Alster
Encyclopedia
The Alster is a right tributary of the River Elbe in Northern Germany
. It has its source near Henstedt-Ulzburg
, Schleswig-Holstein
, flows roughly southwards and reaches the Elbe in Hamburg. In the centre of Hamburg the Alster has been dammed. The Alster forms two artificial lakes in the city of Hamburg.
, approximately 25 km (15.5 mi) north of Hamburg
. It is 56 km (34.8 mi) long and has an incline from 31 m to 4 m above sea level. The drainage basin is about 587 km² (226.6 sq mi).
Hamburg—Germany's second-largest city—is the major landmark for the river. Through ponding the river, the artificial lakes Außenalster
(outer Alster) and the smaller Binnenalster
(inner Alster), and the surrounding parks serve as an important recreational area in the heart of the city.
was founded at the mouth of the Alster river in the 9th century and used it as a port. The water was used to flood the moat
s of the fortifications. The Alster was dammed since 1190, originally to power a watermill. In 1235 a further dam was built for a second mill, which changed the shape of the river to be like a lake.
In the 15th and 16th century, an Alster canal was built to connect Hamburg with Lübeck
. The canal was about 8 km (5 mi) long and built from the Alster to the Beste, a tributary of the Trave
river, at Sülfeld
. Because of the difficulties in holding water, especially near marsh areas, the 91 km (56.5 mi) long waterway from Hamburg to Lübeck was navigable from 1529 to 1550 only.
The city of Hamburg expanded along the shores of the Alster river, and several locks were constructed to make the river navigable. Until the 19th century water transport with barge
s were used up to the town of Kayhude
. The barges—transporting building material, fuel, and foods—were staked or hauled.
of the Hamburger Hochbahn
, provides public and touristic transport on the Alster in the city of Hamburg.
Rönne, Alte Alster, Sielbek, Ammersbek, Drosselbek, Bredenbek, Rodenbek, Lohbek, Saselbek, Osterbek, and Wandse (Eilbek)
Right
Mühlenau (or Mühlenbach), Diekbek, Mellingbek, Susebek, Tarpenbek, and Isebek
basin, constructed in the early 20th century.
The river inspired the Hamburg-born composer Oscar Fetrás
to compose the popular waltz "Mondnacht auf der Alster"; in English "Moonlit Night on the Alster." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwAOga6oLb0
Northern Germany
- Geography :The key terrain features of North Germany are the marshes along the coastline of the North Sea and Baltic Sea, and the geest and heaths inland. Also prominent are the low hills of the Baltic Uplands, the ground moraines, end moraines, sandur, glacial valleys, bogs, and Luch...
. It has its source near Henstedt-Ulzburg
Henstedt-Ulzburg
Henstedt-Ulzburg is a municipality in the district of Segeberg, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.-Geography:The municipality of Henstedt-Ulzburg is situated on the outskirts of Hamburg approx. 30 km north of Hamburg and 13 km north of Norderstedt. Currently it is the largest municipality in...
, Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein is the northernmost of the sixteen states of Germany, comprising most of the historical duchy of Holstein and the southern part of the former Duchy of Schleswig...
, flows roughly southwards and reaches the Elbe in Hamburg. In the centre of Hamburg the Alster has been dammed. The Alster forms two artificial lakes in the city of Hamburg.
Course
The source of the Alster river is a small bog pool in the Timhagen Brook near Henstedt-UlzburgHenstedt-Ulzburg
Henstedt-Ulzburg is a municipality in the district of Segeberg, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany.-Geography:The municipality of Henstedt-Ulzburg is situated on the outskirts of Hamburg approx. 30 km north of Hamburg and 13 km north of Norderstedt. Currently it is the largest municipality in...
, approximately 25 km (15.5 mi) north of Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
. It is 56 km (34.8 mi) long and has an incline from 31 m to 4 m above sea level. The drainage basin is about 587 km² (226.6 sq mi).
Hamburg—Germany's second-largest city—is the major landmark for the river. Through ponding the river, the artificial lakes Außenalster
Außenalster
Außenalster or Outer Alster Lake is one of two artificial lakes within the city limits of Hamburg, Germany, which are formed by the river Alster . The size of the Außenalster is 1.6 km²....
(outer Alster) and the smaller Binnenalster
Binnenalster
Binnenalster or Inner Alster Lake is one of two artificial lakes within the city limits of Hamburg, Germany, which are formed by the river Alster . The main annual festival is the Alstervergnügen.The lake has an area of ....
(inner Alster), and the surrounding parks serve as an important recreational area in the heart of the city.
History
HamburgHamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
was founded at the mouth of the Alster river in the 9th century and used it as a port. The water was used to flood the moat
Moat
A moat is a deep, broad ditch, either dry or filled with water, that surrounds a castle, other building or town, historically to provide it with a preliminary line of defence. In some places moats evolved into more extensive water defences, including natural or artificial lakes, dams and sluices...
s of the fortifications. The Alster was dammed since 1190, originally to power a watermill. In 1235 a further dam was built for a second mill, which changed the shape of the river to be like a lake.
In the 15th and 16th century, an Alster canal was built to connect Hamburg with Lübeck
Lübeck
The Hanseatic City of Lübeck is the second-largest city in Schleswig-Holstein, in northern Germany, and one of the major ports of Germany. It was for several centuries the "capital" of the Hanseatic League and, because of its Brick Gothic architectural heritage, is listed by UNESCO as a World...
. The canal was about 8 km (5 mi) long and built from the Alster to the Beste, a tributary of the Trave
Trave
The Trave is a river in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is approximately 124 kilometres long, running from its source near the village of Gießelrade in Ostholstein to Travemünde where it flows into the Baltic Sea. It passes through Bad Segeberg, Bad Oldesloe, and Lübeck, where it is linked to the...
river, at Sülfeld
Sülfeld
Sülfeld is a municipality in the district of Segeberg, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany....
. Because of the difficulties in holding water, especially near marsh areas, the 91 km (56.5 mi) long waterway from Hamburg to Lübeck was navigable from 1529 to 1550 only.
The city of Hamburg expanded along the shores of the Alster river, and several locks were constructed to make the river navigable. Until the 19th century water transport with barge
Barge
A barge is a flat-bottomed boat, built mainly for river and canal transport of heavy goods. Some barges are not self-propelled and need to be towed by tugboats or pushed by towboats...
s were used up to the town of Kayhude
Kayhude
Kayhude is a municipality in the district of Segeberg, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany....
. The barges—transporting building material, fuel, and foods—were staked or hauled.
Economy
The Alster Touristik GmbH (ATG), a subsidiarySubsidiary
A subsidiary company, subsidiary, or daughter company is a company that is completely or partly owned and wholly controlled by another company that owns more than half of the subsidiary's stock. The subsidiary can be a company, corporation, or limited liability company. In some cases it is a...
of the Hamburger Hochbahn
Hamburger Hochbahn
Hamburger Hochbahn AG or HHA is a company operating the underground system and large parts of the bus system in Hamburg, Germany, founded in 1911 it is headquartered in Hamburg.-History:...
, provides public and touristic transport on the Alster in the city of Hamburg.
Tributaries
LeftRönne, Alte Alster, Sielbek, Ammersbek, Drosselbek, Bredenbek, Rodenbek, Lohbek, Saselbek, Osterbek, and Wandse (Eilbek)
Right
Mühlenau (or Mühlenbach), Diekbek, Mellingbek, Susebek, Tarpenbek, and Isebek
Influence
The Alster basin was an important model for the design of the Charles RiverCharles River
The Charles River is an long river that flows in an overall northeasterly direction in eastern Massachusetts, USA. From its source in Hopkinton, the river travels through 22 cities and towns until reaching the Atlantic Ocean at Boston...
basin, constructed in the early 20th century.
The river inspired the Hamburg-born composer Oscar Fetrás
Oscar Fetrás
Oscar Fetrás was a German composer of popular dance music, military marches, piano pieces and arrangements....
to compose the popular waltz "Mondnacht auf der Alster"; in English "Moonlit Night on the Alster." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwAOga6oLb0
