TheElseis a lefttributaryof the riverWerrein the northeast ofNorth Rhine-Westphaliaand in southernLower Saxony.The Else is adistributaryof the riverHaseand begins at ariver bifurcationnearMelle.
| Else | |
|---|---|
 The bifurcation nearMelle:the Else is on the right and the Hase on the left. | |
 | |
| Location | |
| Country | Germany |
| States | North Rhine-WestphaliaandLower Saxony |
| Reference no. | DE: 466 |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | |
| • location | Origin:Bifurcationfrom theHasenearMelle |
| • coordinates | 52°12′16″N8°15′22″E/ 52.20444°N 8.25611°E |
| • elevation | ca.79.9 m abovesea level (NN) |
| Mouth | |
• location | NearKirchlengern/Löhneinto theWerre |
• coordinates | 52°11′56″N8°40′42″E/ 52.19889°N 8.67833°E |
• elevation | ca.52 m abovesea level (NN) |
| Length | 31.5 km (19.6 mi)[1] |
| Basin size | 415.5 km2(160.4 sq mi)[1] |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Werre→Weser→North Sea |
| Landmarks |
|
| Population | 100000 |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | Oldendorfer Mühlenbach, Zwickenbach, Eickener Mühlenbach, Suttbach,Kilverbach,Bennier Graben,Ahler Bruchgraben,Darmühlenbach,Gewinghauser Bach,Knollerbach,Ostbach(Mühlenbach),Eselsbach,Markbach,Sunderbach |
| • right | Strotbach, Laerbach, Maschgraben,Violenbach,Bruchriede, Mühlenbach, Alte Else,Warmenau,Neue Else withWerfener Bach,Brandbach(Bolldammbach) |
Origin
editThe River Else does not have a source but originates at a hydrological phenomenon known as ariver bifurcation.The bifurcation is nearGesmold(part of the borough ofMelle) inLower Saxony,where the river Else branches off the riverHase(at Hase river kilometre 158.9). The bifurcation may have been created or established artificially; or at least maintained artificially. This is however unclear. In history there were disputes over the distribution of water that was able to be controlled by man-made means. For example, the entire water flow could be diverted either into the River Hase or RiverWerreduring conflicts. Today the Hase loses a third of its water mass at the bifurcation. The Hase flows northwest to theEms,while the Else flows east to theWeser.
Course
editThe River Else flows slowly through theRavensberg Hillsand through the wetlands known as the Else meadows (Elseauen). The Else and Werre valleys, which were formed during theice age,are bordered in the south by theTeutoburg Forestand in the north by the ridge of theWiehen Hills. After the bifurcation in Melle the river flows east into North Rhine-Westphalia, passing the state border at river kilometre 19.2 and crossingRödinghausenandBünde,before discharging, after a distance of approximately 35 km, into theWerrenear the eastern edge ofKirchlengern.The Werre swings east at its mouth by almost 90°, thus aligning itself with the west-to-eastern course of the Else. The River Else passes under the A 30 federal motorway three times (at Gesmold (km 33), at Bruchmühlen (km 22) and atBünde(km 15). The Else Valley Bridge crosses the river atKirchlengern.The Else is dammed several times along its length. A particularly large number of weirs is located on the lower reaches between Bünde and its mouth; the Else's velocity here is controlled over a short distance by 4 weirs.
Tributaries
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Designated tributaries, which flow into river Else or the parallel led river Neue Else are (from bifurcation to mouth):
- Oldendorfer Mühlenbach (L 31,1)
- Strotbach (R 29,5)
- Laerbach (R 29)
- Zwickenbach (L 29)
- Maschgraben (R 25,9)
- Eickener Mühlenbach (L 24,5)
- Violen Bach (R 24)
- Bruchriede (R 22,1)
- Suttbach (L 21,5)
- Kilverbach(L 19,5)
- Mühlenbach (R 18,4)
- Bennier Graben(L, 18,2)
- Alte Else (R, 17,1)
- Ahler Bruchgraben(L 16,2)
- Warmenau(R 15,3)
- Darmühlenbach(L 12)
- Sunderbach(L 10,5)
- Neue Else (R, 10)
- Gewinghauser Bach (L 8,8)
- Knollerbach(L 8,3)
- Ostbach(Mühlenbach) (L, 7,3)
- Eselsbach(L 6,7)
- Markbach(L 4,4)
- Brandbach(Bolldammbach) (R, 3,7)
(L/R; KM): Left right supply, with river kilometer, delta with km 0)
Watershed
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The watershed of river Else has a size of 414,6 km². In the watershed approximately live 100,000 people.
The following municipalities lie at river Else:
In addition to the watershed lie totally or partly:
Nature reserve
editOn the North-Rhine/Westphalian side there are two adjacent nature reserves with the same name ofElseaue( "Else water meadows" ) with a total area of 117 hectares (290 acres). The reserves were established in 1994 and 1995. The area lies north of the Else and south of the railway line from Löhne to Osnabrück along a 3.5 km long section of the river. The area is protected, because it is a near-natural floodplain in the middle of the intensively farmedRavensberg Land.On the floodplain, the remnants of former river courses of the Else may be recognized. The floodplain is largely turned over to grassland with flood banks. The steep river banks, up to 3m high, are a haven for thekingfisher.
Tourism
editIn Bünde there is an association for canoe sports. Due to its good water quality, fishing in always possible in the river. In addition the Else-Werre cycle way on the river continues to lead along and of the delta into the Werre up to the Weser.