Otava
The Otava in Písek
Location
CountriesCzech Republic
Regions
Physical characteristics
SourceVydra
  locationModrava, Bohemian Forest
  elevation975 m (3,199 ft)
Mouth 
  location
Vltava
  coordinates
49°1′30″N 13°29′47″E / 49.02500°N 13.49639°E / 49.02500; 13.49639
  elevation
348 m (1,142 ft)
Length134.8 km (83.8 mi)
Basin size3,826.9 km2 (1,477.6 sq mi)
Discharge 
  average26.0 m3/s (920 cu ft/s) near estuary
Basin features
ProgressionVltavaElbeNorth Sea

The Otava (German: Wottawa) is a river in the Czech Republic, a left tributary of the Vltava River. It flows through the Plzeň and South Bohemian regions. It is formed by the confluence of the Vydra and Křemelná rivers. Together with the Vydra, which is its main source, the Otava is 134.8 km (83.8 mi) long, which makes it the 13th longest river in the country. Without the Vydra, it is 111.7 km (69.4 mi) long.

Etymology

The origin of the name is unclear. The word otava literally means "second harvest of grass", but the name of the river is probably of pre-Slavic origin and the resemblance to the word otava is only coincidental. A possible but unproven origin is the Germanic word Vatahva, meaning "quick water".[1] According to one theory, the name of the river is derived from the Celtic words áth a ava, which meant "river with many fords".[2]

Characteristic

Confluence of the Vydra and Křemelná rivers, forming the Otava

From a water management point of view, the Otava and Vydra are two different rivers with separate numbering of river kilometres. The Otava itself is formed by the confluence of the Vydra and Křemelná in the territory of Hartmanice, and is 111.7 km (69.4 mi) long. In a broader point of view, the Otava (as Vydra) arises in the territory of Modrava in the Bohemian Forest, by the confluence of the Modravský potok, Filipohuťský potok and Roklanský potok at 975 m (3,199 ft) and flows to Zvíkovské Podhradí, where it enters the Vltava River at the elevation of 348 m (1,142 ft). It is 134.8 km (83.8 mi) long. Its drainage basin has an area of 3,826.9 km2 (1,477.6 sq mi).[3]

The Otava has many relatively significant tributaries. The sources and longest tributaries of the Otava are:

TributaryLength (km)River kmSide
Blanice94.732.8right
Lomnice59.324.9left
Volyňka46.154.6right
Ostružná41.388.9left
Křemelná30.3111.7left
Brložský potok27.035.5left
Novosedelský potok24.360.5right
Vydra23.1111.7
Březový potok21.362.9left

Settlements

The largest settlements on the river are the towns of Písek and Strakonice. The river flows through the municipal territories of Hartmanice, Rejštejn, Dlouhá Ves, Sušice, Dobršín, Rabí, Žichovice, Velké Hydčice, Malý Bor, Horažďovice, Střelské Hoštice, Horní Poříčí, Katovice, Strakonice, Slaník, Přešťovice, Štěkeň, Čejetice, Putim, Kestřany, Písek, Čížová, Vrcovice, Vojníkov, Vráž, Ostrovec, Oslov, Varvažov and Zvíkovské Podhradí.

Bodies of water

The drainage basin is rich in fishponds, especially in the area of the České Budějovice Basin. There are 4,768 bodies of water in the basin area; the largest of them is the Labuť pond with an area of 101 ha (250 acres), built on the stream of Kostratecký potok. In the area of the confluence of the Vltava and the Otava, the extensive Orlík Reservoir is built on the Vltava, which also extends into the lower course of the Otava. Apart from this reservoir, no other reservoir or pond is built directly on the river.[3]

History

In earlier times, the banks of the Otava were popular for gold panning. It is still possible to find flakes of gold here.[2] The sand panned for gold also gave the name to Písek (literally "sand").[4]

Tourism

The Otava is suitable for river tourism. The course of the river is lined with many campsites for tourists and paddlers.[2]

References

  1. Loucká, Pavla (1997-09-05). "Řeky si pojmenovali nejdřív" (in Czech). Vesmír. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  2. 1 2 3 "Otava – skvělá řeka, kde vodácká doprava není příliš hustá" (in Czech). CzechTourism. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  3. 1 2 "Základní charakteristiky toku Otava a jeho povodí" (in Czech). T. G. Masaryk Water Research Institute. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  4. "Historie města" (in Czech). Město Písek. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
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