Litava (river)

The Litava (also known as the Leitha) is a river in Austria. It originates in Lower Austria, flows generally eastward, and forms a part of the historical and present-day border between Lower Austria and Burgenland. It flows into the Mosoni Danube, a branch of the Danube, near Mosonmagyaróvár in Hungary. The river's total length is approximately 180 kilometers (110 miles). Historically, the Litava served as a significant cultural and political boundary, marking the division between Cisleithania (the Austrian part of Austria-Hungary) and Transleithania (the Hungarian part) after the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867. The name "Cisleithania" literally means "on this side of the Leitha." The Leitha Mountains (Leithagebirge) run parallel to the river along a section of its course. The river's name is believed to be of Celtic origin.