Werse
Encyclopedia
The Werse is a 67 km long, left-hand tributary of the River Ems
in Münsterland, North Rhine-Westphalia
in Germany. The catchment area
of the Werse is 762.47 km². Its name may be derived from a pre-Indo-European language, Vasconic, from which the Basque language
developed. Its water quality
is Class II-III and, in places, Class II. Contamination from communal sewage farms, fish ponds, but especially diffuse contamination from agriculture pollutes the mass balance of the Werse and leads to eutrophication
along the entire river course, especially in the retention basin areas.
near Beckum
from three headstreams: the Lippbach, Kollenbach and Siechenbach. The name Werse is used from the Osttor and above the Kollenbach. From Beckum the Werse flows westwards. Shortly before Ahlen
it turns northwest and, near Drensteinfurt
, then via Albersloh it flows northwards. Near Münster-Gelmer near the Haskenau it finally discharges into the Ems. The river is regulated by several overflow weir
s.
, Pike
, Catfish
, Pikeperch and white fish species such as Carp
, Tench
, Bream occur here. Moreover, rare animals like the Kingfisher
and Grass Snake
may also be observed along the river.
en on the river. Especially in summer the river is heavily used by commercial boat hire organisations..
In April 2007 the Werse Cycleway (Werseradweg) was opened. It starts in Rheda-Wiedenbrück
and runs along the Werse and its surrounding countryside for 122 km. The cycleway ends near the confluence with the Ems near Münster-Gelmer.
River Ems
The river name Ems may refer to:* Ems , a river in Germany and the Netherlands* River Ems , a river in the English counties of West Sussex and Hampshire...
in Münsterland, North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia
North Rhine-Westphalia is the most populous state of Germany, with four of the country's ten largest cities. The state was formed in 1946 as a merger of the northern Rhineland and Westphalia, both formerly part of Prussia. Its capital is Düsseldorf. The state is currently run by a coalition of the...
in Germany. The 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...
of the Werse is 762.47 km². Its name may be derived from a pre-Indo-European language, Vasconic, from which the Basque language
Basque language
Basque is the ancestral language of the Basque people, who inhabit the Basque Country, a region spanning an area in northeastern Spain and southwestern France. It is spoken by 25.7% of Basques in all territories...
developed. Its water quality
Water quality
Water quality is the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of water. It is a measure of the condition of water relative to the requirements of one or more biotic species and or to any human need or purpose. It is most frequently used by reference to a set of standards against which...
is Class II-III and, in places, Class II. Contamination from communal sewage farms, fish ponds, but especially diffuse contamination from agriculture pollutes the mass balance of the Werse and leads to eutrophication
Eutrophication
Eutrophication or more precisely hypertrophication, is the movement of a body of water′s trophic status in the direction of increasing plant biomass, by the addition of artificial or natural substances, such as nitrates and phosphates, through fertilizers or sewage, to an aquatic system...
along the entire river course, especially in the retention basin areas.
Course
The Werse rises in the Beckum HillsBeckum Hills
The Beckum Hills , named after the town of Beckum, are a range of low hills, up to , in the region of Münsterland in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia...
near Beckum
Beckum
Beckum may refer to:* Beckum, Germany, a town in Germany* Beckum, Overijssel, a town in the Netherlands...
from three headstreams: the Lippbach, Kollenbach and Siechenbach. The name Werse is used from the Osttor and above the Kollenbach. From Beckum the Werse flows westwards. Shortly before Ahlen
Ahlen
Ahlen is a town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is part of the District of Warendorf and is economically the most important town in that district. Ahlen is part of the larger Münster region, and of the historic Münsterland area....
it turns northwest and, near Drensteinfurt
Drensteinfurt
Drensteinfurt is a town in the district of Warendorf, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is situated approx. 15 km north of Hamm and 20 km south of Münster...
, then via Albersloh it flows northwards. Near Münster-Gelmer near the Haskenau it finally discharges into the Ems. The river is regulated by several overflow weir
Weir
A weir is a small overflow dam used to alter the flow characteristics of a river or stream. In most cases weirs take the form of a barrier across the river that causes water to pool behind the structure , but allows water to flow over the top...
s.
Fauna
The Werse is a popular destination for anglers because of its rich fish stock. PerchPerch
Perch is a common name for fish of the genus Perca, freshwater gamefish belonging to the family Percidae. The perch, of which there are three species in different geographical areas, lend their name to a large order of vertebrates: the Perciformes, from the Greek perke meaning spotted, and the...
, Pike
Northern Pike
The northern pike , is a species of carnivorous fish of the genus Esox...
, Catfish
Catfish
Catfishes are a diverse group of ray-finned fish. Named for their prominent barbels, which resemble a cat's whiskers, catfish range in size and behavior from the heaviest and longest, the Mekong giant catfish from Southeast Asia and the second longest, the wels catfish of Eurasia, to detritivores...
, Pikeperch and white fish species such as Carp
Carp
Carp are various species of oily freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae, a very large group of fish native to Europe and Asia. The cypriniformes are traditionally grouped with the Characiformes, Siluriformes and Gymnotiformes to create the superorder Ostariophysi, since these groups have certain...
, Tench
Tench
The tench or doctor fish is a freshwater and brackish water fish of the cyprinid family found throughout Eurasia from Western Europe including the British Isles east into Asia as far as the Ob and Yenisei Rivers. It is also found in Lake Baikal...
, Bream occur here. Moreover, rare animals like the Kingfisher
Kingfisher
Kingfishers are a group of small to medium sized brightly coloured birds in the order Coraciiformes. They have a cosmopolitan distribution, with most species being found in the Old World and Australia...
and Grass Snake
Grass Snake
The grass snake , sometimes called the ringed snake or water snake is a European non-venomous snake. It is often found near water and feeds almost exclusively on amphibians.-Etymology:...
may also be observed along the river.
Sport and tourism
The Werse is the home river of the Alberslohe Canoe Club (Albersloher Kanu Club 1989), canoe section of TG Münster, the Münster Canoe Club 1923 (Paddelsport Münster von 1923) and Münster Canoe Club 1922 ( Kanuverein Münster 1922) There are also many boat houses belonging to StudentenverbindungStudentenverbindung
A Studentenverbindung is a student corporation in a German-speaking country somewhat comparable to fraternities in the US or Canada, but mostly older and going back to other kinds of...
en on the river. Especially in summer the river is heavily used by commercial boat hire organisations..
In April 2007 the Werse Cycleway (Werseradweg) was opened. It starts in Rheda-Wiedenbrück
Rheda-Wiedenbrück
Rheda-Wiedenbrück is a town in the district of Gütersloh, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.-Geography:Rheda-Wiedenbrück is located on the river Ems, approx. 10 km south-west of Gütersloh.-Neighbouring municipalities:* Oelde* Herzebrock-Clarholz...
and runs along the Werse and its surrounding countryside for 122 km. The cycleway ends near the confluence with the Ems near Münster-Gelmer.
Stadium
- The Werse is widely known because a football stadium, the WersestadionWersestadionWersestadion is a multi-use stadium in Ahlen, Germany. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Rot Weiss Ahlen. The stadium is able to hold 15,000 people and was built in 1997....
, is named after it. The stadium is the home of the Rot Weiss Ahlen football club which plays in the in the German 3rd Division.
Tributaries
- Rüenkolk
- Rattbach
- Stelterbach
- Elkerbach
- OlfeOlfe (Werse)Olfe is a river of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany....
- Kälberbach (Werse)
- Erlebach
- Suerbach
- Umlaufbach
- Flaggenbach
- Ahrenhorster Bach
- Westerbach (Werse)
- EmmerbachEmmerbachEmmerbach is a river of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany....
- AngelAngel (river)Angel is a river of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.-See also:*List of rivers of North Rhine-Westphalia...
- HonebachHonebachHonebach is a river of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany....
- Kreuzbach (Werse)
Mills
- Werse Mill
- Verings Mill
- Pleister Mill (Pleistermühle)
- Sud Mill (Sudmühle)
- Havichhorst Mill
Navigation
A small steamer plied the section of river between the Sud and Pleister mills in the 19th century during the summer months several times a day.External links
- Hochwasser-Aktionsplan Werse
- Ergebnisse des Forschungsprojekts Kanusport und Naturschutz der Universität Münster www.lanuv.nrw (.pdf)
- Werse-Rad-Weg. Information about Warendorf district