Bílina River

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Bílina (IPA: [ˈbi:lɪna], German: Biela) rises at the slopes of Ore Mountains in the Czech Republic, close to Chomutov. The river flows through between Czech Central Mountains and Ore Mountains to the north-east, and runs into Elbe in Ústí nad Labem.

The catchment area of the river amounts to 1,071 km². In the upper part if flows through man-made riverbed, that was created when lignite mining in the area around Most started. At the same time, the former Komořany lake was drained.

Substantial part of the flow was used as technological water for chemical plants in Záluží u Litvínova. The highly polluted output killed all fish. The situation improved significantly in 1990s. The flow rate is currently artificially increased by redirection of water from the catchment area of Ohře. However, the Bílina is still one of the most polluted rivers in the Czech Republic.

From most the river flows through open, forestless landscape. The river bed is 5 to 10 meters wide, mostly regulated. The river has no major inflows. Towns located around the river include Jirkov, Most, Bílina and Ústí nad Labem.