Desná (Morava)

Desná
Upper course of the Desná
Location
Country	Czech Republic
Region	Olomouc
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Loučná nad Desnou, Hrubý Jeseník
• elevation	1,333 m (4,373 ft)
Mouth
• location	Morava
• coordinates	49°54′33″N 16°55′48″E / 49.90917°N 16.93000°E / 49.90917; 16.93000
• elevation	281 m (922 ft)
Length	43.4 km (27.0 mi)
Basin size	337.8 km2 (130.4 sq mi)
Discharge
• average	4.08 m3/s (144 cu ft/s) near estuary
Basin features
Progression	Morava→ Danube→ Black Sea

Desná (German: Tess) is a river in the Olomouc Region of Czech Republic, left tributary of the Morava. It is 43.4 km long, and its basin area is 338 km².^[1]

The Desná river originates as Divoká Desná in Rejhotice, on the slope of the Kamzičník mountain of the Hrubý Jeseník mountains. In Kouty nad Desnou, it merges with the Hučivá Desná creek. The Desná then goes southwest through a valley toward the town of Šumperk. After approximately 43.4 km, the Desná flows into the Morava river near Postřelmov village. The mean annual discharge at its mouth is 4.48 m³/s.

About 50% of the river is situated in urban area of Loučná nad Desnou, Velké Losiny, Petrov nad Desnou, Rapotín, Vikýřovice, Šumperk and Sudkov, this parts of the river are strongly regulated. Riverbanks are often strengthened by walls; river stream is free of obstacles.

Natural character has been preserved in a part between Bludov and Sudkov, where the river has meander character. Meanders are inhabited by brown trouts, graylings, european bullheads and eurasian beavers. Vegetation consists of stinging nettle, black alder, common hop, himalayan balsam, common knotweed, common knotgrass and giant hogweed.

The Desná feeds two major ponds. Benátky pond, situated in Šumperk, is used for fishing, recreation and as a source of water for local swimming pool. Its area is 1.7ha.

Area of the Sudkovský rybník, which is situated in Sudkov, is 8 ha. First mention of the pond comes from 1480, when it was bought by The House of Tunkl who enlarged the pond and used them for fishery. In 1867, the pond was bought by Ignác Seidl, the entrepreneur from Šumperk, who used it as a source of water for his nearby flax mill. After flax mill bankruptcy in the 1990s the pond is solely used for fishing.

Devastating flood struck the basin of Desná in 1997. Railway situated along the river was totally destroyed and its state-owned operator decided to cancel whole rail line. This was met with resistance of local citizens and the railway was bought and reconstructed by local municipalities, which grouped themselves into "Svazek obcí údolí Desné" (The Union of Municipalities from the Valley of Desná). Recently, the rail line is operated by private carrier.

• Geographic data related to Desná (Morava) at OpenStreetMap