Because people went upstream when settling the landscape, the rivers with this name flowed as if from the right side (although they are actually left-side tributaries).

In a broader point of view, the Desná (as Černá Desná) originates in the territory of Kořenov in the Jizera Mountains at an elevation of 878 m (2,881 ft) and flows to Tanvald, where it enters the Kamenice River at an elevation of 446 m (1,463 ft).

The second reservoir was built in the same years on the Bílá Desná, but its dam bursted in 1916.

[4] With the exception of the last one kilometre of the river, the Desná and its sources flow through the Jizerské hory Protected Landscape Area.

The object of protection is the valley of a mountain stream with a system of waterfalls, rapids, rock plates and giant's kettles, and the surrounding slope forest with endangered species of herbs.