The New International Encyclopædia/Weser

WESER, vā'zẽr. A river of Germany, formed by the junction of the Werra, which rises in the Thüringerwald, and the Fulda, rising in the Rhöngebirge, on the frontiers of Prussia and Bavaria. These streams, after a northern course, unite at Münden, near the southern extremity of the Prussian province of Hanover, whence the Weser flows north, mainly watering Prussian territory, till, passing Bremen, it forms for about 40 miles the boundary between Oldenburg and Hanover, and enters the North Sea by a wide estuary, much interrupted by sand flats (Map: Germany, C 2), Its length from the confluence of the headstreams is 280 miles, and from the source of the Werra, 447 miles. It is navigable at high water to Münden and small vessels proceed some distance up the Werra, while the Fulda has been canalized as far as Cassel. A canal connects the estuary with that of the Elbe, and extensive improvements of the river below Bremen were completed in 1894 at a cost of nearly $8,000,000. The principal affluent of the Weser is the Aller, which has a large tributary in the Leine.