Svitava (river)

The Svitava (Zwittawa) is a river in the Czech Republic, a left tributary of the Svratka River. It flows through the Pardubice and South Moravian regions. It is 98.4 km long.

Etymology
The river's name referred to its clear water and was derived from svítat, which meant "[be] clear" in Old Czech. The river is first documented in 1125 in Chronica Boemorum.

Characteristic
The Svitava originates in the territory of Svitavy in the Svitavy Uplands at the elevation of 472 m and flows to Brno, where it enters the Svratka River at an elevation of 191 m. It is 98.4 km long. Its drainage basin has an area of 1149.4 km2.

The longest tributaries of the Svitava are:

Settlements
The river valley is densely populated and there are many relatively notable settlements on the river. Apart from the city of Brno, the most significant towns on the river are Blansko and Svitavy, named after the river. The river flows through the municipal territories of Svitavy, Hradec nad Svitavou, Banín, Březová nad Svitavou, Brněnec, Rozhraní, Stvolová, Skrchov, Letovice, Svitávka, Boskovice, Skalice nad Svitavou, Lhota Rapotina, Doubravice nad Svitavou, Rájec-Jestřebí, Ráječko, Blansko, Olomučany, Adamov, Bílovice nad Svitavou and Brno.

Bodies of water
There are 583 bodies of water in the basin area. The largest of them is the Letovice Reservoir with an area of 98 ha, built on the Křetínka. Two fishponds are built on the upper course of the Svitava.

Use
There are a large number of mills and hydroelectric power stations on the river.

Tourism
The Svitava is suitable for river tourism. The river is navigable all year round, but there are many weirs on it. The most popular section for paddlers is between Letovice and Blansko.