Blanice (Otava)

The Blanice (Blanitz) is a river in the Czech Republic, a right tributary of the Otava River. It flows through the South Bohemian Region. It is 94.7 km long.

Etymology
The name is derived from the old Czech word blan, which meant 'meadow'. The name referred to the character of the territory through which it flows. The river is sometimes called Vodňanská Blanice to distinguish it from Blanice (tributary of the Sázava).

Characteristic
The Blanice originates in the territory of the Boletice Military Training Area in the Bohemian Forest at the elevation of 970 m and flows to Putim, where it enters the Otava River at the elevation of 364 m. It is 94.7 km long. Its drainage basin has an area of 861.9 km2.

The longest tributaries of the Blanice are:

Course
The most notable settlement on the Blanice is the town of Vodňany. The river flows through the Boletice Military Training Area and through the municipal territories of Zbytiny, Volary, Záblatí, Kratušín, Zábrdí, Dvory, Prachatice, Husinec, Těšovice, Strunkovice nad Blanicí, Bavorov, Hájek, Vodňany, Protivín, Skály, Heřmaň and Putim.

Bodies of water
There are 419 bodies of water larger than 1 ha in the basin area. The largest of them is the fishpond Dřemlínský with an area of 62 ha. The only body of water built directly on the Blanice is the Husinec Reservoir. It was built in 1935–1939 for flood protection. It has an area of 61 ha.

Nature
The Blanice is known for its abundance of the critically endangered freshwater pearl mussel. Around 1990, the number of individuals in the river was estimated at 114 thousand. Due to a very severe winter in 1990, due to the pollution of the river in 1992 and due to the 2002 European floods, their number dropped to 7,500 in 2016. To increase the number of freshwater pearl mussel above 10,000, a project of experts is underway in the 2020s.

On the upper course of the river, there are two national nature monuments that protect the riverbed and its surroundings. Blanice National Nature Monument has an area of 292.2 ha and the adjoining Prameniště Blanice National Nature Monument has an area of 220.9 ha. The subject of protection in these areas is primarily the biotope and the population of freshwater pearl mussels.

The valley of the river in the territory of Záblatí is protected as Kaňon Blanice Nature Reserve with an area of 131.0 ha. The subject of protection is, among other things, the occurrence of freshwater pearl mussels, European bullheads and brook lampreys in the river.

The riverbed between Záblatí and Dvory is protected as Blanice Nature Monument with an area of 7.3 ha. In addition to freshwater pearl mussels, the protected species European bullhead, brook lamprey, common minnow and Eurasian otter are found here.

Tourism
The Blanice is suitable for river tourism. About 84 km of the river is navigable. The most popular is the section between Husinec and Strunkovice nad Blanicí, where rowing races and rafting are organized.