Narva (river)
River between Estonia and Russia
title: "Narva (river)" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["rivers-of-leningrad-oblast", "rivers-of-estonia", "international-rivers-of-europe", "landforms-of-ida-viru-county", "narva", "ingria", "estonia–russia-border", "narva-river-basin", "border-rivers"] description: "River between Estonia and Russia" topic_path: "geography/russia" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narva_(river)" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary River between Estonia and Russia ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox river"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Narva |
| native_name | |
| image | Narva_jõgi_1999.jpg |
| image_caption | The Narva flowing between Hermann Castle and Ivangorod Fortress |
| map | Narva basin map.svg |
| map_caption | Map of the Narva and Lake Peipus basins |
| subdivision_type1 | Countries |
| subdivision_name1 | |
| subdivision_type5 | Cities |
| subdivision_name5 | |
| length | 77 km |
| discharge1_avg | 400 m3/s |
| source1 | Lake Peipus |
| source1_coordinates | |
| source1_elevation | 30 m |
| mouth | Narva Bay in Finnish Gulf |
| mouth_coordinates | |
| mouth_elevation | 0 m |
| basin_size | 56225 km2 |
| tributaries_left | Jaama, Poruni, Mustajõgi |
| tributaries_right | Plyussa, Rosson |
| custom_label | Basin countries |
| custom_data | Russia (62.9%), Estonia (30.5%), Latvia (6.6%), Belarus (minute share)(see map) |
| :: |
| name = Narva | native_name = | name_other = | name_etymology = | image = Narva_jõgi_1999.jpg | image_size = | image_caption = The Narva flowing between Hermann Castle and Ivangorod Fortress | map = Narva basin map.svg | map_size = | map_caption = Map of the Narva and Lake Peipus basins | pushpin_map = | pushpin_map_size = | pushpin_map_caption= | subdivision_type1 = Countries | subdivision_name1 = | subdivision_type2 = | subdivision_name2 = | subdivision_type3 = | subdivision_name3 = | subdivision_type4 = | subdivision_name4 = | subdivision_type5 = Cities | subdivision_name5 = | length = 77 km | width_min = | width_avg = | width_max = | depth_min = | depth_avg = | depth_max = | discharge1_location= | discharge1_min = | discharge1_avg = 400 m3/s | discharge1_max = | source1 = Lake Peipus | source1_location = | source1_coordinates= | source1_elevation = 30 m | mouth = Narva Bay in Finnish Gulf | mouth_location = | mouth_coordinates = | mouth_elevation = 0 m | progression = | waterfalls = | river_system = | basin_size = 56225 km2 | tributaries_left = Jaama, Poruni, Mustajõgi | tributaries_right = Plyussa, Rosson | custom_label = Basin countries | custom_data = Russia (62.9%), Estonia (30.5%), Latvia (6.6%), Belarus (minute share)(see map)
The Narva, formerly also Narwa or Narova, is a river in northeastern Estonia flowing 77 km north from Lake Peipus to the Baltic Sea. It is the largest Estonian river by discharge and forms part of the Estonia–Russia border.
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 faces the Russian town of Ivangorod across the river.
At the coast, the river passes part of the Estonian resort town of Narva-Jõesuu. Its mouth opens into WNW-facing Narva Bay of the Gulf of Finland. The Narva gives the second-greatest discharge into the Gulf of Finland after the Neva River.
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'.
Geography
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fc/EU-EE-IV-Narva-Jõesuu-Russia-Estonia_board.JPG" caption="Pier by the Narva River's mouth as it enters into the Baltic Sea at [[Narva-Jõesuu]] (2009)"] ::
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 km upstream. The Narva empties into Narva Bay near the Estonian town of Narva-Jõesuu, third largest settlement on the river after Narva and Ivangorod.
The Plyussa is the largest tributary, joining the Narva River at the reservoir from the right. The large Lake Peipus notably drains the much longer Russian river, the Velikaya, and a large, splayed drainage basin in the two countries.
Waterfall
Main article: Narva Falls
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4a/Narowa_Wasserfall_und_Fabrik_Kränholm_1886.png" caption="The eastern branch of [[Narva Falls]] and [[Kreenholm]] island (right) in 1886"] ::
Kreenholm ( for crow islet) is a river island in Estonia, located in the Narva River, within the city limits of Narva. ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/03/Narva_Waterfall-3.jpg" caption="Joala Falls in spring 2010"] ::
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. 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 m wide and 6.5 m high with multiple terraces. Joala Falls, to the east, is 110 m wide and makes the same descent. The international border follows the latter.
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 Krenholm Manufacturing Company.
History
The Narva was used as a trade route during the Viking Age, from the 5th to 11th centuries. It was an offshoot of the trade route from the Varangians to the Greeks.
The Narva has for centuries been an important border river. Beginning in the 13th century it was the border of Medieval Livonia and the Novgorod Republic. Though in earlier periods Narva was part of a larger buffer zone between the two territories, gradually the river emerged as the exact border. today the Narva is the eastern border of the European Union and Schengen Zone.
Bridges
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c2/Narva_highway_bridge.jpg" caption="Tallinn-Saint Petersburg highway bridge"] ::
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
- : 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 m long.
Bibliography
Notes
References
References
- Nõges, Peeter. (2005). "Climate driven changes in the spawning of roach and bream in the Estonian part of the Narva River basin". Boreal Environment Research.
- "Formation of city". Narva Museum.
- "Sada aastat Narva jõe äravoolu mõõtmisi". [[Eesti Loodus]].
- Suuroja, Kalle. (2005). "Põhja-Eesti klint". Eesti Geoloogiakeskus.
- "Narva - History".
- Selart, Anti. (1996). "Narva jõgi - Virumaa idapiir keskajal". Akadeemia.
- (22 September 2007). "Russian-Estonian border agreement will be ratified". New Europe.
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