Czarna Hańcza

Czarna Hańcza
Belarusian: Чорная Ганча
The Czarna Hańcza in its upper course
Location
CountryPoland, Belarus
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationNear Lake Jegliniszki, Suwałki County
 • elevation245
Mouth 
 • location
Neman
 • coordinates
53°54′1″N 23°47′5″E / 53.90028°N 23.78472°E / 53.90028; 23.78472
Length142 km (88 mi)
Basin size1,916 km2 (740 sq mi)
Discharge 
 • average6.26 m3/s (221 cu ft/s)
Basin features
ProgressionNemanBaltic Sea

The Czarna Hańcza (Belarusian: Чорная Ганча) is a 142-kilometre (88 mi) river in north-eastern Poland and north-western Belarus. It is the largest river of the Suwałki Region and a tributary of the Neman. The river flows through Lake Hańcza, the deepest lake in Poland (maximum depth 108.5 metres (356 ft)), and Wigry Lake in Wigry National Park, before entering the Augustów Canal near Rygol. Its total drainage basin covers 1,916 square kilometres (740 sq mi), of which 1,612 square kilometres (622 sq mi) lies in Poland. The riverbed contains large postglacial boulders, and the upper course has a gradient of 2.3, giving it a near-montane character unusual for the North European Plain.