| Vrchlice | |
| Source1 Location: | Černíny, Upper Sázava Hills |
| Mouth Location: | Klejnárka |
| Mouth Coordinates: | 49.9711°N 15.3197°W |
| Progression: | Klejnárka→ |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | Czech Republic |
| Subdivision Type2: | Region |
| Subdivision Name2: | Central Bohemian |
| Length Km: | 30.0 |
| Discharge1 Avg: | 0.53m3/s near estuary |
| Basin Size Km2: | 133.3 |
The Vrchlice is a stream in the Czech Republic, a left tributary of the Klejnárka River. It flows through the Central Bohemian Region. It is 30km (20miles) long.
The initial name of the stream was Vysplice. The German miners then began to call the stream Bach (literally 'stream' in German), from which the Czech name Pách developed. In 1824, the stream was renamed Vrchlice, which was derived from its oldest name, Vysplice.[1]
The Vrchlice originates in the Zdeslavice exclave of the Černíny municipality in the Upper Sázava Hills at an elevation of and flows to Nové Dvory, where it enters the Vrchlice River at an elevation of . It is 30km (20miles) long. Its drainage basin has an area of 133.3km2.[2]
The longest tributaries of the Vrchlice are:[3]
| Tributary | Length (km) | River km | Side | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opatovický potok | 14.8 | 16.9 | right | |
| Chlístovický potok | 9.0 | 20.0 | left |
The most populated settlement on the stream is the town of Kutná Hora. The stream flows through the municipal territories of Černíny, Štipoklasy, Chlístovice, Malešov, Vidice, Miskovice, Kutná Hora and Nové Dvory.
The Vrchlice Reservoir was built on the middle course of the stream in 1966–1970. It has an area of . The main purpose of the reservoir is the accumulation of water for drinking water supply. Other purposes are provision of minimum flow under the dam, the energy use of water outflow from the reservoir and contribution to flood protection. The dam of the reservoir is the only arch dam in the Czech Republic.[2] In addition to the reservoir, there are many fishponds on the stream.
The most valuable part of the Vrchlice basin is the Vrchlice valley in Kutná Hora, which was proposed to be declared a nature reserve. According to a 2009 study, three species of bivalves occur in the stream in this area: Galba truncatula, Ancylus fluviatilis and Sphaerium corneum.[4]
Jaroslav Vrchlický (a famous Czech writer, eight times nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature) chose his pseudonym after the Vrchlice valley, which he liked very much. In his memory, the Vrchlický relief is carved in the rock in the Vrchlice valley.[5]