Lusatian Neisse
Encyclopedia
The Lusatian Neisse is a 252 km (156.6 mi) long river in Central Europe
. The river has its source in the Jizera Mountains
near Nová Ves nad Nisou
, Czech Republic
, reaching the tripoint
with Poland and Germany at Zittau
after 54 km (33.6 mi), and later forms the Polish
-German
border on a length of 198 km (123 mi). The Lusatian Neisse is a left tributary of the Oder
river, into which it flows between Neißemünde
-Ratzdorf and Kosarzyn
north of the towns of Guben
and Gubin.
According to the 1945 Potsdam Agreement
in the aftermath of World War II
, the river became part of the Polish western border with Germany (the Oder-Neisse line
). It is the longest and most notable of the three rivers named Neisse (Neiße) (German) or Nysa (Polish) (the two other rivers being Nysa Kłodzka (Glatzer Neisse) and Nysa Szalona
(Wütende Neiße or Jauersche Neiße)). It is therefore often simply called Nysa or Neisse. An older Polish variant, no longer used, was Nissa.
, the adjective before the name of the river Neisse differentiates this particular river from the Nysa Kłodzka (Glatzer Neiße) and the small Nysa Szalona
(Wütende Neiße or Jauersche Neiße) in Silesia
.
the Neisse flows through Muskau Park
, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
. Cities and towns on the river from source to mouth include:
Central Europe
Central Europe or alternatively Middle Europe is a region of the European continent lying between the variously defined areas of Eastern and Western Europe...
. The river has its source in the Jizera Mountains
Jizera Mountains
Jizera Mountains , or Izera Mountains, are part of the Western Sudetes on the border between the Czech Republic and Poland. The major part is formed from granite, with some areas formed from basalt. The mountains got their name from the Jizera River, which rises at the southern base of Smrk...
near Nová Ves nad Nisou
Nová Ves nad Nisou
Nová Ves nad Nisou is a village and municipality in Jablonec nad Nisou District in the Liberec Region of the Czech Republic.-Notes:...
, Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
, reaching the tripoint
Tripoint
A tripoint, or trijunction , is a geographical point at which the borders of three countries or subnational entities meet....
with Poland and Germany at Zittau
Zittau
Zittau is a city in the south east of the Free State of Saxony, Germany, close to the border tripoint of Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic. , there are 28,638 people in the city. It is part of the Görlitz district....
after 54 km (33.6 mi), and later forms the Polish
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...
-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...
border on a length of 198 km (123 mi). The Lusatian Neisse is a left tributary of the Oder
Oder
The Oder is a river in Central Europe. It rises in the Czech Republic and flows through western Poland, later forming of the border between Poland and Germany, part of the Oder-Neisse line...
river, into which it flows between Neißemünde
Neißemünde
Neißemünde is a municipality in the Oder-Spree district, in Brandenburg, Germany. It belongs to the Amt Neuzelle, which has its seat in the Neuzelle municipality.-Geography:...
-Ratzdorf and Kosarzyn
Kosarzyn, Lubusz Voivodeship
Kosarzyn is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Gubin, within Krosno Odrzańskie County, Lubusz Voivodeship, in western Poland, close to the German border...
north of the towns of Guben
Guben
Guben is a town on the Lusatian Neisse river in the state of Brandenburg, Germany. Located in the Spree-Neiße district, Guben has a population of 20,049...
and Gubin.
According to the 1945 Potsdam Agreement
Potsdam Agreement
The Potsdam Agreement was the Allied plan of tripartite military occupation and reconstruction of Germany—referring to the German Reich with its pre-war 1937 borders including the former eastern territories—and the entire European Theatre of War territory...
in the aftermath of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the river became part of the Polish western border with Germany (the Oder-Neisse line
Oder-Neisse line
The Oder–Neisse line is the border between Germany and Poland which was drawn in the aftermath of World War II. The line is formed primarily by the Oder and Lusatian Neisse rivers, and meets the Baltic Sea west of the seaport cities of Szczecin and Świnoujście...
). It is the longest and most notable of the three rivers named Neisse (Neiße) (German) or Nysa (Polish) (the two other rivers being Nysa Kłodzka (Glatzer Neisse) and Nysa Szalona
Nysa Szalona
The Nysa Szalona is a river in Poland. It has a length of ca. 51 km and flows into the Kaczawa, which in turn flows into the Oder....
(Wütende Neiße or Jauersche Neiße)). It is therefore often simply called Nysa or Neisse. An older Polish variant, no longer used, was Nissa.
Name
Since the river runs through the historic region of LusatiaLusatia
Lusatia is a historical region in Central Europe. It stretches from the Bóbr and Kwisa rivers in the east to the Elbe valley in the west, today located within the German states of Saxony and Brandenburg as well as in the Lower Silesian and Lubusz voivodeships of western Poland...
, the adjective before the name of the river Neisse differentiates this particular river from the Nysa Kłodzka (Glatzer Neiße) and the small Nysa Szalona
Nysa Szalona
The Nysa Szalona is a river in Poland. It has a length of ca. 51 km and flows into the Kaczawa, which in turn flows into the Oder....
(Wütende Neiße or Jauersche Neiße) in Silesia
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
.
Cities
At Bad MuskauBad Muskau
Bad Muskau is a spa town in the historic Upper Lusatia region in Germany at the border with Poland. It is part of the Görlitz district in the State of Saxony....
the Neisse flows through Muskau Park
Muskau Park
The Muskau Park , is the largest and one of the most famous English gardens of Germany and Poland.Situated in the historic Upper Lusatia region, it covers of land in Poland and in Germany. The park extends on both sides of the Lusatian Neisse river, which constitutes the border between the...
, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
. Cities and towns on the river from source to mouth include:
- Jablonec nad NisouJablonec nad NisouJablonec nad Nisou is a town in northern Bohemia, the second largest town of the Liberec Region. It is known as a mountain resort in the Jizera Mountains, an education centre, and a centre of world-production of glass and jewellery...
, Czech Republic - VratislaviceVratislaviceVratislavice nad Nisou is a district of the city of Liberec, in the north of the Czech Republic. It has around 6,700 inhabitants and straddles the Nisa river between Liberec and Jablonec, around 3.5 km south-east of Liberec city centre.-History:...
, Czech Republic - LiberecLiberecLiberec is a city in the Czech Republic. Located on the Lusatian Neisse and surrounded by the Jizera Mountains and Ještěd-Kozákov Ridge, it is the fifth-largest city in the Czech Republic....
, Czech Republic - ChrastavaChrastavaChrastava is a town in northern Bohemia in the Czech Republic about 10 kilometre northwest of the regional capital Liberec. The town is situated on the Jeřice brook near to its confluence with the Lusatian Neisse...
, Czech Republic - Hrádek nad NisouHrádek nad NisouHrádek nad Nisou is a town in the Czech Republic.-External links:*...
, Czech Republic - ZittauZittauZittau is a city in the south east of the Free State of Saxony, Germany, close to the border tripoint of Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic. , there are 28,638 people in the city. It is part of the Görlitz district....
, Germany - BogatyniaBogatyniaBogatynia is a town in Zgorzelec County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland, close to the tripoint of the Czech, German and Polish borders. The town lies approximately south of Zgorzelec, and west of the regional capital Wrocław. As of 2006 it had 19,068 inhabitants.The...
, Poland - GörlitzGörlitzGörlitz is a town in Germany. It is the easternmost town in the country, located on the Lusatian Neisse River in the Bundesland of Saxony. It is opposite the Polish town of Zgorzelec, which was a part of Görlitz until 1945. Historically, Görlitz was in the region of Upper Lusatia...
, Germany; ZgorzelecZgorzelecZgorzelec is a town in south-western Poland with 33,278 inhabitants . It lies in Lower Silesian Voivodeship . It is the seat of Zgorzelec County, and also of the smaller district of Gmina Zgorzelec...
, Poland - PieńskPienskPieńsk is a town in Zgorzelec County, Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in south-western Poland. It is the seat of the administrative district called Gmina Pieńsk, and stands on the east bank of the Lusatian Neisse river, which forms the border between Poland and Germany...
, Poland - Bad MuskauBad MuskauBad Muskau is a spa town in the historic Upper Lusatia region in Germany at the border with Poland. It is part of the Görlitz district in the State of Saxony....
, Germany; Łęknica, Poland - Forst (Lausitz), Germany
- GubenGubenGuben is a town on the Lusatian Neisse river in the state of Brandenburg, Germany. Located in the Spree-Neiße district, Guben has a population of 20,049...
, Germany; Gubin, Poland
See also
External links
- Bibliography on Water Resources and International Law Peace Palace Library
- Closed Germany-Poland bridges