Thaya

Thaya, known as Dyje in Czech and Thaya in German, is a river in Central Europe. It serves as part of the Czech Republic–Austria border and is a tributary of the Morava River, which ultimately drains into the Danube. The river's headwaters rise in the Bohemian Forest in the Czech Republic, and it generally flows southward. For a stretch it forms part of the border between Austria and the Czech Republic, passing notable towns such as Znojmo and Mikulov before entering Austria. In Austria, the Thaya continues through the border region of Lower Austria and flows toward the Morava, receiving smaller tributaries along the way. The confluence with the Morava lies within the Morava basin, contributing to the Danube watershed.

Ecology and protected areas: The Thaya valley hosts important riverine habitats and wetlands. In the Czech Republic the river runs through the Podyjí National Park, a protected area along the lower Dyje near Znojmo. In Austria the same valley forms the Thayatal National Park near the town of Hardegg. The two parks together form a transboundary protected area that preserves biodiversity and supports ecotourism.

Human use and history: The river supports local water supply, agriculture, and recreation. Its floodplains host diverse flora and fauna and have been shaped by centuries of settlement and intermittent flooding. The Thaya has long stood as a natural border and cultural corridor in the region.