Narva (river)
Narva | |
---|---|
Native name | |
Location | |
Countries | |
Cities | |
Physical characteristics | |
Source | Lake Peipus |
• coordinates | 58°59′14″N 27°43′50″E / 58.98722°N 27.73056°E |
• elevation | 30 m (98 ft) |
Mouth | Narva Bay in Finnish Gulf |
• coordinates | 59°28′14″N 28°02′37″E / 59.47056°N 28.04361°E |
• elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
Length | 77 km (48 mi) |
Basin size | 56,225 km2 (21,709 sq mi) |
Discharge | |
• average | 400 m3/s (14,000 cu ft/s) |
Basin features | |
Tributaries | |
• left | Jaama, Poruni, Mustajõgi |
• right | Plyussa, Rosson |
Basin countries | Russia (62.9%), Estonia (30.5%), Latvia (6.6%),[1] Belarus (minute share)(see map) |
The Narva[a], formerly also Narwa or Narova, flows 77 kilometres (48 mi) north into the Baltic Sea and is the largest Estonian river by discharge. A similar length of land far to the south, together with it and a much longer intermediate lake, Lake Peipus, all together nowadays form the international border between Estonia and Russia.
The river gives its name to the archaeological (Neolithic) Narva culture, as well as the city of Narva. Narva is the third most populous urban area in Estonia, and nowadays faces the Russian town of Ivangorod right across the border over the river.
At the coast the river passes part of the resort of
Etymology
The etymology of the toponym Narva is not clear. According to one hypothesis it is related to the Finnic word narva which, for example, in Veps means 'waterfall' or 'stream'.[2]
Geography
The Narva River has its source at the northeastern end of Lake Peipus, near the villages of Vasknarva (Estonia) and Skyamya (Russia). There are a few more small villages on the upper section of the river, Permisküla and Kuningaküla on the Estonian side and Omuti on the Russian side, but up to the city of Narva the shores of the river are mostly forested or marshy land. The river is dammed entering Narva and Ivangorod, forming the Narva Reservoir, which extends up to 38 kilometres (24 mi) upstream.[3] The Narva empties into Narva Bay near the Estonian town of Narva-Jõesuu, third largest settlement on the river after Narva and Ivangorod.
The
Waterfall
Kreenholm (
Between the southeast part of the city of Narva and the rest, facing the Russian city of Ivangorod, the river flows over the Baltic Klint, forming Narva Falls, at times, as it historically was, the most powerful in Europe.[4] Before the water reaches the falls it is split into two branches by the Kreenholm island, thus the falls consist of two branches. Kreenholm Falls, west of the island, is 60 metres (200 ft) wide and 6.5 metres (21 ft) high with multiple terraces. Joala Falls, to the east, is 110 metres (360 ft) wide and makes the same descent. The international border follows the latter.[4]
Since the creation of Narva Reservoir, an anabranch, in 1955, the falls are usually near-dry, but water is allowed to flow in them for a few days each year. When in flow non-flying viewing access is difficult, being in the border zone and most of the west bank is private, closed industrial land belonging to
History
The Narva was used as a trade route during the
The Narva has for centuries been an important border river. Beginning in the 13th century it was the border of
Bridges
The Narva River is crossed only by a handful of bridges between Narva and Ivangorod. Besides the dam of the Narva Reservoir, these are, in downstream order:
- a pedestrian bridge below the Kreenholm island
- Narva Railway Bridge : Carrying the Tallinn–Saint Petersburg railway line.
- Friendship Bridge: The Tallinn–Saint Petersburg highway bridge on E20 just downstream from the Hermann Castle and Ivangorod Fortress. It was built in 1960 and is 162 metres (531 ft) long.
Bibliography
- Feršel, Anne-Ly (2010). The River Narva (PDF). Estonian Environmental Board. ISBN 978-9949-9057-4-4. Archived from the original(PDF) on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
Notes
References
- ^ Nõges, Peeter; Järvet, Arvo (2005). "Climate driven changes in the spawning of roach and bream in the Estonian part of the Narva River basin" (PDF). Boreal Environment Research. 10.
- ^ "Formation of city". Narva Museum. Retrieved 11 January 2009.
- ^ "Sada aastat Narva jõe äravoolu mõõtmisi". Eesti Loodus (in Estonian). Retrieved 11 January 2009.
- ^ ISBN 9985-815-53-X.
- ^ "Narva - History". Retrieved 13 February 2009.
- ^ a b c Selart, Anti (1996). "Narva jõgi - Virumaa idapiir keskajal". Akadeemia (in Estonian). 8 (12).
- ^ "Russian-Estonian border agreement will be ratified". New Europe. 22 September 2007. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 13 February 2009.