| Opava | |
|---|---|
 The Opava inKravaře | |
 | |
| Location | |
| Countries | |
| Regions/ Voivodeships | |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Černá Opava |
| • location | Zlaté Hory,Hrubý Jeseník |
| • elevation | 1,062 m (3,484 ft) |
| Mouth | |
• location | Oder |
• coordinates | 49°50′1″N18°13′17″E / 49.83361°N 18.22139°E /49.83361; 18.22139 |
• elevation | 207 m (679 ft) |
| Length | 129.3 km (80.3 mi) |
| Basin size | 2,088.8 km2 (806.5 sq mi) |
| Discharge | |
| • average | 17.6 m3/s (620 cu ft/s) near estuary |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Oder→Baltic Sea |
TheOpava (Polish:Opawa,German:Oppa) is ariver in theCzech Republic, a lefttributary of theOder River. It partly forms the Czech-Polish state border. It flows through theMoravian-Silesian Region in the Czech Republic and along theOpole Voivodeship in Poland. It is formed by the confluence of the Černá Opava and Střední Opava streams. Together with the Černá Opava, which is its main source, the Opava is 129.3 km (80.3 mi) long, making it the15th longest river in the country. Without the Černá Opava, it is 110.7 km (68.8 mi) long.
The first written mentions of the river are from 1031 (as Vpa) and 1062 (as Opa). The wordsapa,opa wereCeltic words for 'water' or 'river'. The suffix-ava is of younger origin and also denotes 'water'.[1][2] The source streams of the Opava are called Černá Opava ('black Opava'), Střední Opava ('middle Opava') and Bílá Opava ('white Opava').
From a water management point of view, the Opava, Černá Opava and Střední Opava are three different watercourses with separate numbering ofriver kilometres. The Opava itself is formed by the confluence of the Černá Opava and Střední Opava in the territory ofVrbno pod Pradědem at an elevation of 529 m (1,736 ft), and is 110.7 km (68.8 mi) long.[3] The stream of Bílá Opava flows to the Střední Opava shortly before its confluence with the Černá Opava and is also considered the source of the Opava.[4]
In a broader point of view, the Opava (as Černá Opava) originates in the territory ofZlaté Hory in theHrubý Jeseník mountain range, on the slope of theOrlík mountain at an elevation of 1,062 m (3,484 ft), and flows toOstrava, where it enters the Oder River at an elevation of 207 m (679 ft). It is 129.3 km (80.3 mi) long, making it the15th longest river in the country. The river forms 21.8 km (13.5 mi) of the Czech-Polish border. Itsdrainage basin has an area of 2,088.8 km2 (806.5 sq mi), of which 1,813.7 km2 (700.3 sq mi) is in the Czech Republic.[3][4]
The sources and longest tributaries of the Opava are:[5]
| Tributary | Length (km) | River km | Side |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moravice | 100.5 | 35.4 | right |
| Opavice | 35.7 | 71.6 | left |
| Čižina | 23.0 | 56.3 | right |
| Heraltický potok | 18.7 | 51.1 | left |
| Černá Opava | 18.6 | 110.7 | – |
| Velká | 17.2 | 38.8 | right |
| Krasovka | 14.6 | 80.4 | left |
| Střední Opava | 12.9 | 110.7 | right |
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The most notable settlement on the river are the cities ofOstrava andOpava, named after the river. The river flows through the municipal territories ofVrbno pod Pradědem,Karlovice,Široká Niva,Nové Heřminovy,Zátor,Brantice,Krnov,Úvalno,Brumovice,Holasovice, Opava,Velké Hoštice,Kravaře,Štítina,Mokré Lazce,Háj ve Slezsku,Dolní Benešov,Kozmice,Dobroslavice,Děhylov,Hlučín and Ostrava.
In the section between Krnov and Opava, where the river forms most of the Czech-Polish state border, the river flows along the territory ofGmina Branice.
There are no reservoirs and fishponds built directly on the Opava. There are 754 bodies of water in the basin area. The largest of them is theSlezská Harta Reservoir with an area of 840 ha (2,100 acres).[3]
Common fish in the river includeriver trout,grayling andcommon barbel. Among the protected species of fish and lampreys are thecommon minnow,European bullhead,alpine bullhead andbrook lamprey, occurring on the upper course of the river. Among the protected animal species occurring in the lower course of the river are theEuropean crayfish,painter's mussel,swollen river mussel andduck mussel. The entire course of the river is also a nesting and hunting ground for thecommon kingfisher.[4]
The Opava is suitable forriver tourism. The most popular part is the lower section of the river from Kravaře to Ostrava with a length of about 30 km (19 mi), which is passable all year round and is suitable for less experienced paddlers.[6]
Tributaries of theOder | ||
|---|---|---|
| Main tributaries of the left bank |  | |
| Main tributaries of the right bank | ||
| Distributary | ||
| Cities and towns | ||
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