The New Student's Reference Work/Elbe

Elbe, a large river of northern Europe, takes its rise from the flowing together of many small streams which have their origin on the southern side of the Giants' Mountains on the northern border of Bohemia. Its total length is about 725 miles, and it is navigable for 525 miles, but for sea-vessels only up to Hamburg (84 miles). Of its many tributaries the most important are the Moldau, Eger, Mulde, Saale and Havel, and in connection with these is a fine system of canals. The general direction of the river is northwestward, and it empties into the North Sea at Cuxhaven, where its mouth is ten miles wide. Within the mouth, which really is an arm of the sea, the tide rises about ten feet. The numerous islands between Hamburg and Harburg divide the river into several branches, and between Hamburg and the sea the sandbanks and shoals leave only a very narrow channel. The navigation was formerly hindered by all sorts of tolls, but these were all abolished in 1870.