The Vsetínská Bečva (also called Horní Bečva; , Obere Betsch) is a river in the Czech Republic. It flows through the Zlín Region. It is the upper course of the Bečva, but usually it is considered a separate river. Until its confluence with the Rožnovská Bečva, when it further continues as Bečva, the Vsetínská Bečva is long.
Etymology The name Bečva is derived from the old Czech words bek, beč (i.e. 'cry'), meaning 'loud river'. The attribute Vsetínská is derived from the town of Vsetín. The river is also called Horní Bečva ('upper Bečva').
Characteristic
From a water management point of view, the Bečva and Vsetínská Bečva are two different rivers with separate numbering of river kilometres. The Vsetínská Bečva originates in the territory of Velké Karlovice in the Hostýn-Vsetín Mountains at an elevation of and then flows to Valašské Meziříčí, where it merges with the Rožnovská Bečva River at an elevation of and continues as Bečva. It is long. Its drainage basin has an area of , of which is in the Czech Republic.
The longest tributaries of the Vsetínská Bečva are: Tributary Length (km) River km Side Senice 32.5 23.3 left Bystřička 22.2 7.5 right Rokytenka 13.4 19.4 left Ratibořka 11.0 14.2 left Jasenice 8.9 20.6 right Velká Stanovnice 8.9 44.2 left Kychová 8.7 32.4 left Dinotice 8.6 34.4 right
Course
The most notable settlement on the river is the town of Vsetín. The river flows through the municipal territories of Velké Karlovice, Karolinka, Nový Hrozenkov, Halenkov, Huslenky, Hovězí, Janová, Ústí, Vsetín, Ratiboř, Pržno, Jablůnka, Mikulůvka, Bystřička, Jarcová and Valašské Meziříčí.
Bodies of water There are no reservoirs and fishponds built directly on the Vsetínská Bečva. There are 165 bodies of water in the basin area. The largest of them are the Karolinka Reservoir with an area of and Bystřička Reservoir with an area of .
Tourism The Vsetínská Bečva is suitable for river tourism. About of the river is navigable. The river is best navigable in spring and after the rains. There are several weirs on the river that are dangerous for paddlers.
References
External links
River flow at Jarcová station – Flood Warning and Forecasting Service of the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute