Havel
Encyclopedia
The Havel (ˈhaːfəl) is a river in north-eastern Germany
, flowing through the German states of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Brandenburg
, Berlin
and Saxony-Anhalt
. It is a right tributary of the Elbe
river and 325 kilometres (201.9 mi) in length. However the direct distance from its source to its mouth is only 69 kilometres (42.9 mi)
For much of its length, the Havel is navigable, and it provides an important link in the waterway connections between the east and west of Germany, and beyond.
, 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 SE of the 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
. 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, 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 67 km apart as the crow flies, and more than 160 km apart along the course of the river.
The region around and north of the middle Havel is called Havelland
. It consists of sandy hills and low marshes. The river's last few kilometres 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.
Towns on the course of the river include: Fürstenberg
, Zehdenick
, Oranienburg
, Berlin
, Potsdam
, Werder
, Ketzin
, Brandenburg
, Premnitz
, Rathenow
and Havelberg
.
' Germania
, the name of the river was also written as Habola, Habula, Havela. The river name Havel is related to German Haff, habe, hafen, MHG
Hafen meaning port, harbor).
The Slavic people who later moved into the Havel river 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.
to its confluence with the River 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 River Rhine and the North Sea
to Berlin
and Poland
.
From a navigation perspective, the River Havel can be split into four sections with somewhat different characteristics and different administrative arrangements.
s and similar small craft from close to its source. Motor craft are prohibited above the first lock
at Zwenzow, 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.
From Zwenzow downstream to Liebenwalde is a distance of 92 kilometres (57.2 mi). 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, Steinhavelmühle, Fürstenberg
, Bredereiche, Regow, Zaaren, Schorfheide
, Zehdenick
, Bischofswerder and Liebenwalde
.
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 Lychener Gewässer, the Templiner Gewässer and the Wentow Gewässer.
and the confluence with the River 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 40 kilometres (24.9 mi) long, and the river descends through two locks
at Lehnitz and Spandau
.
At Hennigsdorf
, 30 kilometres (18.6 mi) downstream of Liebenwalde, the Havel Canal
joins the river on the west bank. This canal connects to Paretz, on the River 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 7 kilometres (4.3 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.
A car ferry crosses the river between Hakenfelde
and Konradshöhe
, in the Berlin boroughs of Spandau
and Reinickendorf
respectively.
The last 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) of this stretch of the river, from Hennigsdorf, passes through a series of interconnected lakes, including the large Tegeler See. The river enters Berlin 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) before Spandau, having formed the boundary for the previous 4 kilometres (2.5 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.
at Spandau
and the junction with the Elbe–Havel Canal at Plaue is administered as part of the Untere Havel–Wasserstraße, which also includes the stetch of river downstream to the confluence with the River Elbe
. Between Spandau and Plaue, the river forms part of the main inland waterway route from the River Rhine and the west of Germany, and from Hamburg
and the North Sea
ports, to both Berlin
and Poland
. It thus carries a considerable amount of commercial traffic.
South of Spandau, the river widens into a wide lake, including a large arm known as the Großer Wannsee
, which due to its proximity to Berlin
can be very busy with leisure craft. The island of Pfaueninsel
is also a feature of this stretch of the river. Several of Berlin's ferries
cross these waters, carrying passengers and tourists.
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.
At Potsdam the navigation splits into two channels. The River Havel, here known as the Potsdamer Havel, takes a route south-west through Potsdam and the Templiner See
to the Schwielowsee
, then north-west to Paretz, whilst the Sacrow–Paretz Canal
canal takes a shorter route due east to Paretz, saving some 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) compared to the 29 kilometres (18 mi) 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.
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, and a stretch of the river. Both routes rejoin in the linked lakes of Breitling See and Plauer See
, which leads up to Plaue.
Like the preceding stretch of the river, the stretch from Plaue to the confluence with the River Elbe
at Havelburg is administered as part of the Untere Havel–Wasserstraße. Unlike the previous stretch, this stretch carries considerably less commercial traffic. Vessels heading to or from the River Rhine and the west of Germany take the Elbe–Havel Canal at Plaue. Whilst the lower reaches of the River Havel provide the most direct route to Hamburg
and the North Sea
ports, variable water levels in the River Elbe affect those in the lower River Havel, and together these can restrict navigation. A less direct, but more reliable route is available via the Elbe–Havel Canal, the Magdeburg Water Bridge
, the Mittelland Canal and the Elbe Lateral Canal.
This stretch of the river descends through locks at Bahnitz, Rathenow
, Grütz, Garz and Havelberg. At Rathenow there are two channels, each with a lock. North of Plaue, the river is crossed by the Pritzerbe Ferry
.
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...
, flowing through the German states of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Brandenburg
Brandenburg
Brandenburg is one of the sixteen federal-states of Germany. It lies in the east of the country and is one of the new federal states that were re-created in 1990 upon the reunification of the former West Germany and East Germany. The capital is Potsdam...
, Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
and 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...
. It is a right tributary of the Elbe
Elbe
The Elbe is one of the major rivers of Central Europe. It rises in the Krkonoše Mountains of the northwestern Czech Republic before traversing much of Bohemia , then Germany and flowing into the North Sea at Cuxhaven, 110 km northwest of Hamburg...
river and 325 kilometres (201.9 mi) in length. However the direct distance from its source to its mouth is only 69 kilometres (42.9 mi)
For much of its length, the Havel is navigable, and it provides an important link in the waterway connections between the east and west of Germany, and beyond.
Course
The source of the Havel is located in the Mecklenburg Lake DistrictMecklenburg Lake District
The Mecklenburg Lake District is the largest coherent lakes and canals area in Germany. It is situated in southern Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, extending somewhat into the north of Brandenburg, and sometimes called "the land of the thousand lakes".The Seenplatte includes Müritz National Park, which...
, between Lake Müritz
Müritz
Müritz is a former Kreis in the southern part of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. It is named after the lake Müritz. Neighboring districts were Demmin, Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the district-free city Neubrandenburg, the district Ostprignitz-Ruppin in Brandenburg, Parchim and Güstrow...
and the city of Neubrandenburg
Neubrandenburg
Neubrandenburg is a city in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. It is located in the southeastern part of the state, on the shore of a lake called the Tollensesee ....
. There is no obvious visible source in the form of a spring, but the river originates in the lakes in the Diekenbruch near Ankershagen
Ankershagen
Ankershagen is a municipality in the Mecklenburgische Seenplatte district, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. Components of the municipality Ankershagen are Ankershagen, Bocksee, Bornhof, Friedrichsfelde and Rumpshagen.- Main sights :...
, close to and SE of the 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
Brandenburg
Brandenburg is one of the sixteen federal-states of Germany. It lies in the east of the country and is one of the new federal states that were re-created in 1990 upon the reunification of the former West Germany and East Germany. The capital is Potsdam...
near the town of Fürstenberg
Fürstenberg/Havel
Fürstenberg is a town in the Oberhavel district, in Brandenburg, Germany. Fürstenberg was the site of the Ravensbrück concentration camp, and a memorial now occupies the site.-Geography:...
. 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
Spree
The Spree is a river that flows through the Saxony, Brandenburg and Berlin states of Germany, and in the Ústí nad Labem region of the Czech Republic...
river, which joins the Havel in Spandau
Spandau
Spandau is the fifth of the twelve boroughs of Berlin. It is the fourth largest and westernmost borough, situated at the confluence of the Havel and Spree rivers and along the western bank of the Havel, but the least populated.-Overview:...
, 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
Ruppiner See
Ruppiner See is a lake in Ostprignitz-Ruppin, Brandenburg, Germany. At an elevation of 36.5 m, its surface area is 8.25 km².-History:A Slavic fortification stood at the mouth of the Rhin on the northern shore. In the 12th century, the German settlement of Ruppin was established next to it. A few...
, weirs can distribute the waters of the Rhin either east- or westwards, rejoining the Havel in two places 67 km apart as the crow flies, and more than 160 km apart along the course of the river.
The region around and north of the middle Havel is called Havelland
Havelland
Havelland is a geograhical region and district in Brandenburg, Germany. It is bounded by the districts of Ostprignitz-Ruppin and Oberhavel, the city-state of Berlin, the district of Potsdam-Mittelmark, the city of Brandenburg and the state of Saxony-Anhalt .-History:-Geography:Geographically...
. It consists of sandy hills and low marshes. The river's last few kilometres before its confluence with the Elbe near Havelberg
Havelberg
Havelberg is a town in the district of Stendal, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is situated on the Havel, and part of the town is built on an island in the centre of the river. The two parts were incorporated as a town in 1875...
are in the 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...
, Due to its minimal gradient it is susceptible to high waters in the Elbe.
Towns on the course of the river include: Fürstenberg
Fürstenberg/Havel
Fürstenberg is a town in the Oberhavel district, in Brandenburg, Germany. Fürstenberg was the site of the Ravensbrück concentration camp, and a memorial now occupies the site.-Geography:...
, Zehdenick
Zehdenick
Zehdenick is a town in the Oberhavel district, in Brandenburg, Germany. It is situated on the river Havel, 26 km southeast of Fürstenberg/Havel, and 51 km north of Berlin .-Subdivision:Zehdenick includes the following villages:...
, Oranienburg
Oranienburg
Oranienburg is a town in Brandenburg, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Oberhavel.- Geography :Oranienburg is a town located on the banks of the Havel river, 35 km north of the centre of Berlin.- Division of the town :...
, Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Potsdam
Potsdam
Potsdam is the capital city of the German federal state of Brandenburg and part of the Berlin/Brandenburg Metropolitan Region. It is situated on the River Havel, southwest of Berlin city centre....
, Werder
Werder (Havel)
Werder , is a town in the state of Brandenburg, Germany, located on the Havel river in the Potsdam-Mittelmark district, west of the state's capital Potsdam.Werder has a long and rich history and is a nationally recognized Erholungsort – a government designation given to...
, Ketzin
Ketzin
Ketzin is a town in the Havelland district, in Brandenburg, Germany. It is situated on the river Havel, 17 km northwest of Potsdam, and 40 km west of Berlin.-Geography:...
, Brandenburg
Brandenburg (town)
Brandenburg an der Havel is a town in the state of Brandenburg, Germany, with a population of 71,778 . It is located on the banks of the River Havel. The town of Brandenburg, which is almost as widely known as the state of Brandenburg, provided the name for the medieval Bishopric of Brandenburg,...
, Premnitz
Premnitz
Premnitz is a town in the Havelland district, in Brandenburg, Germany. It is situated on the river Havel, 8 km south of Rathenow, 21 km northwest of Brandenburg, and is only 75 km west of central Berlin, to where it is well connected by the railway and road networks...
, Rathenow
Rathenow
Rathenow is a town in the district of Havelland in Brandenburg, Germany, with a population of 26,433 .-Overview:The Protestant church of St. Marien Andreas, originally a basilica, and transformed to the Gothic style in 1517-1589, and the Roman Catholic Church of St...
and Havelberg
Havelberg
Havelberg is a town in the district of Stendal, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is situated on the Havel, and part of the town is built on an island in the centre of the river. The two parts were incorporated as a town in 1875...
.
History
In earlier Greek or Latin sources, such as TacitusTacitus
Publius Cornelius Tacitus was a senator and a historian of the Roman Empire. The surviving portions of his two major works—the Annals and the Histories—examine the reigns of the Roman Emperors Tiberius, Claudius, Nero and those who reigned in the Year of the Four Emperors...
' Germania
Germania
Germania was the Greek and Roman geographical term for the geographical regions inhabited by mainly by peoples considered to be Germani. It was most often used to refer especially to the east of the Rhine and north of the Danube...
, the name of the river was also written as Habola, Habula, Havela. The river name Havel is related to German Haff, habe, hafen, MHG
Middle High German
Middle High German , abbreviated MHG , is the term used for the period in the history of the German language between 1050 and 1350. It is preceded by Old High German and followed by Early New High German...
Hafen meaning port, harbor).
The Slavic people who later moved into the Havel river area were referred to in German sources as Heveller (occasionally as Havolane
Havolane
The Hevelli or Hevellians were a tribe of the Polabian Slavs, who settled around the middle Havel river in the present-day Havelland region of Brandenburg in eastern Germany from the 8th century onwards.West Slavic tribes had settled in the Germania Slavica region from the 7th...
).
Among others, there are four important bridges, in Spandau
Spandau
Spandau is the fifth of the twelve boroughs of Berlin. It is the fourth largest and westernmost borough, situated at the confluence of the Havel and Spree rivers and along the western bank of the Havel, but the least populated.-Overview:...
, in Potsdam
Potsdam
Potsdam is the capital city of the German federal state of Brandenburg and part of the Berlin/Brandenburg Metropolitan Region. It is situated on the River Havel, southwest of Berlin city centre....
, in Brandenburg
Brandenburg (town)
Brandenburg an der Havel is a town in the state of Brandenburg, Germany, with a population of 71,778 . It is located on the banks of the River Havel. The town of Brandenburg, which is almost as widely known as the state of Brandenburg, provided the name for the medieval Bishopric of Brandenburg,...
and in a western suburb of that town; and Berlin has a large number of bridges.
Navigation
The River Havel is navigable from the Mecklenburg Lake DistrictMecklenburg Lake District
The Mecklenburg Lake District is the largest coherent lakes and canals area in Germany. It is situated in southern Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, extending somewhat into the north of Brandenburg, and sometimes called "the land of the thousand lakes".The Seenplatte includes Müritz National Park, which...
to its confluence with the River Elbe
Elbe
The Elbe is one of the major rivers of Central Europe. It rises in the Krkonoše Mountains of the northwestern Czech Republic before traversing much of Bohemia , then Germany and flowing into the North Sea at Cuxhaven, 110 km northwest of Hamburg...
. 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 River Rhine and the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
to Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
and Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
.
From a navigation perspective, the River Havel can be split into four sections with somewhat different characteristics and different administrative arrangements.
Head of navigation to Liebenwalde
The Havel is navigable to canoeCanoe
A canoe or Canadian canoe is a small narrow boat, typically human-powered, though it may also be powered by sails or small electric or gas motors. Canoes are usually pointed at both bow and stern and are normally open on top, but can be decked over A canoe (North American English) or Canadian...
s and similar small craft from close to its source. Motor craft are prohibited above the first lock
Lock (water transport)
A lock is a device for raising and lowering boats between stretches of water of different levels on river and canal waterways. The distinguishing feature of a lock is a fixed chamber in which the water level can be varied; whereas in a caisson lock, a boat lift, or on a canal inclined plane, it is...
at Zwenzow, which links the Useriner See
Useriner See
Useriner See is a lake in the Mecklenburgische Seenplatte district in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. At an elevation of 59.4 m, its surface area is 3.6 km²....
to the Großer Labussee
Großer Labussee
Großer Labussee is a lake in the Mecklenburg Lake District, in Germany. It is situated in the district of Mecklenburgische Seenplatte of the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern...
. 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.
From Zwenzow downstream to Liebenwalde is a distance of 92 kilometres (57.2 mi). In this distance the navigation passes through the lakes of Großer Labussee
Großer Labussee
Großer Labussee is a lake in the Mecklenburg Lake District, in Germany. It is situated in the district of Mecklenburgische Seenplatte of the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern...
, Woblitzsee
Woblitzsee
Woblitzsee is a lake in the Mecklenburg Lake District, in Germany. It is situated in the district of Mecklenburgische Seenplatte of the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern...
, Wangnitzsee
Wangnitzsee
Wangnitzsee is a lake in the Mecklenburg Lake District, in the German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. It is situated in the district of Mecklenburgische Seenplatte.The lake has an elevation of and a surface area of ....
, Großer Priepertsee
Großer Priepertsee
Großer Priepertsee is a lake in the Mecklenburg Lake District, in the German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. It is situated in the district of Mecklenburgische Seenplatte.The lake has an elevation of and a surface area of ....
, Ellbogensee
Ellbogensee
Ellbogensee is a lake in the Mecklenburg Lake District, in Germany. Whilst most of the lake is in the district of Mecklenburgische Seenplatte in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, a portion of its southern shore is in the state of Brandenburg...
, Ziernsee
Ziernsee
Ziernsee is a lake in the Mecklenburg Lake District, in Germany. Whilst most of the lake is in the district of Mecklenburgische Seenplatte in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, a portion of its southern shore is in the state of Brandenburg.The lake has an elevation of and a surface area of .The...
, Röblinsee
Röblinsee
Röblinsee is a lake in the Mecklenburg Lake District, in Germany. It is situated in the district of Oberhavel in the state of Brandenburg, and lies immediately to the west of the town of Fürstenberg. The lake has an east-west orientation, and is about long and up to wide.The navigable River Havel...
, Baalensee
Baalensee
Baalensee is a lake in the Mecklenburg Lake District, in Germany. It is situated in the district of Oberhavel in the state of Brandenburg, and lies immediately to the east of the centre of the town of Fürstenberg....
, Schwedtsee
Schwedtsee
Schwedtsee is a lake in the Mecklenburg Lake District, in Germany. It is situated in the district of Oberhavel in the state of Brandenburg, and lies to the east of the centre of the town of Fürstenberg...
and Stolpsee
Stolpsee
Stolpsee is a lake in the Mecklenburg Lake District, in Germany. It is situated in the district of Oberhavel in the state of Brandenburg. The resort of Himmelpfort lies on the north bank of the lake.The lake has an approximate length of and a width of...
. It also descends through the locks at Wesenberg, Steinhavelmühle, Fürstenberg
Fürstenberg/Havel
Fürstenberg is a town in the Oberhavel district, in Brandenburg, Germany. Fürstenberg was the site of the Ravensbrück concentration camp, and a memorial now occupies the site.-Geography:...
, Bredereiche, Regow, Zaaren, Schorfheide
Schorfheide
Schorfheide is a municipality in the Barnim district of Brandenburg, Germany. It was established in 2003 by the merger of Finowfurt and Groß Schönebeck.-Overview:...
, Zehdenick
Zehdenick
Zehdenick is a town in the Oberhavel district, in Brandenburg, Germany. It is situated on the river Havel, 26 km southeast of Fürstenberg/Havel, and 51 km north of Berlin .-Subdivision:Zehdenick includes the following villages:...
, Bischofswerder and Liebenwalde
Liebenwalde
Liebenwalde is a town in the Oberhavel district, in Brandenburg, Germany. It is situated 16 km northeast of Oranienburg, and 39 km north of Berlin ....
.
The Woblitzsee also gives access to the Kammer Canal
Kammer Canal
The Kammer Canal, or Kammerkanal in German, is a canal in the German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. It links the lakes of Woblitzsee and Zierker See, thus providing a navigable route between the River Havel, which flows through the Woblitzsee, and the town of Neustrelitz, which is on the Zierker...
, which allows vessels to reach Neustrelitz
Neustrelitz
Neustrelitz is a town in the Mecklenburgische Seenplatte district in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. It is situated on the shore of the Zierker See in the Mecklenburg Lake District. From 1738 until 1918 it was the capital of the duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz...
. The Ellbogensee links to the Müritz–Havel–Wasserstraße, which proceeds deeper into the Mecklenburg Lake District
Mecklenburg Lake District
The Mecklenburg Lake District is the largest coherent lakes and canals area in Germany. It is situated in southern Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, extending somewhat into the north of Brandenburg, and sometimes called "the land of the thousand lakes".The Seenplatte includes Müritz National Park, which...
, eventually connecting with the Müritz–Elde–Wasserstraße. Other connected waterways are the Lychener Gewässer, the Templiner Gewässer and the Wentow Gewässer.
Liebenwalde to Spandau
The stretch of the river between the junction with the Oder–Havel Canal near LiebenwaldeLiebenwalde
Liebenwalde is a town in the Oberhavel district, in Brandenburg, Germany. It is situated 16 km northeast of Oranienburg, and 39 km north of Berlin ....
and the confluence with the River Spree
Spree
The Spree is a river that flows through the Saxony, Brandenburg and Berlin states of Germany, and in the Ústí nad Labem region of the Czech Republic...
at Spandau
Spandau
Spandau is the fifth of the twelve boroughs of Berlin. It is the fourth largest and westernmost borough, situated at the confluence of the Havel and Spree rivers and along the western bank of the Havel, but the least populated.-Overview:...
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
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
and carries significant commercial traffic. This stretch of the river is 40 kilometres (24.9 mi) long, and the river descends through two locks
Lock (water transport)
A lock is a device for raising and lowering boats between stretches of water of different levels on river and canal waterways. The distinguishing feature of a lock is a fixed chamber in which the water level can be varied; whereas in a caisson lock, a boat lift, or on a canal inclined plane, it is...
at Lehnitz and Spandau
Spandau
Spandau is the fifth of the twelve boroughs of Berlin. It is the fourth largest and westernmost borough, situated at the confluence of the Havel and Spree rivers and along the western bank of the Havel, but the least populated.-Overview:...
.
At Hennigsdorf
Hennigsdorf
Hennigsdorf is a town in the district of Oberhavel, in Brandenburg, Germany. It is situated north-west of Berlin, just across the city border, which is formed mainly by the Havel river.-History:...
, 30 kilometres (18.6 mi) downstream of Liebenwalde, the Havel Canal
Havel Canal
The Havel Canal, or Havelkanal in German, is a canal in the German state of Brandenburg. It provides an alternate route to the River Havel, between Hennigsdorf and Paretz, thus avoiding a passage through the waterways of Berlin between Spandau and Potsdam.Construction of the canal was authorised by...
joins the river on the west bank. This canal connects to Paretz, on the River 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
West Berlin
West Berlin was a political exclave that existed between 1949 and 1990. It comprised the western regions of Berlin, which were bordered by East Berlin and parts of East Germany. West Berlin consisted of the American, British, and French occupation sectors, which had been established in 1945...
. Some 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) further downstream, the Berlin-Spandau Ship Canal
Berlin-Spandau Ship Canal
The Berlin-Spandau Ship Canal, or Berlin-Spandauer Schifffahrtskanal in German, is a canal in Berlin, Germany. It was built between 1848 and 1859 to a plan created by Peter Joseph Lenné, and was formerly known as the Hohenzollern Canal or Hohenzollernkanal.The long canal links the River Havel...
joins the river on the east bank, providing a connection to central Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
without passing through the lock at Spandau.
A car ferry crosses the river between Hakenfelde
Hakenfelde
Hakenfelde is a German locality of Berlin in the borough of Spandau.-History:The name Hakenfelde is derived a dairy-farm built in 1730 on the outskirts of Spandau. Part of the town of Spandau it merged into Berlin in 1920 with the "Greater Berlin Act"...
and Konradshöhe
Konradshöhe
Konradshöhe is a German locality within the borough of Reinickendorf, Berlin.-History:In the course of the northern extension of Berlin during the 19th century, many people settled in the suburbs, attracted by the proximity to nature and the low price of land. One of them was the coppersmith...
, in the Berlin boroughs of Spandau
Spandau
Spandau is the fifth of the twelve boroughs of Berlin. It is the fourth largest and westernmost borough, situated at the confluence of the Havel and Spree rivers and along the western bank of the Havel, but the least populated.-Overview:...
and Reinickendorf
Reinickendorf
Reinickendorf is the twelfth borough of Berlin. It encompasses the northwest of the city area, including the Berlin-Tegel Airport, Lake Tegel, spacious settlements of detached houses as well as housing estates like Märkisches Viertel.-Subdivision:...
respectively.
The last 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) of this stretch of the river, from Hennigsdorf, passes through a series of interconnected lakes, including the large Tegeler See. The river enters Berlin 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) before Spandau, having formed the boundary for the previous 4 kilometres (2.5 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.
Spandau to Plaue
The stretch of the river between the confluence with the River SpreeSpree
The Spree is a river that flows through the Saxony, Brandenburg and Berlin states of Germany, and in the Ústí nad Labem region of the Czech Republic...
at Spandau
Spandau
Spandau is the fifth of the twelve boroughs of Berlin. It is the fourth largest and westernmost borough, situated at the confluence of the Havel and Spree rivers and along the western bank of the Havel, but the least populated.-Overview:...
and the junction with the Elbe–Havel Canal at Plaue is administered as part of the Untere Havel–Wasserstraße, which also includes the stetch of river downstream to the confluence with the River Elbe
Elbe
The Elbe is one of the major rivers of Central Europe. It rises in the Krkonoše Mountains of the northwestern Czech Republic before traversing much of Bohemia , then Germany and flowing into the North Sea at Cuxhaven, 110 km northwest of Hamburg...
. Between Spandau and Plaue, the river forms part of the main inland waterway route from the River Rhine and the west of Germany, and from 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...
and the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
ports, to both Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
and Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
. It thus carries a considerable amount of commercial traffic.
South of Spandau, the river widens into a wide lake, including a large arm known as the Großer Wannsee
Großer Wannsee
The Großer Wannsee is a bight of the Havel river near the locality of Wannsee and Nikolassee , a south-western suburb of the German capital Berlin not far from Potsdam...
, which due to its proximity to Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
can be very busy with leisure craft. The island of Pfaueninsel
Pfaueninsel
Pfaueninsel is an island in the River Havel situated in Berlin-Wannsee, in southwestern Berlin, near the borders with Potsdam and Brandenburg. The island is part of the Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin World Heritage Site and a popular destination for day-trippers...
is also a feature of this stretch of the river. Several of Berlin's ferries
Ferry transport in Berlin
Berlin, the capital city of Germany, has an extensive network of rivers, lakes and canals. As a consequence ferry transport forms a part of the transport network of Berlin.-History:...
cross these waters, carrying passengers and tourists.
The Teltow Canal
Teltow Canal
The Teltow Canal, also known as the Teltowkanal in German, is a canal to the south of Berlin, the capital city of Germany. The canal lies in both the states of Berlin and Brandenburg, and at points forms the boundary between the two...
joins the river from the east via the Griebnitzsee
Griebnitzsee
Griebnitzsee is a lake in the western outskirts of Berlin, the capital city of Germany. At an elevation of 29.4 m, its surface area is ca. 0.592 km². The lake forms the border between the German states of Berlin and Brandenburg...
just before the city reaches the city of Potsdam
Potsdam
Potsdam is the capital city of the German federal state of Brandenburg and part of the Berlin/Brandenburg Metropolitan Region. It is situated on the River Havel, southwest of Berlin city centre....
, providing an alternative route to the Oder–Spree Canal
Oder–Spree Canal
The Oder-Spree Canal, or the Oder-Spree-Kanal in German, is a canal in the east of Germany. It links the Dahme river, at Schmöckwitz in the south-eastern suburbs of Berlin, with the River Oder, at Eisenhüttenstadt. It provides an important commercial navigable connection between Berlin and the...
avoiding central Berlin. The Griebnitz Canal
Griebnitz Canal
The Griebnitz Canal, also known in German as the Griebnitzkanal or the Prinz-Friedrich-Leopold-Kanal, is a canal in the western suburbs of Berlin, the capital city of Germany...
provides a short cut for smaller vessels from the Griebnitzsee to the Großer Wannsee.
At Potsdam the navigation splits into two channels. The River Havel, here known as the Potsdamer Havel, takes a route south-west through Potsdam and the Templiner See
Templiner See
Templiner See is a lake in the state of Brandenburg, Germany. It stretches to the south and west from the centre of the city of Potsdam.The lake is some long, with a maximum width of and a surface area is...
to the Schwielowsee
Schwielowsee
Schwielowsee is a municipality in the Potsdam-Mittelmark district, in Brandenburg, Germany. It is situated on the shore of the Schwielowsee lake, through which the River Havel flows. The municipality was founded on December 31, 2002 in merger of the three villages Caputh, Geltow and Ferch. The...
, then north-west to Paretz, whilst the Sacrow–Paretz Canal
Sacrow–Paretz Canal
The Sacrow–Paretz Canal, or Sacrow-Paretzer-Kanal in German, is a canal in the German state of Brandenburg. It provides a short cut for vessels navigating the River Havel, linking the Jungfernsee, near Potsdam, with Paretz....
canal takes a shorter route due east to Paretz, saving some 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) compared to the 29 kilometres (18 mi) Potsdamer Havel. The Potsdamer Havel is crossed by the Kiewitt Ferry
Kiewitt Ferry
The Kiewitt Ferry is a passenger cable ferry in the city of Potsdam in Brandenburg, Germany. It crosses the Havel river, at the northern end of the Templiner See, between Auf dem Kiewitt on the Potsdam side and the Hermannswerder peninsular....
in Potsdam itself, and by the Caputh Ferry
Caputh Ferry
The Caputh Ferry is a vehicular cable ferry in the municipality of Schwielowsee of the state of Brandenburg, Germany. It crosses the River Havel at its outlet from the Templiner See to the Schwielowsee, and crosses between the villages of Caputh and Geltow....
at the entrance to the Schweilowsee.
At Paretz the two channels join up again, as does the Havel Canal
Havel Canal
The Havel Canal, or Havelkanal in German, is a canal in the German state of Brandenburg. It provides an alternate route to the River Havel, between Hennigsdorf and Paretz, thus avoiding a passage through the waterways of Berlin between Spandau and Potsdam.Construction of the canal was authorised by...
from further upstream. Just downstream of Paretz, the river is crossed by the Ketzin Cable Ferry
Ketzin Cable Ferry
The Ketzin Cable Ferry is a vehicular cable ferry that crosses the River Havel between Ketzin and Schmergow, both located in Brandenburg, Germany.- References :...
. At Brandenburg an der Havel, the navigation again splits into two routes. Commercial shipping descends through a lock
Lock (water transport)
A lock is a device for raising and lowering boats between stretches of water of different levels on river and canal waterways. The distinguishing feature of a lock is a fixed chamber in which the water level can be varied; whereas in a caisson lock, a boat lift, or on a canal inclined plane, it is...
into the Silo Canal
Silo Canal
The Silo Canal, or Silokanal in German, is a canal in the German state of Brandenburg. It provides a short cut for vessels navigating the River Havel, avoiding the winding and constricted navigation through the city of Brandenburg an der Havel....
that passes to the north of the city centre. Leisure craft pass through the centre of the city, using the short Brandenburg City Canal
Brandenburg City Canal
The Brandenburg City Canal, or Brandenburger Stadtkanal in German, is a canal in the German state of Brandenburg. It provides a route through the centre of the city of Brandenburg an der Havel....
, a smaller lock, and a stretch of the river. Both routes rejoin in the linked lakes of Breitling See and Plauer See
Plauer See (Brandenburg)
Plauer See is a lake in the state of Brandenburg, Germany. It is situated to the west of the city of Brandenburg an der Havel, and is one of a number of directly linked lakes, along with the Breitlingsee, Möserscher See, Quenzsee and Wendsee....
, which leads up to Plaue.
Plaue to Havelburg
Elbe
The Elbe is one of the major rivers of Central Europe. It rises in the Krkonoše Mountains of the northwestern Czech Republic before traversing much of Bohemia , then Germany and flowing into the North Sea at Cuxhaven, 110 km northwest of Hamburg...
at Havelburg is administered as part of the Untere Havel–Wasserstraße. Unlike the previous stretch, this stretch carries considerably less commercial traffic. Vessels heading to or from the River Rhine and the west of Germany take the Elbe–Havel Canal at Plaue. Whilst the lower reaches of the River Havel provide the most direct route to 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...
and the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
ports, variable water levels in the River Elbe affect those in the lower River Havel, and together these can restrict navigation. A less direct, but more reliable route is available via the Elbe–Havel Canal, the Magdeburg Water Bridge
Magdeburg Water Bridge
The Magdeburg Water Bridge is a navigable aqueduct in Germany, opened in October 2003. It connects the Elbe-Havel Canal to the Mittellandkanal, crossing over the Elbe River...
, the Mittelland Canal and the Elbe Lateral Canal.
This stretch of the river descends through locks at Bahnitz, Rathenow
Rathenow
Rathenow is a town in the district of Havelland in Brandenburg, Germany, with a population of 26,433 .-Overview:The Protestant church of St. Marien Andreas, originally a basilica, and transformed to the Gothic style in 1517-1589, and the Roman Catholic Church of St...
, Grütz, Garz and Havelberg. At Rathenow there are two channels, each with a lock. North of Plaue, the river is crossed by the Pritzerbe Ferry
Pritzerbe Ferry
The Pritzerbe Ferry is a vehicular cable ferry that crosses the Havel river between Pritzerbe and Kützkow , both located in Brandenburg, Germany.- References :...
.