Bode River
Encyclopedia
The Bode is a river
in the German
state of Saxony-Anhalt
, a left tributary of the Saale
.
It rises in the Harz mountains and drains them in a northerly direction. After 169 kilometres (105 mi) it discharges into the Saale at Nienburg
. The river is named after a legendary giant, the wild, rampaging, Bohemian, Prince Bodo, who, according to the Rosstrappe legend changed into a marauding dog that guarded the crown
of Princess Brunhilde in the Kronensumpf ("crown marsh") in the present-day Bode Gorge
. The gorge is the narrow section of the Bode valley between Treseburg
and Thale
.
According to tradition, there was once a giant called Bodo who came from Thuringia to pursue Brunhilde, the king's beautiful daughter, whom he wanted to marry against her will. Brunhilde fled on a white stallion (Ross), but they suddenly came to a deep ravine. With one bold leap she reached the rocks on the far side, but her pursuer fell into the abyss. The hoofprint of her horse can still be seen today as the so-called Rosstrappe. Meanwhile, Bodo was turned into a dog. As her horse leapt the gorge, however, the princess lost her golden crown, which was now guarded by the dog Bodo in the valley of the river. The river was given the name Bode after the giant Bodo who was now under a spell.
region on the Brocken, the highest peak in the Harz, but its two most important source streams are the:
The two rivers, which actually have a temperature difference of 2 °C, merge not far from the Königsburg Ruins immediately before flowing into the Königshütte Dam
(a feeder dam or Überleitungssperre).
Other tributaries of the Bode include the Rappbode
and the Luppbode
. The Rappbode is impounded near Wendefurth
by the Rappbode Dam
. At the northern end of this reservoir, the Rappbode joins the Bode, which is impounded here by the Wendefurth Dam
. Other tributaries of the Bode are the Goldbach
, the Holtemme
and the Selke
.
s in the Harz are not high. The Upper Bode Falls (Obere Bode-Fall) on the Warme Bode are really a fast-flowing stream (Sturzbach) with small steps about 1 metre in height. Likewise the Lower Bode Falls (Untere Bode-Fall) on the Warme Bode is simply ledge of similar height.
The Bodekessel in the Bode Gorge is a former step in a large hollow, that in was reduced in height in 1798 from 2 metres to 1 metre by explosive. The fourth waterfall is in the Kästental.
. The Bode Gorge and its villages are the primary setting for Theodor Fontane
’s novel,Cécile
.
The river then crosses the Harz Foreland in a curving and, in places, diked and canalised, course until it discharges into the Saale at Nienburg
. Important Bode tributaries are the Selke and the Holtemme.
Other towns on the Bode river are Quedlinburg
, Wegeleben
, Gröningen
, Oschersleben, Hadmersleben
, Egeln
and Staßfurt
.
The Bode gorge north of Thale is now a protected area
.
In a hydrological sense every source stream of the Bode has a specific catchment area
in the Harz, that is part of the catchment area of the Bode. The catchment areas of the various reservoirs are as follows: for the Wendefurth Reservoir, 309.20 km², for the Rappbode Pre-Dam and Rappbode Reservoirs, 269.00 km², and for the Königshütte Reservoir, 154.2 km². The Mandelholz Dam
impounds the water of the Kalte Bode. The total catchment area of the Bode is about 3,000 km² in area.
the Bode formed the border between the provinces of the Harzgau in the west and the Schwabengau in the east. The two most important Bode crossings at that time were the settlements of Ditfurt
und Gröningen, mentioned frequently in the Fuldau annals.
depicts the romantic Bode valley in his 1826 travelogue Die Harzreise. It is also the setting of Theodor Fontane
's novel Cécile.
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
in the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
state of Saxony-Anhalt
Saxony-Anhalt
Saxony-Anhalt is a landlocked state of Germany. Its capital is Magdeburg and it is surrounded by the German states of Lower Saxony, Brandenburg, Saxony, and Thuringia.Saxony-Anhalt covers an area of...
, a left tributary of the Saale
Saale
The Saale, also known as the Saxon Saale and Thuringian Saale , is a river in Germany and a left-bank tributary of the Elbe. It is not to be confused with the smaller Franconian Saale, a right-bank tributary of the Main, or the Saale in Lower Saxony, a tributary of the Leine.-Course:The Saale...
.
It rises in the Harz mountains and drains them in a northerly direction. After 169 kilometres (105 mi) it discharges into the Saale at Nienburg
Nienburg
There are two towns named Nienburg in Germany.*Nienburg, Lower Saxony*Nienburg, Saxony-AnhaltThe Name Nienburg means "Neue Burg" ....
. The river is named after a legendary giant, the wild, rampaging, Bohemian, Prince Bodo, who, according to the Rosstrappe legend changed into a marauding dog that guarded the crown
Crown (headgear)
A crown is the traditional symbolic form of headgear worn by a monarch or by a deity, for whom the crown traditionally represents power, legitimacy, immortality, righteousness, victory, triumph, resurrection, honour and glory of life after death. In art, the crown may be shown being offered to...
of Princess Brunhilde in the Kronensumpf ("crown marsh") in the present-day Bode Gorge
Bode Gorge
The Bode Gorge is a long, ravine that forms part of the Bode valley between Treseburg and Thale in the Harz Mountains of central Germany. The German term, Bodetal , is also used in a wider sense to refer to the valleys of the Warme and Kalte Bode rivers that feed the River Bode.At the Bode Gorge,...
. The gorge is the narrow section of the Bode valley between Treseburg
Treseburg
Treseburg is a village and a former municipality in the district of Harz, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Since 1 July 2009, it is part of the town Thale.- Geography :...
and Thale
Thale
Thale is a town in the Harz district in Saxony-Anhalt in central Germany.-Geography:It is situated on the river Bode, approximately 8 km west of Quedlinburg. It is the terminus of the Magdeburg–Thale railway.- History :...
.
The Bodo legend
Source and catchment areas
The Bode is heavily divided in its sourceSource (river or stream)
The source or headwaters of a river or stream is the place from which the water in the river or stream originates.-Definition:There is no universally agreed upon definition for determining a stream's source...
region on the Brocken, the highest peak in the Harz, but its two most important source streams are the:
- Kalte Bode (17 km long); which rises at Bodesprung in
- Warme Bode (23 km long); with its headstream, the Bodebruch
The two rivers, which actually have a temperature difference of 2 °C, merge not far from the Königsburg Ruins immediately before flowing into the Königshütte Dam
Königshütte Dam
The Königshütte Dam is a dam in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt in the Harz mountains. It impounds the River Bode and lies between Königshütte and Susenburg...
(a feeder dam or Überleitungssperre).
Other tributaries of the Bode include the Rappbode
Rappbode
The Rappbode is a right-hand, southwestern tributary of the River Bode in the Harz mountains in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. In its lower reaches it is impounded by the Rappbode Dam, the largest dam in the Harz....
and the Luppbode
Luppbode
The Luppbode is one of the few right-hand tributary streams, that flow into the Bode Gorge in the Harz mountains of Germany in the state of Saxony-Anhalt. It is a lively, babbling brook that rises in the vicinity of Allrode and discharges into the River Bode at Treseburg.In spring, the Luppbode...
. The Rappbode is impounded near Wendefurth
Wendefurth
Wendefurth is a hamlet in central Germany that, since 1 July 2009, has been part of the borough of Thale district of Harz. Previously it belonged to the municipality of Altenbrak which was incorporated into Thale.- Geographical location :...
by the Rappbode Dam
Rappbode Dam
The Rappbode Dam is the largest dam in the Harz region as well as the highest dam in Germany. Together with several other dams and retention basins, it forms the flood protection system for the eastern Harz.- The individual dams :...
. At the northern end of this reservoir, the Rappbode joins the Bode, which is impounded here by the Wendefurth Dam
Wendefurth Dam
The Wendefurth Dam near Wendefurth in the Harz is one of the dams downstream of the Rappbode Dam, that provides flood protection as well as impounding the River Bode to provide the lower reservoir for the Wendefurth Power Station...
. Other tributaries of the Bode are the Goldbach
Goldbach (Bode)
The Goldbach is a left tributary of the River Bode, about 30 km long, in the Harz Mountains of Germany.-Course:The Goldbach rises east of the uplands of Elbingerode , flows through the Silberborn Valley, past Michaelstein Abbey and the Blankenburg Monk's Mill , passes under the B 6 federal highway...
, the Holtemme
Holtemme
The Holtemme is a 47 km long tributary of the river Bode in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.It rises in the Harz mountains at the eastern foot of the Brocken, descends during its upper course as the Steinerne Renne, a steep stream bed riddled with granite rocks, flows through Hasserode, Wernigerode and past...
and the Selke
Selke
-People:*Frank J. Selke, Canadian hockey manager*Margrit Selke, Agriculturist*Walter Selke, German physicist-Awards:*Frank J. Selke Trophy *Frank J. Selke Memorial Trophy -Other uses:...
.
Waterfalls
The waterfallWaterfall
A waterfall is a place where flowing water rapidly drops in elevation as it flows over a steep region or a cliff.-Formation:Waterfalls are commonly formed when a river is young. At these times the channel is often narrow and deep. When the river courses over resistant bedrock, erosion happens...
s in the Harz are not high. The Upper Bode Falls (Obere Bode-Fall) on the Warme Bode are really a fast-flowing stream (Sturzbach) with small steps about 1 metre in height. Likewise the Lower Bode Falls (Untere Bode-Fall) on the Warme Bode is simply ledge of similar height.
The Bodekessel in the Bode Gorge is a former step in a large hollow, that in was reduced in height in 1798 from 2 metres to 1 metre by explosive. The fourth waterfall is in the Kästental.
Course of the Bode
The Bode winds its way between Treseburg and Thale through a 10 kilometre long, narrow valley, the Bode Gorge. Today, the valley is a nature reserveNature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
. The Bode Gorge and its villages are the primary setting for Theodor Fontane
Theodor Fontane
Theodor Fontane was a German novelist and poet, regarded by many as the most important 19th-century German-language realist writer.-Youth:Fontane was born in Neuruppin into a Huguenot family. At the age of sixteen he was apprenticed to an apothecary, his father's profession. He became an...
’s novel,Cécile
Cécile
Cécile or Cecile is a female given name or surname:* Cécile Aubry , retired French film actress and television screenwriter and director* Cécile Brunschvicg , French feminist politician...
.
The river then crosses the Harz Foreland in a curving and, in places, diked and canalised, course until it discharges into the Saale at Nienburg
Nienburg
There are two towns named Nienburg in Germany.*Nienburg, Lower Saxony*Nienburg, Saxony-AnhaltThe Name Nienburg means "Neue Burg" ....
. Important Bode tributaries are the Selke and the Holtemme.
Other towns on the Bode river are Quedlinburg
Quedlinburg
Quedlinburg is a town located north of the Harz mountains, in the district of Harz in the west of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. In 1994 the medieval court and the old town was set on the UNESCO world heritage list....
, Wegeleben
Wegeleben
Wegeleben is a town in the district of Harz, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is situated on the river Bode, east of Halberstadt. It is part of the Verbandsgemeinde Vorharz. The town was the birthplace of Martin Bormann in 1900. It has a station on the Magdeburg–Thale railway....
, Gröningen
Gröningen
Gröningen is a town in the Börde district in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It lies approx. 40 km south-west of Magdeburg, and 10 km east of Halberstadt. It has 4,180 inhabitants . Gröningen is part of the Verbandsgemeinde Westliche Börde....
, Oschersleben, Hadmersleben
Hadmersleben
Hadmersleben is a town and a former municipality in the Börde district, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Since 1 September 2010, it is part of the town Oschersleben....
, Egeln
Egeln
Egeln is a town in the Salzlandkreis district, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is situated on the river Bode, approx. 15 km northwest of Staßfurt, and 25 km southwest of Magdeburg....
and Staßfurt
Staßfurt
Staßfurt is a town in the Salzlandkreis district, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is situated on both sides of the river Bode, approximately northeast of Aschersleben, and south of Magdeburg. Pop. 23,538....
.
The Bode gorge north of Thale is now a protected area
Protected area
Protected areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognised natural, ecological and/or cultural values. There are several kinds of protected areas, which vary by level of protection depending on the enabling laws of each country or the regulations of the international...
.
Dams on the Bode
See also: List of dams in the HarzIn a hydrological sense every source stream of the Bode has a specific catchment area
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
in the Harz, that is part of the catchment area of the Bode. The catchment areas of the various reservoirs are as follows: for the Wendefurth Reservoir, 309.20 km², for the Rappbode Pre-Dam and Rappbode Reservoirs, 269.00 km², and for the Königshütte Reservoir, 154.2 km². The Mandelholz Dam
Mandelholz Dam
The Mandelholz Dam holds back the Kalte Bode Flood Control Basin which is a flood protection reservoir located between the villages of Elend and Königshütte near Wernigerode in the Harz mountains of Germany...
impounds the water of the Kalte Bode. The total catchment area of the Bode is about 3,000 km² in area.
Middle Ages
In the Early Middle AgesEarly Middle Ages
The Early Middle Ages was the period of European history lasting from the 5th century to approximately 1000. The Early Middle Ages followed the decline of the Western Roman Empire and preceded the High Middle Ages...
the Bode formed the border between the provinces of the Harzgau in the west and the Schwabengau in the east. The two most important Bode crossings at that time were the settlements of Ditfurt
Ditfurt
Ditfurt is a municipality in the district of Harz, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.-Sites of interest:Ditfurt's history museum has crafts and information about the history of the village, it also displays the artifacts from the village's agricultural past....
und Gröningen, mentioned frequently in the Fuldau annals.
Modern Era
Heinrich HeineHeinrich Heine
Christian Johann Heinrich Heine was one of the most significant German poets of the 19th century. He was also a journalist, essayist, and literary critic. He is best known outside Germany for his early lyric poetry, which was set to music in the form of Lieder by composers such as Robert Schumann...
depicts the romantic Bode valley in his 1826 travelogue Die Harzreise. It is also the setting of Theodor Fontane
Theodor Fontane
Theodor Fontane was a German novelist and poet, regarded by many as the most important 19th-century German-language realist writer.-Youth:Fontane was born in Neuruppin into a Huguenot family. At the age of sixteen he was apprenticed to an apothecary, his father's profession. He became an...
's novel Cécile.
Flood and low water
The 'most devastating' floods from the Bode occurred in the years 1539, 1667, 1730, 1740, 1772 and especially at Christmas in 1925. Only on the completion of the Rappbode Dam in 1959 could the risk of flooding be eliminated. The water quantities in the Bode can vary significantly: during the New Year flooding in 1925 a discharge of 350 m³/s was recorded, whereas in the following summer of 1926 it fell to just 0.35 m³/s.Source
- Monika Schönau/Edmund Werner: Die Bode: ein Fluss führt Hochwasser! Sachsen-Anhalt, Staatliches Amt für Umweltschutz Magdeburg, Magdeburg 2000.