Editing Havel

{{Short description|River in Germany}}
{{Other uses|Havel (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox river
| name = Havel
| map = HavelRhin.gif
| map_size = 300px
| map_caption = Rivers Havel (dark blue) and Rhin (turquoise)
| mapframe = yes
| mapframe-zoom = 6
| source1_location = Ankershagen, [[Mecklenburg]]
| source1_coordinates = {{coord|53.467778|12.935556}}
| source1_elevation = {{convert|65|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| mouth = [[Elbe]]
| mouth_location = [[Rühstädt]]-''Gnevsdorf''
| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|52.908333|11.877222|display=inline,title}}
| mouth_elevation = {{convert|22|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| basin_size = {{convert|23858|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}
| subdivision_type1 = Country
| subdivision_name1 = [[Germany]]
| subdivision_type2 = Cities
| subdivision_name2 = {{hlist|[[Oranienburg]]|[[Berlin]]|[[Potsdam]]|[[Werder (Havel)]]|[[Brandenburg an der Havel]]|[[Rathenow]]|[[Havelberg]]}}
| length = {{convert|324|km|abbr=in}}
| discharge1_location = [[Havelberg]]
| discharge1_min = {{convert|18.8|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}
| discharge1_avg = {{convert|103|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}
| discharge1_max = {{convert|215|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}
| tributaries_left = [[Woblitz]], [[Briese (river)|Briese]], [[Tegeler Fließ]], [[Spree (river)|Spree]], [[Nuthe]], [[Plane (river)|Plane]], [[Buckau (river)|Buckau]]
| tributaries_right = [[Rhin]], [[Dosse (river)|Dosse]]
| progression = {{RElbe}}
| image = La Havel à Potsdam (36928106751).jpg
| image_caption = The Havel in Potsdam
| extra = 
}}

The '''Havel''' ({{IPA|de|ˈhaːfl̩|lang|De-Havel.ogg}})<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/Havel|title = Duden &#124; Havel &#124; Rechtschreibung, Bedeutung, Definition, Herkunft}}</ref> is a river in northeastern [[Germany]], flowing through the [[States of Germany|states]] of [[Mecklenburg-Vorpommern]], [[Brandenburg]], [[Berlin]] and [[Saxony-Anhalt]]. The {{convert|325|km|mi}} long Havel is a right tributary of the [[Elbe]]. However, the direct distance from its source to its mouth is only {{convert|94|km|mi}}. For much of its length, the Havel is navigable; it provides an important link in the waterway connections between the east and west of Germany, as well as beyond.

==Source==
The source of the Havel is located in the [[Mecklenburg Lake District]], between Lake [[Müritz]] and the city of [[Neubrandenburg]]. There is no obvious visible source in the form of a spring, but the river originates in the lakes in the [[Diekenbruch]] near [[Ankershagen]], close to and south-east of the [[Drainage divide|watershed]] between the North and Baltic seas. From there the river initially flows southward, eventually joining the Elbe, which in turn flows into the North Sea. Every river north-east of it flows to the Baltic Sea. The river enters [[Brandenburg]] near the town of [[Fürstenberg/Havel|Fürstenberg]]. In its upper course and between Berlin and [[Brandenburg an der Havel]] the river forms several lakes.

The Havel's main tributary is the [[Spree (river)|Spree]], which joins the Havel in [[Spandau]], a western borough of Berlin, and is longer and delivers more water than the Havel itself above the confluence. The second largest tributary is the [[Rhin]], named in the Middle Ages by settlers from the lower Rhine. At the southern end of the [[Ruppiner See]], weirs can distribute the waters of the Rhin either east- or westwards, rejoining the Havel in two places {{convert|67|km|mi}} apart along a straight line, and more than {{convert|160|km|mi}} apart along the course of the river.

The region around and north of the middle Havel is called the [[Havelland]]. It consists of sandy heights, sometimes called ''[[Ländchen (landform)|Ländchen]]'', and low marshes, called ''[[luch (landform)|luchs]]''. A few kilometres of the river before its confluence with the Elbe near [[Havelberg]] are in the State of Saxony-Anhalt. Due to its minimal gradient it is susceptible to high waters in the Elbe.

Unless in extreme floods, if the dike of the Elbe is submerged, the discharge of the Havel is improved by the ''Gnevsdorfer Vorfluter'' (something like "Gnevsdorfer outfall"). By this canal, the mouth of the Havel, that naturally would be near Havelberg, is placed 11&nbsp;km downstream. As the course of the Elbe has a higher gradient than the Havel, the water level of the Havel in Havelberg can be kept 1.4 metres below the Elbe (at the junction of the traverse communicating canal, protected by a [[Lock (water transport)|lock]]).

Towns along the river include: [[Fürstenberg/Havel|Fürstenberg]], [[Zehdenick]], [[Oranienburg]], [[Berlin]], [[Potsdam]], [[Werder (Havel)|Werder]], [[Ketzin]], [[Brandenburg (town)|Brandenburg]], [[Premnitz]], [[Rathenow]] and Havelberg.

==History==
In earlier Greek or Latin sources, such as [[Tacitus]]'s ''[[Germania (book)|Germania]]'', the name of the river was also written as ''Habola, Habula, Havela''. The river name Havel is related to German ''Haff, habe, hafen'', [[Middle High German|MHG]] ''Hafen'' meaning port, harbor).{{Citation needed|date=April 2008}}

The [[Slavic people]] who later moved into the Havel area were referred to in German sources as Heveller (occasionally as [[Havolane]]).
<!--Among others, there are four important bridges, in Spandau, in Potsdam, in Brandenburg and in a western suburb of that town; and Berlin has a large number of bridges.{{Citation needed|date=February 2011}}-->

==Navigation==
[[File:Havel-Blankenfoerde-11-IV-2007-247.jpg|thumb|left|The Havel in [[Blankenförde]] is navigable to canoes and light craft only]]
The Havel is navigable from the Mecklenburg Lake District to its confluence with the [[Elbe]]. Whilst its upper reaches carry little other than leisure traffic, further downstream it provides an important link in the German commercial waterway network, carrying traffic from the [[Rhine]] and the [[North Sea]] to Berlin and [[Poland]].<ref name=bsiwg93>{{cite book | first = Barry | last = Sheffield | publisher = Imray Laurie Norie & Wilson | location = [[St Ives, Cambridgeshire|St Ives]] | title = Inland Waterways of Germany | year = 1995 | pages = 93–100 | isbn = 0-85288-283-1 }}</ref>

From a navigation perspective, the Havel can be split into four sections with somewhat different characteristics and different administrative arrangements.

===Head of navigation to Liebenwalde===
[[File:Fürstenberg-Schwedtsee II.JPG|thumb|left|The Havel passing through Schwedtsee]]
[[File:RK 0408 5880 Hastbrücke.jpg|thumb|left|Foot and lift bridge in Zehdenick]]
The Havel is navigable to [[canoe]]s and similar small craft from close to its source. Motor craft are prohibited above the first [[lock (water transport)|lock]] at {{ill|Zwenzow|de}}, which links the [[Useriner See]] to the [[Großer Labussee]]. The stretch of the river between this lock and the junction with the [[Oder–Havel Canal]] is administered as part of the [[Obere–Havel–Wasserstraße]], along with various connecting canals and waterways.<ref name=bsiwg106>{{cite book | first = Barry | last = Sheffield | publisher = Imray Laurie Norie & Wilson | location = [[St Ives, Cambridgeshire|St Ives]] | title = Inland Waterways of Germany | year = 1995 | pages = 106–108 | isbn = 0-85288-283-1 }}</ref><ref name=bws>{{cite web | publisher = Wasser- und Schifffahrtsverwaltung des Bundes | url = http://www.wsv.de/wasserstrassen/gliederung_bundeswasserstrassen/haupstrecken_abkuerzungen/index.html | title = Hauptstrecken Abkürzungen | language = de |trans-title=Main route abbreviations | access-date = 6 February 2011 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110719114520/http://www.wsv.de/wasserstrassen/gliederung_bundeswasserstrassen/haupstrecken_abkuerzungen/index.html | archive-date = 19 July 2011 }}</ref>

From Zwenzow downstream to Liebenwalde is a distance of {{convert|92|km}}. In this distance the navigation passes through the lakes of Großer Labussee, [[Woblitzsee]], [[Wangnitzsee]], [[Großer Priepertsee]], [[Ellbogensee]], [[Ziernsee]], [[Röblinsee]], [[Baalensee]], [[Schwedtsee]] and [[Stolpsee]]. It also descends through the locks at [[Wesenberg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern|Wesenberg]], [[Steinhavelmühle]], Fürstenberg, [[Bredereiche]], [[Regow, Brandenburg|Regow]], [[Zaaren]], [[Schorfheide]], [[Zehdenick]], [[Bischofswerder]] and [[Liebenwalde]].<ref name=bsiwg106/><ref name=bws/>

The Woblitzsee also gives access to the [[Kammer Canal]], which allows vessels to reach [[Neustrelitz]]. The Ellbogensee links to the [[Müritz–Havel–Wasserstraße]], which proceeds deeper into the Mecklenburg Lake District, eventually connecting with the [[Müritz–Elde–Wasserstraße]]. Other connected waterways are the {{ill|Lychener Gewässer|de}}, the {{ill|Templiner Gewässer|de}} and the [[Wentow Gewässer]].<ref name=bsiwg106/>

===Liebenwalde to Spandau===
[[File:Schleuse Spandau.jpg|thumb|right|A barge tow passing through Spandau Lock]]
The stretch of the river between the junction with the Oder–Havel Canal near Liebenwalde and the confluence with the Spree at Spandau is administered as part of the [[Havel–Oder–Wasserstraße]], which also includes the Oder-Havel Canal. This stretch of the river forms part of the main inland waterway route from Germany to Poland and carries significant commercial traffic. This stretch of the river is {{convert|40|km|mi}} long, and the river descends through two locks at {{ill|Lehnitz|de}} and Spandau.<ref name=bsiwg100>{{cite book | first = Barry | last = Sheffield | publisher = Imray Laurie Norie & Wilson | location = [[St Ives, Cambridgeshire|St Ives]] | title = Inland Waterways of Germany | year = 1995 | pages = 100–103 | isbn = 0-85288-283-1 }}</ref>

At [[Hennigsdorf]], {{convert|30|km|mi}} downstream of Liebenwalde, the [[Havel Canal]] joins the river on the west bank. This canal connects to [[Paretz]], on the Havel downstream, and was built in the 1950s to allow [[East German]] vessels to avoid the stretch of the river under the political control of [[West Berlin]]. Some {{convert|7|km|mi}} further downstream, the [[Berlin-Spandau Ship Canal]] joins the river on the east bank, providing a connection to central Berlin without passing through the lock at Spandau.<ref name=bsiwg100/>

A car ferry crosses the river between [[Hakenfelde]] and [[Konradshöhe]], in the Berlin boroughs of Spandau and [[Reinickendorf]] respectively.

The last {{convert|10|km|mi|0}} of this stretch of the river, from Hennigsdorf, passes through a series of interconnected lakes, including the large [[Tegeler See]]. The river enters Berlin {{convert|6|km|mi|0}} before Spandau, having formed the boundary for the previous {{convert|4|km|mi}}. During the [[partition of Germany]], this formed the border between East Germany and West Berlin, and border control points were established for vessels navigating the river.<ref name=bsiwg100/>

===Spandau to Plaue===
[[File:Wannsee.jpg|thumb|right|The Wannsee, looking north and upriver, with leisure craft in evidence]]
The stretch of the river between the confluence with the Spree at Spandau and the junction with the [[Elbe–Havel Canal]] at [[Plaue, Brandenburg|Plaue]] is administered as part of the [[Lower Havel–Waterway]], which also includes the stretch of river downstream to the confluence with the Elbe. Between Spandau and Plaue, the river forms part of the main inland waterway route from the Rhine and the west of Germany; from [[Hamburg]] and the North Sea ports, to both Berlin and Poland. It thus carries a considerable amount of commercial traffic.<ref name=bsiwg93/>

South of Spandau, the river widens into a wide lake that extends, through some narrower areas, to Potsdam. On the east bank south of Spandau is the [[Grunewald (forest)|Grunewald]] with several beaches, among them the [[Großes Fenster]] ({{IPA|de|ˈɡʁoːsəs ˈfɛnstɐ|-|De-Großes Fenster.ogg}}; literally "Great Window") with an unobstructed view upriver, hence the name, followed by the island of [[Schwanenwerder]] and the large arm known as the [[Großer Wannsee]]. This part of the river can be very busy with leisure craft. The island of [[Pfaueninsel]] is also a feature of this stretch of the river. A [[Ferry transport in Berlin#Routes within the city and the VBB common tariff|public ferry]] crosses these waters between Wannsee and [[Kladow]], carrying passengers and cyclists.<ref name=bsiwg93/>

The [[Teltow Canal]] joins the river from the east via the [[Griebnitzsee]] just before the city reaches the city of Potsdam, providing an alternative route to the [[Oder–Spree Canal]] avoiding central Berlin. The [[Griebnitz Canal]] provides a short cut for smaller vessels from the Griebnitzsee to the Großer Wannsee.<ref name=bsiwg93/>

At Potsdam the navigation splits into two channels. The Havel, here known as the Potsdamer Havel, takes a route southwest through Potsdam and the [[Templiner See]] to the [[Schwielowsee]], then northwest to Paretz, whilst the [[Sacrow–Paretz Canal]] takes a shorter route due east to Paretz, saving some {{convert|13|km}} compared to the {{convert|29|km}} Potsdamer Havel. The Potsdamer Havel is crossed by the [[Kiewitt Ferry]] in Potsdam itself, and by the [[Caputh Ferry]] at the entrance to the Schweilowsee.<ref name=bsiwg93/>

[[File:Stadtschleuse Brandenburg (5).JPG|thumb|left|The Stadtschleuse on the Brandenburg City Canal in winter]]
At Paretz the two channels join up again, as does the Havel Canal from further upstream. Just downstream of Paretz, the river is crossed by the [[Ketzin Cable Ferry]]. At Brandenburg an der Havel, the navigation again splits into two routes. Commercial shipping descends through a lock into the [[Silo Canal]] that passes to the north of the city centre. Leisure craft pass through the centre of the city, using the short [[Brandenburg City Canal]], a smaller lock, then a stretch of the river. Both routes rejoin in the linked lakes of [[Breitling See]] and [[Plauer See (Brandenburg)|Plauer See]], which leads up to Plaue.<ref name=bsiwg93/>

===Plaue to Havelberg===
[[File:Seilfähre Pritzerbe.JPG|thumb|right|The Pritzerbe Ferry across the Havel]]
Like the preceding stretch of the river, the stretch from Plaue to the confluence with the Elbe at Havelberg is administered as part of the Lower Havel–Waterway. Unlike the previous stretch, this stretch carries considerably less commercial traffic.

Vessels heading to or from the Rhine and the west of Germany take the Elbe–Havel Canal at Plaue. Whilst the lower reaches of the Havel provide the most direct route to Hamburg and the North Sea ports, variable water levels in the Elbe affect those in the lower Havel; together these can restrict navigation. A less direct, but more reliable route is available via the Elbe–Havel Canal, the [[Magdeburg Water Bridge]], the [[Mittellandkanal|Mittelland Canal]] and the [[Elbe Lateral Canal]].<ref name=bsiwg93/>

This stretch of the river descends through locks at [[Bahnitz]], [[Rathenow]], [[Grütz]], [[Garz (Havelberg)|Garz]] and [[Havelberg]]. At Rathenow there are two channels, each with a lock. North of Plaue, the river is crossed by the [[Pritzerbe Ferry]].<ref name=bsiwg93/>
{{clr|left}}

==Gallery==
{{Commons}}

<gallery widths=180 heights=135>
Wentowkanal Schleuse.jpg|Wentow channel in Zehdenick
Bischofswerder Vosskanal.jpg|Weir of Voss Channel in Liebenwalde-Bischofswerder
Lehnitzschleuse - Jan 2013.jpg|Lehnitz lock in [[Oranienburg]]
Potsdam-Freundschaftsinsel-Havel-Alte-Fahrt-08-VII-2007-121.jpg|''Alte Fahrt'' branch in [[Potsdam]]
WerderHavel 04-2016 img07.jpg|[[Werder (Havel)|Werder an der Havel]]
Brandenburg (Havel), Dom vom Wasser aus.jpg|[[Brandenburg an der Havel]]
Hafenpromenade.jpg|Old harbour in [[Rathenow]]
Wehr Gnevsdorf im Gnevsdorfer Vorfluter.jpg|Gnevsdorf outfall
</gallery>

== See also ==

* [[Tiefwerder Wiesen]]
* [[Pichelswerder]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Rivers of Germany}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Havel| ]]
[[Category:Havel basin| ]]
[[Category:Rivers of Berlin]]
[[Category:Rivers of Brandenburg]]
[[Category:Rivers of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania]]
[[Category:Rivers of Saxony-Anhalt]]
[[Category:Federal waterways in Germany]]
[[Category:Rivers of Germany]]