The Vltava River
The Vltava is the river that flows under Charles Bridge and it is the longest river in the Czech Republic, running north from its source in Šumava through Cesky Krumlov, Ceske Budejovice, and Prague, merging with the Elbe at Melnik. It is 430 kilometers long and drains about 28,090 square kilometers; 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 not used much within Prague by the inhabitants of the city. There is though a camping ground just to the south of the city on the east bank of the river.
Several dams were built on it in the 1950s, the biggest being Lipno Dam in Sumava.
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 Czech composer Bedrich Smetana’s set of six symphonic poems My Fatherland is called Vltava and is an evocation of the course the river takes.
Prague panorama upstream from the Charles Bridge
- The height difference from source to mouth is 1016 m.
- The largest stream at the source is named Cerny Potok (Black Brook).
Both the Czech name Vltava and the German name Moldau are believed to originate from the old Germanic words meaning “wild water”.
Prague City Street
This is one of the great pleasures in Prague, I can wander in the city and still find streets that are completely empty, even when you would think that every street is jammed with eager tourists snapping away. I tell friend not to stop at the main tourist area for coffee or a [...]