Vltava

The Vltava ( listen (help·); German:Moldau) is the longest river in the Czech Republic, running north from its source near the Austrian Border in Šumava through Český Krumlov, České Budějovice, and Prague, merging with the Elbe at Mělník. It is 430 km long and drains about 28,090 km2; at their confluence the Vltava actually has more water than the Elbe, but joins the Elbe at a right angle to its flow so that it appears a mere tributary. The river is crossed by 18 bridges (including the famous Charles Bridge, shown below) as it runs through Prague. It covers 31 km within the city. [1] Several dams were built on it in the 1950s, the biggest being Lipno Dam in Šumava.

In August 2002 a flood of the Vltava killed several people and caused massive damage and disruption along its length.

The best-known of the classical Czechcomposer Bedřich Smetana's set of sixsymphonic poems Má vlast ("My Motherland") is called Vltava (or The Moldau), and is a musical depiction of the river's course through Bohemia. {| class="toc" id="toc"

Contents
[hide] *1 Physical description
 * 2 Etymology
 * 3 Honors
 * 4 References
 * 5 External links
 * }

[edit]Physical description
The height difference from source to mouth is about 1016 m and the largest stream at the source is named Černý Potok (Black Brook). The Vltava as it flows under Charles Bridge in Prague==[edit]Etymology== Both the Czech name Vltava and the German name Moldau are believed to originate from theold Germanic words *wilt ahwa[citation needed] ("wild water") (cf. Latin aqua).

[edit]Honors
A minor planet 2123 Vltava discovered in 1973 by Soviet astronomer Nikolai Stepanovich Chernykh is named after the river.[2]