| Berounka | |
|---|---|
 The Berounka underTetín | |
 | |
| Location | |
| Country | Czech Republic |
| Regions | |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Mže |
| • location | Mähring,Upper Palatine Forest |
| • coordinates | 49°51′10″N12°28′1″E / 49.85278°N 12.46694°E /49.85278; 12.46694 |
| • elevation | 726 m (2,382 ft) |
| Mouth | |
• location | Vltava |
• coordinates | 49°59′43″N14°24′5″E / 49.99528°N 14.40139°E /49.99528; 14.40139 |
• elevation | 189 m (620 ft) |
| Length | 244.6 km (152.0 mi) |
| Basin size | 8,854.2 km2 (3,418.6 sq mi) |
| Discharge | |
| • average | 36 m3/s (1,300 cu ft/s) near estuary |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Vltava→Elbe→North Sea |
TheBerounka (Czech pronunciation:[bɛrɔʊ̯ŋka]ⓘ) is ariver in theCzech Republic, a lefttributary of theVltava River. It flows through thePlzeň andCentral Bohemian regions toPrague. It is formed by the confluence of theMže andRadbuza rivers inPlzeň. Together with the Mže, which is its main source, the Berounka is 244.6 km (152.0 mi) long, which makes it thefifth longest river in the Czech Republic. Without the Mže, it is 139.4 km (86.6 mi) long.
The river is named after the town ofBeroun. Originally, the entire stream was calledMže (German:Mies) and the name first appeared in the 12th century, among others inChronica Boemorum. The name was written asMse,Msa andMisa. From the 17th century, the lower course started to be named Berounka, but the name Mže still appeared as a name for the entire stream at the end of the 19th century. In order to avoid confusion, an initiative to rename the lower course back to the historical name Mže was created in 2008, but its efforts were unsuccessful due to the strongly adopted current name.[1][2]
From a water management point of view, the Berounka and Mže are two different rivers with separate numbering ofriver kilometres. In a broader point of view, the Berounka (as Mže) originates in the territory ofMähring in theUpper Palatine Forest at an elevation of 726 m (2,382 ft) and flows toPrague-Lahovice, where it enters the Vltava River at an elevation of 189 m (620 ft). It is 244.57 km (151.97 mi) long, of which 2.34 km (1.45 mi) is in Germany.[3] In the Czech Republic, it is 242.23 km (150.51 mi) long, which makes it thefifth longest river in the country. Itsdrainage basin has an area of 8,854.2 km2 (3,418.6 sq mi). The name Berounka is used from the confluence of the Mže with theRadbuza inPlzeň and from this point to the confluence with the Vltava, the river is 139.4 km (86.6 mi) long.[4][5]
The Berounka has many significant tributaries. The sources and longest tributaries of the Berounka are:[6]
| Tributary | Length (km) | River km | Side |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radbuza | 109.7 | 138.9 | right |
| Mže | 105.1 | 138.9 | – |
| Střela | 101.7 | 102.7 | left |
| Úslava | 96.3 | 136.0 | right |
| Loděnice | 64.7 | 30.6 | left |
| Litavka | 54.9 | 34.3 | right |
| Klabava | 51.2 | 121.9 | right |
| Rakovnický potok | 48.5 | 62.4 | left |
| Třemošná | 43.7 | 111.4 | left |
| Javornice | 30.9 | 81.3 | left |
| Zbirožský potok | 28.8 | 77.3 | right |
| Radotínský potok | 22.9 | 3.7 | left |
| Klíčava | 22.3 | 53.8 | left |
| Radnický potok | 18.7 | 96.2 | right |
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There are several large settlements on the river. The Mže flows throughTachov andStříbro. After its confluence with the Radbuza inPlzeň, the Berounka flows throughBeroun,Řevnice,Dobřichovice,Černošice and along the edge ofPrague.
There are 7,502 bodies of water in the basin area; the largest of them is theHracholusky Reservoir with an area of 352 ha (870 acres), built at the confluence of the Mže and the stream Úterský potok. There are no bodies of water built directly on the lower course of the Berounka.[4]
The river is home to the molluscUnio pictorum, which is critically endangered within the Czech Republic. The endemic speciesBulgarica nitidosa lives by the river.[7]
There is an artificial slalom course inRoztoky, on the 63rd river km.[8]
The Berounka is considered one of the most beautiful rivers in the country and is among the most popular rivers forriver tourism. Almost its entire flow from Plzeň is navigable. It is popular thanks to the sections in the protected landscape areas ofKřivoklátsko and Český kras, which lead through unspoiled nature. The Berounka belongs to the undemanding rivers suitable for beginner paddlers. An 82 km long educational trail for paddlers runs along the river.[9]
