Until the early 18th century, the river was called Bradlava. The name first appeared in 1266 as Bradaua. In the following centuries, the name was also written as Radawa, Bradava, Brádava and Bradlavka. In 1712, Cistercian cartographer Mauritius Vogt confused the Bradlava with the Úhlava in his book, and also made a typographical error when he wrote it as Úslava. Since then, the name Úslava has been used.[1]
Characteristic
Spring of the Úslava
The Úslava originates in the territory of Kolinec in the Blatná Uplands at an elevation of 637 m (2,090 ft), on the slope of the Zálužnice mountain, and flows to Plzeň, where it enters the Berounka River at an elevation of 299 m (981 ft). It is 96.3 km (59.8 mi) long. Its drainage basin has an area of 755.7 km2 (291.8 sq mi).[2]
There are 78 bodies of water larger than 1 ha in the basin area. The largest of them are the fishponds Kovčínský with an area of 99 ha (240 acres) and Myslivský with an area of 63 ha (160 acres).[2] Many fishponds were founded directly the Úslava; the largest of them are Hnačovský, Žinkovský and Labuť.
Tourism
For most of the year, the Úslava is not suitable for river tourism due to lack of water.[4]
