ylävirtaan

Ylävirtaan is a Finnish directional term meaning the upstream part of a river or watercourse. The word combines ylä- meaning upper or upstream and virta meaning river current or flow. It denotes direction toward the source of a watercourse.

In practical use, ylävirtaan describes movement or location relative to river flow. It is used in navigation, planning, and hydrological descriptions to indicate the upstream direction or segments, often contrasted with alavirtaan, the downstream direction.

In toponymy, the element ylä- frequently appears in place names to mark upper or upstream parts of valleys or watercourses. However, ylävirtaan is not widely used as a standalone formal place name in national gazetteers; when it appears, it is typically in local or historical descriptions.

See also alavirtaan, virta.