.gif)
Else (Werre)
Encyclopedia
The Else is a left tributary of the river Werre
in the northeast of North Rhine-Westphalia
and in southern Lower Saxony
. The Else is a distributary
of the river Hase
and begins at a river bifurcation
near Melle
.
. The bifurcation is near Gesmold (part of the borough of Melle
) in Lower Saxony
, where the river Else branches off the river Hase
(at Hase river kilometre 158.9). The bifurcation may have been created or established artificially; or at least maintained artificially. This is however unclear. In history there were disputes over the distribution of water that was able to be controlled by man-made means. For example, the entire water flow could be diverted either into the River Hase or River Werre
during conflicts. Today the Hase loses a third of the its water mass at the bifurcation. The Hase flows northwest to the Ems, while the Else flows east to the Weser.
, are bordered in the south by the Teutoburg Forest
and in the north by the ridge of the Wiehen Hills.
After the bifurcation in Melle the river flows east into North Rhine-Westphalia, passing the state border at river kilometre 19.2 and crossing Rödinghausen
and Bünde
, before discharging, after a distance of approximately 35 km, into the Werre
near the eastern edge of Kirchlengern
. The Werre swings east at its mouth by almost 90°, thus aligning itself with the west-to-eastern course of the Else.
The River Else passes under the A 30 federal motorway three times (at Gesmold (km 33), at Bruchmühlen (km 22) and at Bünde
(km 15). The Else Valley Bridge crosses the river at Kirchlengern
. The Else is dammed several times along its length. A particularly large number of weirs is located on the lower reaches between Bünde and its mouth; the Else's velocity here is controlled over a short distance by 4 weirs.
Designated tributaries, which flow into river Else or the parallel led river Neue Else are (from bifurcation to mouth):
(L/R; KM): Left right supply, with river kilometer, delta with km 0)
The watershed of river Else has a size of 414,6 km². In the watershed approximately live 100,000 people.
The following municipalities lie at river Else:
In addition to the watershed lie totally or partly:
. On the floodplain, the remnants of former river courses of the Else may be recognized. The floodplain is largely turned over to grassland with flood banks. The steep river banks, up to 3m high, are a haven for the kingfisher
.
Werre
The Werre is a river in the Detmold region of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, left tributary of the Weser. Its source is near Horn-Bad Meinberg. The Werre flows generally north through the towns Detmold, Lage, Bad Salzuflen, Herford and Löhne. It flows into the Weser close to Bad Oeynhausen. The...
in the northeast of 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...
and in southern Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony is a German state situated in north-western Germany and is second in area and fourth in population among the sixteen states of Germany...
. The Else is a distributary
Distributary
A distributary, or a distributary channel, is a stream that branches off and flows away from a main stream channel. They are a common feature of river deltas. The phenomenon is known as river bifurcation. The opposite of a distributary is a tributary...
of the river Hase
Hase
The Hase is a 193 km long river in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is a right tributary of the Ems, but part of its flow goes to the Else, that is part of the Weser basin. Its source is in the Teutoburg Forest, south-east of Osnabrück, on the north slope of the 307 m high Hankenüll hill.- Weser-Ems...
and begins at a river bifurcation
River bifurcation
River bifurcation occurs when a river flowing in a single stream separates into two or more separate streams which continue downstream. Some rivers form complex networks of distributaries, especially in their deltas...
near Melle
Melle, Germany
Melle is a city in the district of Osnabrück, Lower Saxony, Germany. The city corresponds to what used to be the district of Melle until regional territorial reform in 1972. Since then Melle is the third largest city in Lower Saxony in terms of surface area....
.
Origin
The River Else does not have a source but originates at a hydrological phenomenon known as a river bifurcationRiver bifurcation
River bifurcation occurs when a river flowing in a single stream separates into two or more separate streams which continue downstream. Some rivers form complex networks of distributaries, especially in their deltas...
. The bifurcation is near Gesmold (part of the borough of Melle
Melle, Germany
Melle is a city in the district of Osnabrück, Lower Saxony, Germany. The city corresponds to what used to be the district of Melle until regional territorial reform in 1972. Since then Melle is the third largest city in Lower Saxony in terms of surface area....
) in Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony is a German state situated in north-western Germany and is second in area and fourth in population among the sixteen states of Germany...
, where the river Else branches off the river Hase
Hase
The Hase is a 193 km long river in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is a right tributary of the Ems, but part of its flow goes to the Else, that is part of the Weser basin. Its source is in the Teutoburg Forest, south-east of Osnabrück, on the north slope of the 307 m high Hankenüll hill.- Weser-Ems...
(at Hase river kilometre 158.9). The bifurcation may have been created or established artificially; or at least maintained artificially. This is however unclear. In history there were disputes over the distribution of water that was able to be controlled by man-made means. For example, the entire water flow could be diverted either into the River Hase or River Werre
Werre
The Werre is a river in the Detmold region of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, left tributary of the Weser. Its source is near Horn-Bad Meinberg. The Werre flows generally north through the towns Detmold, Lage, Bad Salzuflen, Herford and Löhne. It flows into the Weser close to Bad Oeynhausen. The...
during conflicts. Today the Hase loses a third of the its water mass at the bifurcation. The Hase flows northwest to the Ems, while the Else flows east to the Weser.
Course
The River Else flows slowly through the Ravensberg Hills and through the wetlands known as the Else meadows (Elseauen). The Else and Werre valleys, which were formed during the ice ageIce age
An ice age or, more precisely, glacial age, is a generic geological period of long-term reduction in the temperature of the Earth's surface and atmosphere, resulting in the presence or expansion of continental ice sheets, polar ice sheets and alpine glaciers...
, are bordered in the south by the Teutoburg Forest
Teutoburg Forest
The Teutoburg Forest is a range of low, forested mountains in the German states of Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia which used to be believed to be the scene of a decisive battle in AD 9...
and in the north by the ridge of the Wiehen Hills.
After the bifurcation in Melle the river flows east into North Rhine-Westphalia, passing the state border at river kilometre 19.2 and crossing Rödinghausen
Rödinghausen
Rödinghausen is a municipality in the district of Herford, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.-Geography:Rödinghausen is situated on the southern slope of the Wiehengebirge, approx...
and Bünde
Bünde
Bünde is a town in the Herford district, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.-Geography:Bünde is situated between Osnabrück , Hannover and Bielefeld .- Waterways :...
, before discharging, after a distance of approximately 35 km, into the Werre
Werre
The Werre is a river in the Detmold region of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, left tributary of the Weser. Its source is near Horn-Bad Meinberg. The Werre flows generally north through the towns Detmold, Lage, Bad Salzuflen, Herford and Löhne. It flows into the Weser close to Bad Oeynhausen. The...
near the eastern edge of Kirchlengern
Kirchlengern
Kirchlengern is a municipality in the district of Herford, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.-Geography:Kirchlengern is situated on the river Else, approx...
. The Werre swings east at its mouth by almost 90°, thus aligning itself with the west-to-eastern course of the Else.
The River Else passes under the A 30 federal motorway three times (at Gesmold (km 33), at Bruchmühlen (km 22) and at Bünde
Bünde
Bünde is a town in the Herford district, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.-Geography:Bünde is situated between Osnabrück , Hannover and Bielefeld .- Waterways :...
(km 15). The Else Valley Bridge crosses the river at Kirchlengern
Kirchlengern
Kirchlengern is a municipality in the district of Herford, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.-Geography:Kirchlengern is situated on the river Else, approx...
. The Else is dammed several times along its length. A particularly large number of weirs is located on the lower reaches between Bünde and its mouth; the Else's velocity here is controlled over a short distance by 4 weirs.
Tributaries
- Oldendorfer Mühlenbach (L 31,1)
- Strotbach (R 29,5)
- Laerbach (R 29)
- Zwickenbach (L 29)
- Maschgraben (R 25,9)
- Eickener Mühlenbach (L 24,5)
- Violen Bach (R 24)
- Bruchriede (R 22,1)
- Suttbach (L 21,5)
- Kilverbach (L 19,5)
- Mühlenbach (R 18,4)
- Bennier Graben (L, 18,2)
- Alte Else (R, 17,1)
- Ahler BruchgrabenAhler BruchgrabenThe Ahler Bruchgraben is a left tributary of the River Else in the northeast of the German federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The stream is part of the Weser basin and drains a small area of the Ravensburg Hills ....
(L 16,2) - Warmenau (R 15,3)
- Darmühlenbach (L 12)
- Sunderbach (L 10,5)
- Neue Else (R, 10)
- Gewinghauser Bach (L 8,8)
- Knollerbach (L 8,3)
- Ostbach (Mühlenbach) (L, 7,3)
- Eselsbach (L 6,7)
- Markbach (L 4,4)
- Brandbach (Bolldammbach) (R, 3,7)
(L/R; KM): Left right supply, with river kilometer, delta with km 0)
Watershed
The following municipalities lie at river Else:
- MelleMelle-Places:Belgium* Melle, Belgium, a gemeente in East Flanders, FlandersFrance* Melle, Deux-Sèvres, a commune in Poitou-Charentes* Mellé, Ille-et-Vilaine, a commune in BrittanyGermany* Melle, Germany, a Stadt in Osnabrück Landkreis, Lower Saxony...
- RödinghausenRödinghausenRödinghausen is a municipality in the district of Herford, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.-Geography:Rödinghausen is situated on the southern slope of the Wiehengebirge, approx...
- BündeBündeBünde is a town in the Herford district, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.-Geography:Bünde is situated between Osnabrück , Hannover and Bielefeld .- Waterways :...
- KirchlengernKirchlengernKirchlengern is a municipality in the district of Herford, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.-Geography:Kirchlengern is situated on the river Else, approx...
- LöhneLöhneLöhne is a town in the district of Herford, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.-Geography:Löhne is situated on the river Werre, approx. 8 km north of Herford and 20 km south-west of Minden.-Neighbouring places:* Hüllhorst* Bad Oeynhausen...
In addition to the watershed lie totally or partly:
- SpengeSpengeSpenge is a town in the district of Herford, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany-Geography:Spenge is situated north of Bielefeld and west of the Herford...
- EngerEngerEnger is a town in the Herford district, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.-Geography:Enger is situated between the Teutoburg Forest and the Wiehen Hills, approx...
- HiddenhausenHiddenhausenHiddenhausen is a municipality in the district of Herford, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.-Geography:Hiddenhausen is situated approx. 6 km north-west of the centre of Herford and 15 km north-east of Bielefeld.-Division of the town:...
- Werther
- BorgholzhausenBorgholzhausenBorgholzhausen is a town in the district of Gütersloh in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in the Teutoburg Forest, approx...
Nature reserve
On the North-Rhine/Westphalian side there are two adjacent nature reserves with the same name of Elseaue ("Else water meadows") with a total area of 117 hectares (289.1 acre). The reserves were established in 1994 and 1995. The area lies north of the Else and south of the railway line from Löhne to Osnabrück along a 3.5 km long section of the river. The area is protected, because it is a near-natural floodplain in the middle of the intensively farmed Ravensberg LandRavensberg Land
Ravensberg Land is a cultural landscape in the district of Ostwestfalen-Lippe in the northeast of the German federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It lies between the Wiehen Hills to the north, the Teutoburg Forest to the south, the state border with Lower Saxony to the west and the large bend...
. On the floodplain, the remnants of former river courses of the Else may be recognized. The floodplain is largely turned over to grassland with flood banks. The steep river banks, up to 3m high, are a haven for 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...
.