Dubysa
Encyclopedia
Dubysa, at 131 km, is the 15th longest river in Lithuania. It originates just a few kilometers from Lake Rėkyva near Šiauliai
city. At first it flows south, but at Lyduvėnai turns southeast and near Ariogala
- southwest. Dubysa is a Samogitia
n river. The first few kilometres of Dybysa are also known as Genupis or Šventupis.
Dubysa has about 40 tributaries, the largest being Kražantė on the right and Šiaušė, Gryžuva
, and Gynėvė on the left. Kražantė (86 km) is almost twice as long as the upper reaches of Dubysa before the confluence (47 km). Even though Kražantė's basin is somewhat smaller, it should be considered the main river. Dubysa is mainly fed by rainfall and melting snow, therefore its water levels change rapidly. The maximum depth is about 4 m.
The valley of Dubysa is one of the highest and widest in Lithuania
. The valley reaches 20-40 m in height and 300-500 m in width. It was formed during the last glacial period. Near Lyduvėnai there is a railroad bridge across the valley, which is the highest and longest such bridge in Lithuania. The bridge was first built by the Germans during the World War I
. In 1918 an iron railway bridge replaced it.
Dubysa is connected with the Venta River
by the abandoned Windawski Canal
started in 1825 by the authorities of the Russian Empire
. The canal is 15 km in length and was supposed to have 20 locks
. The intention was to connect the Neman
basin with the Baltic Sea
through the port of Ventspils
. The lower reaches of Neman were under Prussia
n control. The work was interrupted by the Uprising of 1831
. The work resumed only at the beginning of the 20th century but was interrupted again by the World War I. After the war there was no purpose for the canal as Lithuania gained control over the Klaipėda region
and lower reaches of Neman. The canal was based on the Kartuva rivulet.
Dubysa ichthyological
reserve was established in 1974. It protects spawning areas of vimba
and other ca. 25 species of fish. The reserve protects Dubysa below Ariogala down to its mouth (some 25 km of the river). Dubysa Regional Park was established in 1992 to protect the Dubysa valley, landscape and cultural heritage, including the birthplace of poet Maironis
. The park also encourages eco-tourism. It covers is located in the territories of the Kelmė
and Raseiniai district municipalities
.
Šiauliai
Šiauliai , is the fourth largest city in Lithuania, with a population of 133,900. It is the capital of Šiauliai County. Unofficially, the city is the capital of Northern Lithuania.-Names:...
city. At first it flows south, but at Lyduvėnai turns southeast and near Ariogala
Ariogala
Ariogala is a city in central Lithuania. It is located on the Dubysa River, which flows through the city.-Name:Ariogala is the Lithuanian name of the city. Versions of the name in other languages include Polish: Ejragoła, Russian: Эйрагола Eiragola, Belarusian: Эйрагола Eirahola, Yiddish:...
- southwest. Dubysa is a Samogitia
Samogitia
Samogitia is one of the five ethnographic regions of Lithuania. It is located in northwestern Lithuania. Its largest city is Šiauliai/Šiaulē. The region has a long and distinct cultural history, reflected in the existence of the Samogitian dialect...
n river. The first few kilometres of Dybysa are also known as Genupis or Šventupis.
Dubysa has about 40 tributaries, the largest being Kražantė on the right and Šiaušė, Gryžuva
Gryžuva
The Gryžuva is a short river in the western part of Lithuania, a tributary of the Dubysa. It begins 5 km north of Tytuvėnai city and flows mostly to the southwest. Its average width is about 6 m. Its only tributary is the Apušis river....
, and Gynėvė on the left. Kražantė (86 km) is almost twice as long as the upper reaches of Dubysa before the confluence (47 km). Even though Kražantė's basin is somewhat smaller, it should be considered the main river. Dubysa is mainly fed by rainfall and melting snow, therefore its water levels change rapidly. The maximum depth is about 4 m.
The valley of Dubysa is one of the highest and widest in Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
. The valley reaches 20-40 m in height and 300-500 m in width. It was formed during the last glacial period. Near Lyduvėnai there is a railroad bridge across the valley, which is the highest and longest such bridge in Lithuania. The bridge was first built by the Germans during the World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. In 1918 an iron railway bridge replaced it.
Dubysa is connected with the Venta River
Venta River
Venta River is a river in north-western Lithuania and western Latvia. Its source is near Kuršėnai in the Lithuanian Šiauliai County. It flows into the Baltic Sea at Ventspils in Latvia....
by the abandoned Windawski Canal
Windawski Canal
The Windawski Canal is an abandoned canal connecting the Dubysa River near Bazilionai, Šiauliai district to the Venta River near Tolučiai Šaukėnų, Kelmė District of Lithuania....
started in 1825 by the authorities of the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
. The canal is 15 km in length and was supposed to have 20 locks
Lock (water transport)
A lock is a device for raising and lowering boats between stretches of water of different levels on river and canal waterways. The distinguishing feature of a lock is a fixed chamber in which the water level can be varied; whereas in a caisson lock, a boat lift, or on a canal inclined plane, it is...
. The intention was to connect the Neman
Neman River
Neman or Niemen or Nemunas, is a major Eastern European river rising in Belarus and flowing through Lithuania before draining into the Curonian Lagoon and then into the Baltic Sea at Klaipėda. It is the northern border between Lithuania and Russia's Kaliningrad Oblast in its lower reaches...
basin with the Baltic Sea
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
through the port of Ventspils
Ventspils
Ventspils is a city in northwestern Latvia in the Courland historical region of Latvia, the sixth largest city in the country. As of 2006, Ventspils had a population of 43,806. Ventspils is situated on the Venta River and the Baltic Sea, and has an ice-free port...
. The lower reaches of Neman were under Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
n control. The work was interrupted by the Uprising of 1831
November Uprising
The November Uprising , Polish–Russian War 1830–31 also known as the Cadet Revolution, was an armed rebellion in the heartland of partitioned Poland against the Russian Empire. The uprising began on 29 November 1830 in Warsaw when the young Polish officers from the local Army of the Congress...
. The work resumed only at the beginning of the 20th century but was interrupted again by the World War I. After the war there was no purpose for the canal as Lithuania gained control over the Klaipėda region
Klaipeda Region
The Klaipėda Region or Memel Territory was defined by the Treaty of Versailles in 1920 when it was put under the administration of the Council of Ambassadors...
and lower reaches of Neman. The canal was based on the Kartuva rivulet.
Dubysa ichthyological
Ichthyology
Ichthyology is the branch of zoology devoted to the study of fish. This includes skeletal fish , cartilaginous fish , and jawless fish...
reserve was established in 1974. It protects spawning areas of vimba
Vimba
Vimba is a genus of cyprinid fish that is found in Europe and western Asia. There are currently three described species.- Species :* Vimba elongata * Vimba melanops...
and other ca. 25 species of fish. The reserve protects Dubysa below Ariogala down to its mouth (some 25 km of the river). Dubysa Regional Park was established in 1992 to protect the Dubysa valley, landscape and cultural heritage, including the birthplace of poet Maironis
Maironis
Maironis is one of the most famous Lithuanian romantic poets. He was born in Pasandravys, Raseiniai district municipality, Lithuania. Maironis graduated from Kaunas high school and went on to study Literature at Kiev University. However, in 1884, after one year of studies at the university, he...
. The park also encourages eco-tourism. It covers is located in the territories of the Kelmė
Kelme district municipality
Kelmė district municipality is one of 60 municipalities in Lithuania, located in western part of Lithuania....
and Raseiniai district municipalities
Raseiniai district municipality
-References:...
.
