The Doubrava is a river in the Czech Republic, a left tributary of the Elbe River. It flows through the VysoÃÂina, Pardubice and Central Bohemian regions. It is long.
The Czech word doubrava means 'oak forest' (derived from dub = 'oak'). However, the name did not express the character of the entire stream (that the river would flow through oak forests), but this type of name was most often created according to the groups of trees that grew at its mouth.
The Doubrava originates in the territory of RadostÃÂn on the border between the Kà Âià ¾anov Highlands and Upper Sázava Hills, at an elevation of . The river has three marked springs, lying close to each other. Due to human activity (draining marshes and regulating water courses), the yield of the springs has changed over time, and it is not clear which spring is the main one.
The Doubrava flows to Záboà Âànad Labem, where it enters the Elbe River at an elevation of . It is long. Its drainage basin has an area of .
The longest tributaries of the Doubrava are:
The most populated settlement at the river is the town of ChotÃÂboà Â. The river flows through the municipal territories of RadostÃÂn, Krucemburk, à ½dÃÂrec nad Doubravou, SobÃÂà Âov, ChotÃÂboà Â, DolnàSokolovec, Libice nad Doubravou, BezdÃÂkov, MaleÃÂ, Nová Ves u ChotÃÂboà Âe, VÃÂska, ÃÂeÃÂkovice, Jeà Âià ¡no, Borek, BÃÂstvina, Kraborovice, Heà Âmanice, Ronov nad Doubravou, à ½leby, Vrdy, Vinaà Âe, VlaÃÂice, BÃÂlé PodolÃÂ, à ½ehuà ¡ice, Horka I, Rohozec, Svatý MikulÃ¡à ¡, Kobylnice and Záboà Âànad Labem.
There are 673 bodies of water in the basin area. The largest of them is the fishpond à Âeka with an area of , built directly on the Doubrava. On the middle course of the river is built the Paà ÂÃÂà ¾ov Reservoir with an area of .
The Doubrava originates in the à ½ÃÂárské vrchy Protected Landscape Area and leaves the protected area after about . à Âeka pond is located within the protected area. The mouth of the river to the pond is specially protected as the à Âeka Nature Reserve with an area of . The subject of protection are wet peat meadows with abundant occurrence of protected and endangered species of plants and animals.
Near ChotÃÂboà Â, the river crosses the à ½elezné hory Protected Landscape Area (but not the eponymous mountain range that forms the main part of the protected area). The valley of the Doubrava inside this protected area is specially protected as the ÃÂdolàDoubravy Nature Reserve with an area of . The river created there a canyon-like valley with many geomorphologically significant shapes. The valley is also valuable for occurrence of protected and rare species of plants and animals.
The Doubrava is suitable for river tourism only after heavy rains, melting snow or when water is released from the Paà ÂÃÂà ¾ov Reservoir. Two sections of the river are navigable, but they are recommended only to experienced paddlers.