OTTO LINNE PREIS - luchterhandt

4.3 Water bodies
The Elbe
The Elbe, whose source is in the Krkoknose Mountains of the Czech Republic, flows through Germany on
its way to the North Sea and a central section of the river flows through Hamburg. It is Hamburg’s major
transport waterway, bringing 140.4m tonnes of cargo to or from Hamburg port every year.
The Elbe is 1,091.5 km long, its first 364 km are in the Czech Republic and 727 are in Germany, where it
flows through major cities such as Dresden, Magdeburg and Hamburg.
The Bille
The Bille flows into the Elbe from the north-east, having travelled 65 km from its source near Trittau,
east of Hahnheide nature reserve. The first 42 km flow through Schleswig-Holstein, the remaining 23 km
through Hamburg.
Approaching from the east, the Bille snakes between Hammerbrook and Rothenburgsort, through
Brandshofer lock into Oberhafen and from thence into the Elbe.
Although some stretches are used for industrial purposes, the Bille is mainly the domain of pleasure
boats which either travel upstream to the north-east or use the lock to enter the Elbe.
The area around the Bille varies a great deal, depending on whether it is being used for industry or
private purposes. Industrial buildings, power stations, waste incineration plants and a container rail
station stand in contrast to weekend homes and allotments.
Two of east Hamburg’s nature reserves are on the banks of the Bille, low-lying Boberger Niederung and
Billetal valley. Features of Boberger Niederung, in the Hamburg district of Bergedorf, are moors and
bogs, fen woodland, damp meadows, sand dunes and heath.
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