Otava (river)
river in the Czech Republic
The Otava (German: Wottawa) is a river in the Czech Republic, a left tributary of the Vltava River. It flows through the Plzeň and South Bohemian regions. It is formed by the confluence of the Vydra and Křemelná rivers. Together with the Vydra, which is its main source, the Otava is 134.8 km (83.8 mi) long, making it the 13th longest river in the country. Without the Vydra, it is 111.7 km (69.4 mi) long.
Etymology
The origin of the name is unclear. The word otava literally means "second harvest of grass", but the name of the river is probably of pre-Slavic origin and the resemblance to the word otava is only coincidental. A possible but unproven origin is the Germanic word Vatahva, meaning "quick water". According to one theory, the name of the river is derived from the Celtic words áth a ava, which meant "river with many fords".
Characteristic
From a water management point of view, the Otava and Vydra are two different rivers with separate numbering of river kilometres.
This brief starts where responsible research should: with the source description of “Otava (river)” as river in the Czech Republic. Everything that follows is an evidence route, not borrowed authority.
Why this record matters
The subject matters to the places & architecture register because the source frames it as river in the Czech Republic. Its deeper value depends on whether names, dates, institutions and citations support that framing.
Place names and jurisdictional language are key evidence: both can reveal earlier catalogue descriptions and overlooked record series. The source revision retrieved here is dated Sep 12, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q1507602. Authority coordinates are 49.110, 13.492. 2 of 2 selected statements include explicit references; 2 carry qualifiers and 0 use preferred rank.
Modern boundaries and familiar names can conceal earlier jurisdictions or structures that do not align with the present site. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
How to read it
Treat names, boundaries and functions as historically changeable. Maps, plans, inventories and administrative records can clarify what the place meant at different dates.
- Historic place names
- Jurisdictional context
- Routes into maps and plans
Contemporary maps, plans, listed-building records, estate papers and the responsible local or national archive.
Three-step research path
- Establish the record: confirm the title “Otava (river)”, its source revision and the description used here.
- Expand the search: follow Otava (river) primary sources, Otava (river) archive and Otava research across catalogues and specialist indexes.
- Test the account: compare the strongest cited source with the responsible institution’s current record and note any disagreement.
Questions for further research
- Which source most directly establishes the central claim about “Otava (river)”?
- Which authority defined the place, boundary or structure at the relevant date?
- What physical evidence or contemporary plan supports the description?
Search terms from this dossier
This entry incorporates text from “Otava (river)” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.