Oslava

For the eponymous village in the Vysočina Region, see Dolní Heřmanice.
Oslava
The Oslava in Velké Meziříčí
Map
Location
CountryCzech Republic
Regions
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationMatějov, Křižanov Highlands
 • elevation584 m (1,916 ft)
Mouth 
 • location
Jihlava
 • coordinates
49°5′51″N 16°21′51″E / 49.09750°N 16.36417°E / 49.09750; 16.36417
 • elevation
205 m (673 ft)
Length101.2 km (62.9 mi)
Basin size867.0 km2 (334.8 sq mi)
Discharge 
 • average3.47 m3/s (123 cu ft/s) near estuary
Basin features
ProgressionJihlava→ Svratka→ Thaya→ Morava→ Danube→ Black Sea

The Oslava is a river in the Czech Republic, a left tributary of the Jihlava River. It flows through the Vysočina and South Moravian regions. At 101.2 km (62.9 mi), it is the 24th longest river in the Czech Republic.

Etymology

The first written mention of the river is from 1146, when it was called Ozlawa in a Latin text.[1] According to one theory, the name is derived from the old Czech word osla, which meant "grind" and referred to the stones suitable for grinding that were found in the river. According to another theory, the name comes from the Celtic (Gaelic) òs, òsa, meaning "slow flowing water".[2]

Characteristic

Oslava in Oslavany

The Oslava originates in the territory of Matějov in the Křižanov Highlands at an elevation of 584 m (1,916 ft) and flows to Ivančice, where it enters the Jihlava River at an elevation of 205 m (673 ft). It is 101.2 km (62.9 mi) long, which makes it the 24th longest river in the Czech Republic. Before the remeasurement, its length was stated as 99.2 km until 2013 and then 99.6 km until 2021. After a survey by hydrologists, the location of the spring was specified according to the most abundant source and the length of the entire river was redefined.[3] Its drainage basin has an area of 867.0 km2 (334.8 sq mi).[4]

The longest tributaries of the Oslava are:[5]

Tributary Length (km) River km Side
Balinka 31.1 60.3 right
Chvojnice 21.0 17.6 left
Bohdalovský potok 17.0 83.0 right
Oslavička 15.1 58.1 right

Settlements

Confluence of the Oslava (in front) with the Jihlava

The largest town on the river is Velké Meziříčí. The river flows through the following settlements: Nové Veselí, Ostrov nad Oslavou, Velké Meziříčí, Náměšť nad Oslavou, Oslavany and Ivančice.

Bodies of water

The Mostiště Reservoir with an area of 88 ha (220 acres) is constructed on the river and is the largest body of water in the basin area. A notable body of water is also the fishpond Veselský rybník with an area of 81 ha (200 acres).[4]

Fauna

There were recorded 16 species of aquatic molluscs in the Oslava river: 8 species of gastropods and 8 species of bivalves. There lives endangered species of bivalve Unio crassus at the lower river section.[6]

Tourism

The Oslava is suitable for river tourism. About 88 km of the river is navigable.[7][8]

References

  1. ^ "Historie města" (in Czech). Náměšť nad Oslavou. Retrieved 2021-11-05.
  2. ^ Svoboda, Jiří (2011-09-08). "O původu názvů českých řek" (in Czech). Archived from the original on 2020-10-25. Retrieved 2019-07-12.
  3. ^ Bárta, Jiří (2021-05-08). "O pramen Oslavy, který je jinde, než určil Zeman, budou pečovat skauti" (in Czech). iDNES. Retrieved 2023-09-12.
  4. ^ a b "Základní charakteristiky toku Oslava a jeho povodí" (in Czech). T. G. Masaryk Water Research Institute. Retrieved 2023-09-12.
  5. ^ "Vodní toky". Evidence hlásných profilů (in Czech). Czech Hydrometeorological Institute. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
  6. ^ Beran, Luboš (2019-02-09). "Vodní měkkýši Oslavy [Aquatic molluscs of the Oslava River]". Malacologica Bohemoslovaca (in Czech). 18: 8–12. doi:10.5817/MaB2019-18-8. ISSN 1336-6939.
  7. ^ "Řeka Oslava – oblíbená řeka Českomoravské vrchoviny" (in Czech). CzechTourism. Retrieved 2023-09-12.
  8. ^ "Oslava – česká divočina" (in Czech). Pádler. 2017-11-11. Retrieved 2023-09-12.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Oslava.