Dyje–Svratka Valley

Dyje–Svratka Valley
View from the Výhon hill to the Dyje–Svratka Valley
Highest point
PeakVýhon
Elevation355 m (1,165 ft)
Dimensions
Length83 km (52 mi)
Area1,452 km2 (561 sq mi)
Geography
Dyje–Svratka Valley in the geomorphological system of the Czech Republic
CountryCzech Republic
RegionSouth Moravian
Range coordinates48°56′N 16°29′E / 48.933°N 16.483°E / 48.933; 16.483
Parent rangeOuter Subcarpathia
Geology
OrogenyAlpide belt, outer depression
Age of rockNeogene
Type of rockGravel and sand

The Dyje–Svratka Valley (Czech: Dyjsko-svratecký úval) is a valley and a geomorphological mesoregion of the Czech Republic. It is located in the South Moravian Region. Its name is derived from the rivers Thaya (Dyje) and Svratka.

Geomorphology

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The Dyje–Svratka Valley is a mesoregion of Outer Subcarpathia within the Western Carpathians. It is mainly a lowland area. Beyond the Czech-Austrian state border, it smoothly transforms into the Weinviertel area. The northern part of the Dyje–Svratka Valley is undulating and includes several isolated hills.[1] The valley is further subdivided into the microregions of the Jaroslavice Uplands, Dnholec Uplands, Dyje–Svratka Floodplain, Dunajovice Hills, Rajhrad Uplands and Prace Upland.[2]

The area is poor in peaks. The highest and most distinctive peak is Výhon at 355 metres (1,165 ft) above sea level. A significant feature in the relief is the isolated hill of Pracký kopec at 325 m (1,066 ft), also historically known as the centre of the Battle of Austerlitz.[1]

Geography

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The territory is elongated from the southwest to the northeast. It has an area of 1,452 square kilometres (561 sq mi) and an average elevation of 210 metres (690 ft).[3] The floodplains of several rivers is in the Dyje–Svratka Valley, including Svratka, Jihlava, Svitava, Thaya, Jevišovka and Litava. Drainage runs into the river Morava, from there into the Danube basin and finally into the Black Sea. The Nové Mlýny reservoirs, built on the confluence of the Thaya and Svratka, include the lowest point of the Dyje–Svratka Valley at 170 m (560 ft) above sea level.

The area is rich in settlements. The southeastern half of the city of Brno is located within the Dyje–Svratka Valley. Other towns in the territory are Šlapanice, Slavkov u Brna, Pohořelice, Rajhrad, Židlochovice, Hrušovany nad Jevišovkou and Újezd u Brna.

Transport

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Highways that traverse the Dyje–Svratka Valley include D1 from Brno to Ostrava, D2 from Brno to Břeclav and Bratislava, and D52 from Brno to Vienna.

Land use

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Forests cover only 11.7% of the area.[2] The territory is mostly by riparian forest (oaks, populus and willows), with higher areas forested by black locust.[4] The lowlands are intensively farmed, with significant numbers of orchards (peaches, walnuts, apricots and almonds), vineyards and small woods. Only a few small sections are still covered by natural vegetation.[5] The southern part of the valley contains numerous vineyards that are part of the wine making sub-regions of Mikulovská and Znojemská.

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Dyjsko-svratecký úval". Duše Karpat (in Czech). Retrieved 2024-01-08.
  2. ^ a b "Oblastní plán rozvoje lesů: Přírodní lesní oblast 35 – Jihomoravské úvaly" (PDF) (in Czech). Forest Management Institute. 2020. p. 37. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
  3. ^ "Česko: Geomorfologické celky podle rozlohy" (in Czech). Treking.cz. 2009-12-15. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
  4. ^ Horník, Stanislav (1993). "Some results of biogeographic research on meadows in the Dyje-Svratka basin in the Czech Republic". GeoJournal. 31: 379–382. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
  5. ^ Penka, Miroslav; Vyskot, Miroslav; Klimo, Emil; Vašíček, Ferdinand (1991). Floodplain forest ecosystem. 2. After Water management measures. Amsterdam: Elsevier. pp. 26–27.