Spree (river)

Spree
The Spree inBerlin,Reichstag buildingto the left
Native name	Sprjewja(Sorbian languages) Spréva(Czech)
Location
Countries	Czech Republic Germany
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Upper Lusatia
Mouth	Havel
• location	Berlin-Spandau
• coordinates	52°32′10″N13°12′31″E
Length	about 400 km (250 mi)
Basin size	10,105 km2(3,902 sq mi)
Discharge
• average	36 m3/s (1,300 cu ft/s)
Basin features
Progression	Havel→Elbe→North Sea

TheSpree(/ʃpreɪ,spreɪ/S(H)PRAY,German:[ʃpʁeː];Sorbian languages:Sprjewja,Lower Sorbian:[ˈsprʲɛwʲa],Upper Sorbian:[ˈspʁʲɛwʲa];Czech:Spréva[ˈsprɛːva]) is, with a length of approximately 400 kilometres (250 mi), the maintributaryof the RiverHavel.The Spree is much longer than the Havel, which it flows into atBerlin-Spandau;the Havel then flows into theElbeatHavelberg.The river rises in theLusatian Highlands,that are part of theSudetes,in theLusatianpart ofSaxony,where it has three sources: the historical one calledSpreebornin the village ofSpreedorf,the water-richest one inNeugersdorf,and the highest elevated one inEibau.The Spree then flows northwards throughUpperandLower Lusatia,where it crosses the border between Saxony andBrandenburg.After passing throughCottbus,it forms theSpree Forest(German:Spreewald), a largeinland deltaandBiospherereserve. It then flows throughLake Schwielochseebefore entering Berlin, asMüggelspree(pronounced[ˈmʏɡl̩ˌʃpʁeː]).

The Spree is the main river of Berlin, Brandenburg, Lusatia, and the settlement area of theSorbs,who call the riverSprjewja;the name derives ultimately fromProto-Germanic*spreutaną"to spring forth". For a very short distance close to its sources, the Spree constitutes, asSpréva,the border betweenGermany(Saxony), and theCzech Republic(Bohemia). The Spree's longest tributaries areDahme(confluence in Berlin-Köpenick) andSchwarzer Schöps(confluence in theSprey), other well-known tributaries (since they are Berlin rivers) arePankeandWuhle.

Course

Course of Spree River with its natural and artificial affluents and branches. In addition the canals joining the Spree and Havel river system to Oder River.

It rises in theLusatian Mountainsand flows north throughBautzenandSpremberg.

In the Spreewald the river passes through the towns ofLübbenau,LübbenandLeibsch.Just below Leibsch, theDahme Flood Relief Canaldiverts water from the Spree to run into theRiver DahmeatMärkisch Buchholz.The Spree continues north from Leibsch before flowing into theNeuendorfer Seeat the northern edge of the Spreewald. From the Neundorfer See it then flows in an easterly direction to theSchwielochsee,and then in a northerly and westerly direction to the town ofFürstenwalde.From Fürstenwalde the river continues to flow westwards, through theDämeritzseeandMüggelsee,toKöpenickin the southeastern part ofBerlin,where it is joined by its tributary, the River Dahme.

The final reach of the Spree is where it is best known. It flows through the city centre of Berlin to join theRiver HavelinSpandau,one of Berlin's western boroughs, which itself ultimately merges with theElbeto enter the sea inCuxhaven,after flowing throughHamburg.On its route through Berlin, the river passesBerlin Cathedral(Berliner Dom), theReichstagand theSchloss Charlottenburg.The renownedMuseum Island(Museumsinsel), with its collection of five majormuseums,is an island in the Spree.

In 2004 theBadeschifffloating swimming pool opened on the Spree in Berlin.

Navigation

Small craft, such aspunts,are widely used in wetlands of the Spreewald. Larger craft can reach as far upstream as Leibsch, although the upper reaches are relatively shallow and are generally only used by leisure craft. Some intermediate reaches are unnavigable and by-passed by canals.

For a stretch of about 20 kilometres (12 mi) east of and flowing through Fürstenwalde, the river forms part of theOder-Spree Canal.On this reach, and on the reach west of the confluence with the River Dahme at Köpenick, the river forms part of secondary commercial link between Berlin and theRiver Oderand hencePoland.The canal diverges from the Spree just east of Fürstenwalde and later joins the River Dahme at the (lake)Seddinsee.

In Berlin, the Spree forms part of a dense network of navigable waterways, many of which are artificial, and which provide a wide choice of routes. Several important commercial harbors can be found on this network, and tugs and barges move sand, grain, bricks, and beer. Tour boats tour the central section of the Spree and its adjoining waterways on a frequent basis.

Berlin Wall

Further information:List of deaths at the Berlin Wall

Many people died in the Spree during the Cold War while trying to cross theBerlin Wall,including children who drowned when rescuers were not allowed to enter the river to save them.

Images

• 
  Spree inBautzen
• 
  Spree north of Bautzen
• 
  Spree in theSpreewald
• 
  Spree in centralBerlin,withOberbaum Bridge
• 
  Spree Shore in BerlinFriedrichshain
• 
  Bode Museumat the tip ofMuseum Islandin the Spree
• 
  Spree withBerlin Hauptbahnhof& the entrance of a canal
• 
  TheFederal Chancellery (Berlin)on the Spree

External links

• Panorama Spree- Panoramic view of the river in Berlin
• "Spree".Encyclopædia Britannica(11th ed.). 1911.