Vrchlice

Vrchlice
The Vrchlice near Kutná Hora
Map
Location
CountryCzech Republic
RegionCentral Bohemian
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationČerníny, Upper Sázava Hills
 • elevation488 m (1,601 ft)
Mouth 
 • location
Klejnárka
 • coordinates
49°58′16″N 15°19′11″E / 49.97111°N 15.31972°E / 49.97111; 15.31972
 • elevation
204 m (669 ft)
Length30.0 km (18.6 mi)
Basin size133.3 km2 (51.5 sq mi)
Discharge 
 • average0.53 m3/s (19 cu ft/s) near estuary
Basin features
ProgressionKlejnárka→ Elbe→ North Sea

The Vrchlice is a stream in the Czech Republic, a left tributary of the Klejnárka River. It flows through the Central Bohemian Region. It is 30.0 km (18.6 mi) long.

Etymology

The initial name of the stream was Vysplice. The German miners then began to call the stream Bach (literally 'stream' in German), from which the Czech name Pách developed. In 1824, the stream was renamed Vrchlice, which was derived from its oldest name, Vysplice.[1]

Characteristic

The Vrchlice near Chlístovice

The Vrchlice originates in the Zdeslavice exclave of the Černíny municipality in the Upper Sázava Hills at an elevation of 488 m (1,601 ft) and flows to Nové Dvory, where it enters the Vrchlice River at an elevation of 204 m (669 ft). It is 30.0 km (18.6 mi) long. Its drainage basin has an area of 133.3 km2 (51.5 sq mi).[2]

The longest tributaries of the Vrchlice are:[3]

Tributary Length (km) River km Side
Opatovický potok 14.8 16.9 right
Chlístovický potok 9.0 20.0 left

Flow

The most populated settlement on the stream is the town of Kutná Hora. The stream flows through the municipal territories of Černíny, Štipoklasy, Chlístovice, Malešov, Vidice, Miskovice, Kutná Hora and Nové Dvory.

Bodies of water

Dam of the Vrchlice Reservoir

The Vrchlice Reservoir was built on the middle course of the stream in 1966–1970. It has an area of 93.5 ha (231 acres). The main purpose of the reservoir is the accumulation of water for drinking water supply. Other purposes are provision of minimum flow under the dam, the energy use of water outflow from the reservoir and contribution to flood protection. The dam of the reservoir is the only arch dam in the Czech Republic.[2] In addition to the reservoir, there are many fishponds on the stream.

Nature

The most valuable part of the Vrchlice basin is the Vrchlice valley in Kutná Hora, which was proposed to be declared a nature reserve. According to a 2009 study, three species of bivalves occur in the stream in this area: Galba truncatula, Ancylus fluviatilis and Sphaerium corneum.[4]

In culture

Jaroslav Vrchlický (a famous Czech writer, eight times nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature) chose his pseudonym after the Vrchlice valley, which he liked very much. In his memory, the Vrchlický relief is carved in the rock in the Vrchlice valley.[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Po stopách mlynářů v Kutné Hoře" (in Czech). České muzeum stříbra. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
  2. ^ a b "Vodní dílo Vrchlice" (PDF) (in Czech and English). Povodí Labe, s.p. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
  3. ^ "Vodní toky". Evidence hlásných profilů (in Czech). Czech Hydrometeorological Institute. Retrieved 2024-10-18.
  4. ^ Juřičková, Lucie (2009-12-04). "Měkkýši navrhované PR Údolí Vrchlice u Kutné Hory [Molluscs of the proposal nature reserve Vrchlice Valley near Kutná Hora]". Malacologica Bohemoslovaca (in Czech). 8: 66–69. ISSN 1336-6939. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
  5. ^ "Jaroslav Vrchlický – první český básník a spisovatel, nominovaný na Nobelovu cenu za literaturu" (in Czech). CzechTourism. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Vrchlice.