Smědá


The Smědá is a river in the Czech Republic and Poland, a right tributary of the Lusatian Neisse River. It flows through the Liberec Region in the Czech Republic and then through Lower Silesian Voivodeship. Together with the Bílá Smědá, which is its main source, the Smědá is long. Without the Bílá Smědá, it is long.

Etymology

The initial name of the river was Wietev, derived from the Slavic word for 'branch'. The oldest mention of Wietev is from 1539. The German name Wittig was derived from this name. In 1951, the German name was replaced by Witka in Poland. The modern Czech name Smědá is derived from the dark water which flows out of the peat bogs.

Characteristic

The Smědá originates as Bílá Smědá in peat pogs in the territory of Hejnice in the Jizera Mountains at an elevation of exactly. After it merges with the stream Černá Smědá and further continues as Smědá. It flows to Radomierzyce, where it enters the Lusatian Neisse River at an elevation of. Its total length is. Without the Bílá Smědá, the Smědá is long, of which is in the Czech Republic. About forms the Czech-Polish state border. The drainage basin has an area of, of which is in the Czech Republic.
The sources and longest tributaries of the Smědá are:
TributaryLength Side
Řasnice18.3right
Lomnice17.0right
Bulovský potok15.4right
Sloupský potok9.8left
Bílá Smědá3.4
Černá Smědá2.5right

Flow

The river flows through the territories of Hejnice, Bílý Potok, Raspenava, Frýdlant, Kunratice, Višňová and Černousy in the Czech Republic and Zawidów, Gmina Sulików and Gmina Zgorzelec in Poland.

Bodies of water

In Poland, the Niedów Reservoir is constructed on the Smědá. It was built in 1958–1962 and is used as a recreational area. In 2010, the dam burst due to flash floods. The new dam was built in 2016.

Fauna

Fish living in the river include river trout and brook trout.

Protection of nature

The final section of the river within the limits of the Czech Republic is protected as the Meandry Smědé Nature Reserve. It has an area of. The object of protection is the natural character of the river bed with meanders, pools and wet meadows, with a large number of protected plant and animal species.