela
        • Třemošná
        • Klabava
        • Úslava (in Plzeň-Doubravka)
          • Bradava
        • Radbuza (in Plzeň)
          • Úhlava (in Plzeň-Doudlevce)
          • Zubřina
        • Mže (German: Mies; headwater of Berounka)
          • Úterský potok
          • Úhlavka (in Stříbro)
          • Kosový potok
          • Hamerský potok
      • Sázava (in Davle)
        • Blanice (a.k.a. Vlašimská Blanice)
        • Želivka
          • Trnava (a.k.a. Trnávka)
        • Sázavka
        • Šlapanka
      • Kocába
      • Mastník
      • Otava (under Zvíkov Castle; Otava originates at confluence of Vydra and Křemelná)
        • Lomnice
          • Skalice
        • Blanice (a.k.a. Vodňanská Blanice)
        • Volyňka (in Strakonice)
          • Spůlka
        • Ostružná
        • Křemelná
        • Vydra
      • Lužnice (German: Lainsitz; in Týn nad Vltavou)
        • Smutná (in Bechyně)
        • Nežárka (in Veselí nad Lužnicí; Nežárka originates at confluence of the Kamenice and Žirovnice)
          • Kamenice
          • Žirovnice
        • Dračice (German: Reißbach)
      • Malše (German: Maltsch; in České Budějovice)
        • Stropnice
        • Černá (German: Schwarzaubach)
      • Teplá Vltava (headwater of Vltava and the whole Elbe-Vltava system)
        • Studená Vltava (German: Kalte Moldau, Altwasser)
    • Výmola
    • Jizera
      • Klenice (in Mladá Boleslav)
      • Bělá
      • Zábrdka
      • Mohelka
      • Žehrovka
      • Libuňka (in Turnov)
      • Oleška (in Semily)
      • Kamenice
        • Desná
      • Mumlava
    • Vlkava
    • Výrovka
      • Šembera
    • Mrlina (in Nymburk)
    • Cidlina (in Libice nad Cidlinou)
      • Bystřice (in Chlumec nad Cidlinou)
      • Javorka
    • Klejnárka
      • Vrchlice
    • Doubrava
    • Chrudimka (in Pardubice)
      • Novohradka
    • Loučná
    • Orlice (in Hradec Králové; Orlice originates through confluence of Divoká Orlice and Tichá Orlice)
      • Dědina (in Třebechovice pod Orebem)
      • Tichá Orlice
        • Třebovka (in Ústí nad Orlicí)
      • Divoká Orlice
        • Bělá
          • Kněžná
        • Zdobnice
        • Rokytenka (in Žamberk)
    • Metuje (in Jaroměř)
    • Úpa (in Jaroměř)
      • Ličná
      • Malá Úpa
    • Malé Labe
    • Bílé Labe

Rivers flowing to the Baltic Sea (Oder basin)

tributaries joining the Oder during its course through Poland (from northern parts of Bohemia (esp. around city of Liberec - Frýdlant Hills, Zittau Basin and NW slopes of the Jizera Mountains) and NW portion of Czech Silesia (esp. Jeseník District))
Oder
Drainage basin of the Oder includes the northeast and some northern portions of Czech territory.
Nisa in Liberec - 1
Lužická Nisa in Liberec
Bělá Jesenická (Biela) - Mikulovice
Bělá in Mikulovice (Jeseník District)
Cieszyn 9877
Olza creating Czech-Polish border in Český Těšín/Cieszyn
Ostrava, pohled z věže, Ostravice
Ostravice in downtown Ostrava
Meanders in Lucina07
Natural monument Meandry Lučiny, a preserved meandering section of the Lučina near Havířov
Morávka-pod Raškovicemi
Morávka near Raškovice
2008 OPAVA SOUTOK
Confluence of the Oder (left) and the Opava (right) in Ostrava
  • Oder (leaves the Czech Republic at Bohumín, empties into the Baltic Sea)
    • Lausitzer Neiße
      • Jeřice (in Chrastava)
      • Smědá
      • Mandau
    • Bóbr (originates in eastern Giant Mountains – only source with c. 2.5 km of uppermost course are located in the Czech Republic)
    • Nysa Kłodzka
      • Bělá (a.k.a. Jesenická Bělá, Polish: Biała Głuchołaska)
      • Vidnavka (Polish: Widna)
      • Stěnava (Polish: Ścinawka)
    • Osoblaha (Polish: Osobłoga)
tributaries joining the Oder within Czech Republic, i.e. rivers from NE parts of the country, esp. Moravian-Silesian Region
    • Olza (below Bohumín)
      • Petrůvka
      • Stonávka (below Karviná)
      • Ropičanka (above Český Těšín)
      • Tyra (in Třinec)
      • Hluchová (in Bystřice)
      • Lomná (in Jablunkov)
    • Ostravice (in Ostrava)
      • Lučina
      • Morávka (in Frýdek-Místek)
      • Čeladenka (above Frýdlant nad Ostravicí)
      • Černá Ostravice
      • Bílá Ostravice
    • Opava (in Ostrava)
      • Moravice (below Opava)
        • Černý potok
      • Čižina
      • Opavice (below Krnov)
    • Ondřejnice
    • Jičínka
    • Lubina

Rivers flowing to the Black Sea (Danube basin)

rivers from SE regions of the country (i.e. most of Moravia)

(The Morava accounts for almost all discharge, the only exception being the Vlára, which belongs to the Váh subbasin)

Bassin-du-Danube-blank-map
Drainage basin of the Danube with Morava, Svratka and Thaya shown in the southeast of the country
Dyje-Morava confluence 01
Confluence of the Thaya and Morava at A/CZ/SK tripoint
Flood of 2006 in Třebíč, Třebíč District
Flooded Jihlava in Třebíč (spring 2006)
  • Danube (empties into the Black Sea, does not itself reach the Czech territory (flowing only through neighbouring countries of Germany, Austria and Slovakia)
    • Váh
      • Vlára
    • Morava
      • Thaya; originates at confluence of Moravian Thaya and German Thaya)
        • Kyjovka
        • Trkmanka
        • Svratka
          • Litava
          • Svitava (below Brno)
            • Punkva
            • Křetínka
          • Loučka (originates through confluence of Bobrůvka and Libochůvka)
            • Bobrůvka
            • Libochůvka
          • Jihlava (in fact a tributary to Svratka but nowadays their confluence is completely within Nové Mlýny Reservoir, thus creating an impression of a direct tributary to Thaya)
            • Rokytná
            • Oslava
            • Brtnice
            • Jihlávka
        • Jevišovka
        • Moravian Thaya
        • German Thaya
      • Velička
      • Olšava (above Kostelany nad Moravou)
      • Dřevnice (in Otrokovice)
      • Rusava
      • Moštěnka (above Kroměříž)
      • Haná (above Kroměříž)
      • Valová (this is the name for lower course of Romže after confluence with Hloučela)
        • Romže
        • Hloučela
      • Blata
      • Bečva (originates at confluence of Vsetínská Bečva and Rožnovská Bečva)
        • Vsetínská Bečva (in Valašské Meziříčí)
          • Senice
        • Rožnovská Bečva (in Valašské Meziříčí)
      • Bystřice (in Olomouc)
      • Trusovický potok (in Olomouc-Ćernovír)
      • Oskava
      • Třebůvka
      • Rohelnice
      • Mírovka (below Mohelnice)
      • Moravská Sázava
        • Březná
      • Desná
        • Merta
      • Branná (in Hanušovice)
      • Krupá
tributaries to the Danube from SW borders of the country (i.e. rivers flowing from Bohemian Forest and Upper Palatinate Forest to Upper Austria and Bavaria)
    • Große Mühl
      • Horský potok (German: Steinerne Mühl)
        • Lhotecký potok (German: Freibach)
        • Mlýnský potok
        • Bukový potok
      • Rožnovský potok (German: Lanitzbach)
      • Světlá (German: Zwettelbach)
        • Urešův potok (German: Steinbach)
      • Hraniční potok (German: Wurmbrandbach)
    • Regen
      • Chamb
      • Schwarzer Regen
        • Großer Regen
    • Naab
      • Schwarzach
      • Pfreimd
      • Waldnaab

Alphabetical list

  • Bečva
  • Berounka
  • Botič
  • Bystřice
  • Bílina
  • Čeladenka
  • Chrudimka
  • Cidlina
  • Doubrava
  • Elbe
  • Flöha
  • Freiberger Mulde
  • Gottleuba
  • Hluchová
  • Jevišovka
  • Jihlava
  • Jizera
  • Kamenice
  • Klabava
  • Klejnárka
  • Liběchovka
  • Loděnice
  • Litavka
  • Lomná
  • Lusatian Neisse
  • Lužnice
  • Lučina
  • Malše
  • Mandau
  • Metuje
  • Mírovka
  • Morava
  • Moravice
  • Mrlina
  • Nežárka
  • Oder
  • Ohře
  • Olza
  • Opava
  • Orlice
  • Oslava
  • Ostravice
  • Otava
  • Petrůvka
  • Ploučnice
  • Pšovka
  • Punkva
  • Radbuza
  • Rolava
  • Sázava
  • Střela
  • Svatava
  • Svitava
  • Svratka
  • Teplá
  • Thaya
  • Úhlava
  • Úpa
  • Úslava
  • Vltava
  • Volyňka
  • White Elster
  • Želivka

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Anexo:Ríos de la República Checa para niños

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List of rivers of the Czech Republic Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.