[2] The Svitava originates in the territory of Svitavy in the Svitavy Uplands at an elevation of 472 m (1,549 ft) and flows to Brno, where it enters the Svratka River at an elevation of 191 m (627 ft).

[2] The river flows through the municipal territories of Svitavy, Hradec nad Svitavou, Banín, Březová nad Svitavou, Brněnec, Rozhraní, Stvolová, Skrchov, Letovice, Svitávka, Boskovice, Skalice nad Svitavou, Lhota Rapotina, Doubravice nad Svitavou, Rájec-Jestřebí, Ráječko, Blansko, Olomučany, Adamov, Bílovice nad Svitavou and Brno.

The largest of them is the Letovice Reservoir with an area of 98 ha (240 acres), built on the Křetínka.

There are a large number of mills and hydroelectric power stations on the river.

The river is navigable all year round, but there are many weirs on it.