The Olšava is a river in the Czech Republic, a left tributary of the Morava River. It flows through the Zlín Region. It is long.
Etymology The origin of the name is unclear. If the name is of Slavic origin, it is most likely derived from the Czech word olše (i.e. 'alder'), meaning "river flowing between alders". However, the name may be of pre-Slavic origin. The oldest written document of the river is from 1078, when the name was written as Olsaua.
Characteristic
The Olšava originates in the territory of Šanov in the White Carpathians mountain range at an elevation of and flows to Kunovice, where it enters the Morava River at an elevation of . It is long. Its drainage basin has an area of . The average discharge at its mouth is .
The longest tributaries of the Olšava are: Tributary Length (km) Side Luhačovický potok 26.1 right Nivnička 20.9 left Kladenka 14.0 right Holomňa 11.4 right Koménka 8.7 left
Course The river flows through the municipal territories of Šanov, Pitín, Bojkovice, Záhorovice, Nezdenice, Šumice, Uherský Brod, Drslavice, Hradčovice, Veletiny, Popovice, Podolí, Uherské Hradiště and Kunovice.
Bodies of water There are 123 bodies of water in the basin area. The largest of them is Luhačovice Reservoir with an area of , built on the Luhačovický potok. There are no reservoirs or fishponds built directly on the Olšava.
Nature The upper course of the river flows through the Bílé Karpaty Protected Landscape Area.
An unregulated section of the river between Podolí and Uherské Hradiště, together with its immediate surroundings, is protected as the Olšava Nature Monument. It is a zoologically significant site with an area of . Several species of birds endangered within the Czech Republic live here, such as the common kingfisher, Eurasian penduline tit, marsh warbler and sedge warbler.
See also List of rivers of the Czech Republic
References
External links
River flow at Uherský Brod station – Flood Warning and Forecasting Service of the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute