Narva (river)

Narva
The Narva flowing between Hermann Castle and Ivangorod Fortress
Map of the Narva and Lake Peipus basins
Native name
Location
Countries
Cities
Physical characteristics
SourceLake Peipus
 • coordinates58°59′14″N 27°43′50″E / 58.98722°N 27.73056°E / 58.98722; 27.73056
 • elevation30 m (98 ft)
MouthNarva Bay in Finnish Gulf
 • coordinates
59°28′14″N 28°02′37″E / 59.47056°N 28.04361°E / 59.47056; 28.04361
 • elevation
0 m (0 ft)
Length77 km (48 mi)
Basin size56,225 km2 (21,709 sq mi)
Discharge 
 • average400 m3/s (14,000 cu ft/s)
Basin features
Tributaries 
 • leftJaama, Poruni, Mustajõgi
 • rightPlyussa, Rosson
Basin countriesRussia (62.9%), Estonia (30.5%), Latvia (6.6%), Belarus (minute share)(see map)

The Narva, formerly also Narwa or Narova, is a river in northeastern Estonia flowing 77 kilometres (48 mi) north from Lake Peipus to the Baltic Sea. It is the largest Estonian river by discharge and forms part of the Estonia–Russia border.

The river gives its name to the archaeological (Neolithic) Narva culture, as well as the city of Narva. Narva is the third most populous urban area in Estonia and faces the Russian town of Ivangorod across the river.

At the coast, the river passes part of the Estonian resort town of Narva-Jõesuu. Its mouth opens into WNW-facing Narva Bay of the Gulf of Finland. The Narva gives the second-greatest discharge into the Gulf of Finland after the Neva River.