Šventoji (Neris)

"Šventoji River" redirects here. For the river flowing directly into the Baltic Sea, see Šventoji (Baltic).

The Šventoji (Lithuanian: [ɕvʲɛnˈtôːjɪ] ^ⓘ; lit. The Holy One) is the longest river that flows entirely within Lithuania and the largest tributary of the Neris.^[1] It originates from Lake Samanis in the Gražutė Regional Park and flows into the Neris near Jonava.^[2] The longest tributary of the Šventoji is the Širvinta.

Šventoji
Location
Country	Lithuania
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Lake Samanis
• elevation	225 m (738 ft)
Mouth	Neris
• coordinates	55°05′39″N 24°21′05″E
Length	246 km (153 mi)
Basin size	6,889 km2 (2,660 sq mi)
Discharge
• average	56.1 m3/s (1,980 cu ft/s)
Basin features
Progression	Neris→ Neman→ Baltic Sea

The Šventoji passes through the cities of Anykščiai, Kavarskas and Ukmergė. In 1963–1964 a dam near Kavarskas was built to replenish the Nevėžis using water from the Šventoji. However, the dam is no longer used for being too expensive, ineffective, and violating environmental regulations of the European Union.^[3] In 1959, the Antalieptė Reservoir, the second largest artificial lake in Lithuania, was built on the Šventoji.^[2]

Tributaries

The following rivers are tributaries to the river Šventoji (from source to mouth):

• Left: Šavaša, Vyžuona, Aknysta, Taurožė, Beržuona, Elmė, Anykšta, Virinta, Dagia, Širvinta
• Right: Kriauna, Nasvė, Jara, Pelyša, Vadaksta, Grieža, Latava, Biebė