The Dyje–Svratka Valley (Czech: Dyjsko-svratecký úval, German: Thaya-Schwarza Talsenke) is a geomorphological feature (a special type of vale) in South Moravian Region of the Czech Republic.

Dyje–Svratka Valley
View from the Výhon hill to the Dyje–Svratka Valley
Highest point
Peak	Výhon
Elevation	355 m n.m.
Dimensions
Length	83 km (52 mi)
Area	1,452 km2 (561 sq mi)
Geography
Dyje-Svratka Valley
Country	Czech Republic
Range coordinates	49°00′N 16°18′E
Parent range	Carpathians
Geology
Orogeny	Alpide belt, outer depression
Age of rock	Neogene
Type of rock	Gravel and Sand

History

The Dyje–Svratka Valley has been a natural pass between the Vienna Basin (Carpathians) and the Vyškov Gate, the Upper Morava Valley, Moravian Gate and later, the North European Plain (Poland - Lower Silesia - Galicia) since ancient times. It served as an arm of several important trade routes from southern Europe to the Baltic Sea such as the Amber Road, as well as routes from Moravia to Upper Silesia and Lesser Poland.

The Emperor Ferdinand Northern Railway from Břeclav to Brno traverses the Dyje–Svratka Valley.

Geography

The floodplains of several rivers end in the Dyje–Svratka Valley, including Svratka, Jihlava, Svitava, Thaya, Jevišovka and Litava. Many towns are located within it, including the southern districts of Brno, Slavkov u Brna, Židlochovice, Pohořelice, Hrušovany nad Jevišovkou and Šlapanice.

The lowlands are poorly forested, mostly by riparian forest (oaks, populus and willows), with higher areas forested by false akacia (Robinia pseudoacacia[1]). 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.[2] The west valley contains numerous vineyards that are part of the wine making sub-regions of Mikulovská and Znojemská.

It is formed by the depression between the Carpathian Mountains in the east (Ždánice Forest, Kyjov Hills and Mikulov Highlands) and the Bohemian Massif in the west. Drainage runs into the river Morava, from there into the Danube basin and finally into the Black Sea.

It includes the low drainage divide Svratka-Dyje close to Mušov. Its soils mainly consist of chernozem and loess, local fluvisol and sand.

Transport

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

Gallery

• 
  Svratka river south of Brno
• 
  Look from Výhon, Akátová tower to the south
• 
  View from Dolní Kounice to the southeast
• 
  Look from Roman fortress vallum ruins to Dyje–Svratka confluence riparian forest
• 
  Svratka river in Rajhrad

See also

• Vyškov Gate
• Outer Subcarpathia
• South-Moravian Carpathians
• Lower Morava Valley

References

Further reading

• Geografický místopisný slovník, Academia, Praha. (1993) ISBN 80-200-0445-9
• Plašienka, D., Grecula, P., Putiš, M., Kováč, M., Hovorka, D. "Evolution and structure of the Western Carpathians: an overview." Archived 2011-08-26 at the Wayback Machine in Grecula, P., Hovorka, D., Putiš, M. (Eds.) Geological evolution of the Western Carpathians. Mineralia Slovaca - Monograph, Košice (1997), pp. 1–24 ISBN 978-80-967018-7-2

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