Kirnitzsch

The Kirnitzsch (German), in Bohemia also called the Kirnischt,[1] Czech: Křinice, is a right tributary of the River Elbe, which passes through the Czech Republic and the German state of Saxony.

Kirnitzsch
Křinice, Kirnischt
Location
Countries
Physical characteristics
Source 
  locationin Šluknov Hook in the Czech Republic west of Studánka
  coordinates49°47′15″N 12°35′02″E
  elevation490 m n.m.
Mouth 
  location
in Bad Schandau into the Elbe
  coordinates
50°55′00″N 14°09′36″E
  elevation
105 m above sea level (NN)
Length45 km (28 mi)
Basin size140 km2 (54 sq mi)
Discharge 
  locationat Kirnitzsch valley (3.5 km (2.2 mi) above its mouth) gauge
  average1.43 m3/s (50 cu ft/s)
  minimumRecord low: 0.267 m3/s (9.4 cu ft/s) (in 2005)
Average low: 0.622 m3/s (22.0 cu ft/s)
  maximumAverage high: 13.3 m3/s (470 cu ft/s)
Record high: 59.3 m3/s (2,090 cu ft/s) (in 1995)
Basin features
ProgressionElbeNorth Sea
LandmarksSmall towns: Bad Schandau
Population2266 (as at: 1999)
in the Kirnitzsch valley
Tributaries 
  leftRotes Floß
  rightZeidlerbach, Weißbach, Heidelbach
WaterbodiesReservoirs: Obere Schleuse
Navigableno

Geography

The Kirnitzsch, also called the Kirnscht or Kirnsch in the local dialect, rises in the Lusatian Highlands in Bohemia west of the village of Studánka (German Schönborn) and flows westwards through the town of Krásná Lípa (Schönlinde). Behind the village of Kyjov (Khaa, part of Krásná Lípa) it wends its way along narrow ravines through the sandstone rocks of Bohemian Switzerland. The wild, romantic valley is also called the Khaatal (Kyjovske údoli) (Khaa valley).

On the site of the former village of Hinterdaubitz (Zadní Doubice), demolished after 1945, the border stream of Weißbach empties into the Kirnitzsch, which, from this point, forms the border between the Czech Republic and Saxony. Further downstream the Kirnitzsch is first impounded at the Obere Schleuse ("Upper Lock") so that boating can take place on the stream.

At the end of the Kirnitzsch Gorge (Kirnitzschklamm) used to stand the houses of the border village of Zadní Jetřichovice (Hinterdittersbach) and the settlement of Křinice (Kirnscht). These places, too, no longer exist. From here the Kirnitzsch flows through Saxon Switzerland, where it is impounded again at the Niedere Schleuse ("Lower Lock"). Shortly thereafter the Kirnitzsch enters the narrow Kirnitzsch Valley (Kirnitzschtal). It flows through the valley for about 45 kilometres (28 mi) to the Lichtenhain Waterfall. After another 8 kilometres (5 mi) it discharges into the Elbe at Bad Schandau. Over its last few kilometres it is followed by the Kirnitzschtal tramway that runs parallel to the Kirnitzsch.

See also

Sources

  • Wieland Büttner: Die Buschmühle im Kirnitzschtal. in: Petra Binder (Hg.): Vom Berg zum Tal - Wasser, die zur Elbe fließen. Landkalenderbuch für die Sächsische Schweiz und das Osterzgebirge 2009. Schütze-Engler-Weber-Verlag, Dresden 2008, S. 94–94, ISBN 978-3-936203-11-0.
  • Andreas Laube: Die Errichtung der Verkehrswege und die Beförderung von Reisenden im Kirnitzschtal von Schandau nach dem Großen Wasserfall. in: Petra Binder (Hg.): Auf Straßen, Schienen und Wegen. Landkalenderbuch 2011 für die Sächsische Schweiz und das Osterzgebirge. Schütze-Engler-Weber-Verlag, Dresden 2010, S. 130–138, ISBN 978-3-936203-14-1
  • Manfred Schober: Flößerei auf der Kirnitzsch. In: Petra Binder (Hg.): Vom Berg zum Tal - Wasser, die zur Elbe fließen. Landkalenderbuch für die Sächsische Schweiz und das Osterzgebirge 2009. Schütze-Engler-Weber-Verlag, Dresden 2008, S. 23–28, ISBN 978-3-936203-11-0.

References

  1. Messtischblatt Nr. 86 Hinterhermsdorf, published by the Reichsamt für Landesaufnahme, Landesaufnahme Sachsen 1935 Digitalised at www.fotothek.de

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