The
Saale, also known as the
Saxon Saale and
Thuringian Saale , is a
riverA river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
in
GermanyGermany , 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...
and a left-bank
tributaryA tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the
ElbeThe Elbe is one of the major rivers of Central Europe. It rises in the Krkonoše Mountains of the northwestern Czech Republic before traversing much of Bohemia , then Germany and flowing into the North Sea at Cuxhaven, 110 km northwest of Hamburg...
. It is not to be confused with the smaller
Franconian SaaleThe Franconian Saale or is a 125 km long river in Bavaria, Germany. It is a right-bank tributary of the Main, in Lower Franconia. It should not be confused with the larger Saxon Saale , which is a tributary of the Elbe River....
, a right-bank tributary of the Main, or the
Saale in
Lower SaxonyLower 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...
, a tributary of the
LeineThe Leine is a river in Thuringia and Lower Saxony, Germany. It is a left tributary of the Aller river and 281 km in length.The river's source is located close to the town of Leinefelde in Thuringia...
.
Course
The Saale originates on the slope of the
Großer WaldsteinThe Großer Waldstein is part of the Waldstein range in the Fichtelgebirge Mountains of Germany. It is known primarily for its rock formations caused by so-called 'woolsack' weathering , its ruined castles and the only remaining bear trap in the region.The River Saale rises at the foot of the...
mountain near
ZellZell im Fichtelgebirge, formerly Zell is a market town in the district of Hof in Bavaria in Germany.- Geography :...
in the
FichtelgebirgeThe Fichtelgebirge is a mountain range in northeastern Bavaria, Germany. It extends from the valley of the Red Main River to the Czech border, a few foothills spilling over into the Czech Republic. It continues in a northeastern direction as the Ore Mountains, and in a southeastern direction as...
in
Upper FranconiaUpper Franconia is a Regierungsbezirk of the state of Bavaria, southern Germany. It forms part of the historically significant region of Franconia , all now part of the German Federal State of Bayern .With more than 200 independent breweries which brew...
(
BavariaBavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
), at an altitude of 728 m. It pursues a winding course in a northern direction, and after passing the manufacturing town of
HofHof is a city located on the banks of the Saale in the northeastern corner of the German state of Bavaria, in the Franconia region, at the Czech border and the forested Fichtelgebirge and Frankenwald upland regions....
, enters
ThuringiaThe Free State of Thuringia is a state of Germany, located in the central part of the country.It has an area of and 2.29 million inhabitants, making it the sixth smallest by area and the fifth smallest by population of Germany's sixteen states....
. It flows amid well-wooded low mountains of the
Thuringian ForestThe Thuringian Forest running northwest to southeast, forms a continuous stretch of ancient rounded mountains posing ample difficulties in transit routing save through a few navigable passes in the southern reaches of the German state of Thuringia. It is about long and wide...
until it reaches the valley of Saalfeld. After leaving Saalfeld the Saale reaches
RudolstadtRudolstadt is a town in the German Bundesland of Thuringia, close to the Thuringian Forest to the southwest, and to Jena and Weimar to the north....
. Here it receives the waters of the Schwarza, in whose valley lies the ruined castle of Schwarzburg, the ancestral seat of the formerly ruling
House of SchwarzburgThe House of Schwarzburg was one of the oldest noble families of Thuringia, until its extinction in 1971 with the death of Prince Friedrich Günther...
.
From Saalfeld the Saale enters the limestone hill region north of the Thuringian Forest, and sweeps beneath the barren, conical hills enclosing the university town of
JenaJena is a university city in central Germany on the river Saale. It has a population of approx. 103,000 and is the second largest city in the federal state of Thuringia, after Erfurt.-History:Jena was first mentioned in an 1182 document...
. It enters
Saxony-AnhaltSaxony-Anhalt is a landlocked state of Germany. Its capital is Magdeburg and it is surrounded by the German states of Lower Saxony, Brandenburg, Saxony, and Thuringia.Saxony-Anhalt covers an area of...
and passes the spa of
Bad Kösen' is a spa town in Germany, on the Saale river in the small German wine-growing region of Saale-Unstrut. It is a former municipality in the Burgenlandkreis district, in Saxony-Anhalt...
, washes numerous vine-clad hills and, after receiving the deep and navigable
UnstrutThe Unstrut is a river in Germany and a left tributary of the Saale. It originates in northern Thuringia near Dingelstädt and its catchment area is the whole of the Thuringian Basin...
at
NaumburgNaumburg is a town in Germany, on the Saale River. It is in the district Burgenlandkreis in the Bundesland of Saxony-Anhalt. It is approximately southwest of Leipzig, south-southwest of Halle, and north-northeast of Jena....
, flows past
WeißenfelsWeißenfels is the largest town of the Burgenlandkreis district, in southern Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is situated on the river Saale, approximately south of Halle.-History:...
,
MerseburgMerseburg is a town in the south of the German state of Saxony-Anhalt on the river Saale, approx. 14 km south of Halle . It is the capital of the Saalekreis district. It had a diocese founded by Archbishop Adalbert of Magdeburg....
,
HalleHalle is the largest city in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt. It is also called Halle an der Saale in order to distinguish it from the town of Halle in North Rhine-Westphalia...
,
BernburgBernburg is a town in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, capital of the district of Salzlandkreis. It is situated on the river Saale, approx. 30 km downstream from Halle. The town is dominated by its huge Renaissance castle featuring a museum as well as a popular, recently updated bear pit in its...
and
CalbeCalbe is a town in the district of Salzlandkreis, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.It is situated on the Saale River, approx. north of Bernburg, and southeast of Magdeburg. It is known as Calbe an der Saale, to distinguish it from the smaller town of Kalbe on the Milde in the same state. Pop...
. It finally joins the Elbe just above
BarbyBarby is a town in the Salzlandkreis district, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is situated on the left bank of the Elbe river, near the confluence with the Saale, approx. southeast of Magdeburg...
, after traversing a distance of 413 km (256.6 mi) (shortened 14 km (8.7 mi) by a bypass from its natural length of 427 kilometres (265.3 mi)).
The Saale is navigable from
NaumburgNaumburg is a town in Germany, on the Saale River. It is in the district Burgenlandkreis in the Bundesland of Saxony-Anhalt. It is approximately southwest of Leipzig, south-southwest of Halle, and north-northeast of Jena....
and is connected with the
Weiße ElsterThe White Elster or Weisse Elster is a long river in central Europe, right tributary of the Saale. Its source is in the westernmost part of the Czech Republic, near Aš. After a few kilometres, it flows into eastern Germany...
near
LeipzigLeipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
by a canal. The soil of the lower part of its valley is exceptionally fertile, and produces, amongst other crops, large supplies of
sugar beetSugar beet, a cultivated plant of Beta vulgaris, is a plant whose tuber contains a high concentration of sucrose. It is grown commercially for sugar production. Sugar beets and other B...
. Among its tributaries are the
Weiße ElsterThe White Elster or Weisse Elster is a long river in central Europe, right tributary of the Saale. Its source is in the westernmost part of the Czech Republic, near Aš. After a few kilometres, it flows into eastern Germany...
,
RegnitzThe Regnitz is a river in Bavaria, Germany. It is a left tributary of the Main and is in length.The river is formed by the confluence of the rivers Rednitz and Pegnitz, which meet in the city of Fürth. From there the Regnitz runs northwards through the cities of Erlangen and Forchheim...
and
OrlaThe Orla is a 35 km long river in eastern Thuringia, Germany, right tributary to the river Saale. Its source is near the town Triptis. It flows west through the towns Neustadt an der Orla and Pößneck. The Orla flows into the Saale in Orlamünde, 17 km south of Jena....
on the right bank, and the
IlmThe Ilm is a long river in Thuringia, Germany. It is a left tributary of the Saale, into which it flows in Großheringen near Bad Kösen.Towns along the Ilm are Ilmenau, Stadtilm, Kranichfeld, Bad Berka, Weimar, Apolda and Bad Sulza....
,
UnstrutThe Unstrut is a river in Germany and a left tributary of the Saale. It originates in northern Thuringia near Dingelstädt and its catchment area is the whole of the Thuringian Basin...
,
Salza Salza is a derp commune in the Aude department in southern France.-Population:...
,
WipperThe Wipper is a river in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, left tributary of the Saale and has a length of 85 km. The name is coming from the old German word "Uipparaha" which means "singing, springing river".-River course:...
and
BodeThe Bode is a river in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt, a left tributary of the Saale.It rises in the Harz mountains and drains them in a northerly direction. After it discharges into the Saale at Nienburg...
on the left. Its upper course is rapid. Its valley, down to
MerseburgMerseburg is a town in the south of the German state of Saxony-Anhalt on the river Saale, approx. 14 km south of Halle . It is the capital of the Saalekreis district. It had a diocese founded by Archbishop Adalbert of Magdeburg....
, contains many castles which crown the enclosing heights.
Geography
Originating in
ZellZell im Fichtelgebirge, formerly Zell is a market town in the district of Hof in Bavaria in Germany.- Geography :...
, the Saale flows through –
SparneckSparneck is a municipality in Upper Franconia in the district of Hof in Bavaria in Germany.- Location :The market town of Sparneck lies at an average height of in the Pfarrbach valley, which forms the larger part of the area. The Saxon Saale river flows through this valley in a northerly direction...
–
WeißdorfWeißdorf is a municipality in Upper Franconia in the district of Hof in Bavaria in Germany....
– Seulbitz – Förbau –
Schwarzenbach an der SaaleSchwarzenbach an der Saale is a town in the district of Hof, in Bavaria, Germany. It is situated on the river Saale, 11 km south of Hof. Within the town is the Gedenkstätte Langer Gang, a memorial to the Nazi victims of the Helmbrechts concentration camp, which was near Schwarzenbach an der...
– Fattigau –
OberkotzauOberkotzau is a municipality in Upper Franconia in the district of Hof in Bavaria in Germany....
– Hof – Brunnenthal – Saalenstein – Joditz – Landesgrenze Bayern/Thüringen – Hirschberg – Sparnberg – Rudolphstein – Blankenberg –
BlankensteinBlankenstein is a municipality in the district Saale-Orla-Kreis, in Thuringia, Germany.Blankenstein is also a quarter of the city Hattingen....
–
HarraHarra is a municipality in the district Saale-Orla-Kreis, in Thuringia, Germany....
– Saaldorf –
SaalburgSaalburg-Ebersdorf is a town in the Saale-Orla-Kreis district, in Thuringia, Germany. It is situated on the river Saale, 10 km southwest of Schleiz, and 30 km west of Plauen....
– Poeritzsch – Gräfenwarth –
BurgkBurgk is a municipality in the district Saale-Orla-Kreis, in Thuringia, Germany....
– Walsburg –
ZiegenrückZiegenrück is a town in the Saale-Orla-Kreis district, in southern Thuringia, Germany. It is situated on the river Saale, 22 km east of Saalfeld, and 35 km south of Jena....
– Neidenberga –
HohenwarteHohenwarte is a municipality in the district Saalfeld-Rudolstadt, in Thuringia, Germany....
– Eichicht –
KaulsdorfKaulsdorf is a municipality in the district Saalfeld-Rudolstadt, in Thuringia, Germany....
– Fischersdorf – Weischwitz – Reschwitz – Breternitz – Saalfeld – Schwarza – Volkstedt –
RudolstadtRudolstadt is a town in the German Bundesland of Thuringia, close to the Thuringian Forest to the southwest, and to Jena and Weimar to the north....
– Catharinau – Kolkwitz – Weißen –
UhlstädtUhlstädt-Kirchhasel is a municipality in the district Saalfeld-Rudolstadt, in Thuringia, Germany. On 1 December 2007, the former municipalities Großkochberg and Heilingen were incorporated by Uhlstädt-Kirchhasel....
– Rückersdorf – Zeutsch – Niederkrossen –
OrlamündeOrlamünde is a town in the Saale-Holzland district, in Thuringia, Germany. It is situated at the confluence of the rivers Saale and Orla, 17 km south of Jena. It was the centre of a county, often united to Weimar, in the Early Middle Ages....
–
FreienorlaFreienorla is a municipality in the district Saale-Holzland, in Thuringia, Germany....
–
GroßeutersdorfGroßeutersdorf is a municipality in the district Saale-Holzland, in Thuringia, Germany....
–
KleineutersdorfKleineutersdorf is a municipality in the district Saale-Holzland, in Thuringia, Germany....
–
KahlaKahla is also the name of a village in Iran's Zanjan Province.----Kahla is a town in the Saale-Holzland district, in Thuringia, Germany. It is situated on the river Saale, 14 km south of Jena....
–
GroßpürschützGroßpürschütz is a municipality in the district Saale-Holzland, in Thuringia, Germany....
– Jägersdorf –
RothensteinRothenstein is a municipality in the district Saale-Holzland, in Thuringia, Germany....
– Maua – Lobeda –
JenaJena is a university city in central Germany on the river Saale. It has a population of approx. 103,000 and is the second largest city in the federal state of Thuringia, after Erfurt.-History:Jena was first mentioned in an 1182 document...
– Zwätzen – Porstendorf – Dornburg –
Dorndorf-SteudnitzDorndorf-Steudnitz is a former municipality in the district Saale-Holzland, in Thuringia, Germany. Since 1 December 2008, it is part of the town Dornburg-Camburg....
–
WichmarWichmar is a municipality in the district Saale-Holzland, in Thuringia, Germany....
–
CamburgCamburg is a town in the Saale-Holzland district, in Thuringia, Germany. It is situated on the river Saale, 18 km northeast of Jena, and 13 km southwest of Naumburg. Since 1 December 2008, it is part of the town Dornburg-Camburg....
– Tümpling –
GroßheringenGroßheringen is a municipality in the Weimarer Land district of Thuringia, Germany....
– Kleinheringen – Landesgrenze Thüringen/Sachsen-Anhalt – Stendorf – Saaleck –
Bad Kösen' is a spa town in Germany, on the Saale river in the small German wine-growing region of Saale-Unstrut. It is a former municipality in the Burgenlandkreis district, in Saxony-Anhalt...
– Naumburg – Schellsitz - Schönburg – Eulau –
GoseckGoseck is a municipality lying on the Saale River, in the Burgenlandkreis district of the German state of Saxony-Anhalt.-Geographic location:Goseck is located on the north bank of the Saale River about halfway between Naumburg and Weißenfels....
–
LeißlingLeißling is a village and a former municipality in the Burgenlandkreis district, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Since September 1, 2010, it is part of the town Weißenfels.- History :...
– Lobitzsch –
UichteritzUichteritz is a village and a former municipality in the Burgenlandkreis district, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Since 1 January 2010, it is part of the town Weißenfels.- Geography :...
– Markweben –
WeißenfelsWeißenfels is the largest town of the Burgenlandkreis district, in southern Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is situated on the river Saale, approximately south of Halle.-History:...
– Dehlitz –
SchkortlebenSchkortleben is a village and a former municipality in the Burgenlandkreis district, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Since 1 September 2010, it is part of the town of Weißenfels. Until then, the village of Kriechau used to be part of Schkortleben....
– Kleinkorbetha –
GroßkorbethaGroßkorbetha is a village and a former municipality in the Burgenlandkreis district, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Since 1 September 2010, it is part of the town Weißenfels....
– Oebles-Schlechtewitz –
WengelsdorfWengelsdorf is a village and a former municipality in the Burgenlandkreis district, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Since 1 September 2010, it is part of the town Weißenfels....
–
Bad DürrenbergBad Dürrenberg is a town in the Saalekreis district, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is situated on the river Saale, approx. 8 km southeast of Merseburg....
– Kröllwitz –
LeunaLeuna is a town in the Saalekreis, Saxony-Anhalt, eastern Germany, south of Merseburg and Halle. It is known for the Leunawerke , at 13 km2 one of the biggest chemical industrial complexes in Germany, where a very wide range of chemicals and plastics is produced...
– Trebnitz –
MerseburgMerseburg is a town in the south of the German state of Saxony-Anhalt on the river Saale, approx. 14 km south of Halle . It is the capital of the Saalekreis district. It had a diocese founded by Archbishop Adalbert of Magdeburg....
– Meuschau – Freiimfelde –
SchkopauSchkopau is a municipality in the Saalekreis district, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is situated on the river Saale, approx. 4 km north of Merseburg, and 10 km south of Halle . During World War II, the Schkopau plant was the greatest producer of Axis synthetic rubber ....
– Korbetha – Hohenweiden – Rockendorf – Holleben – Halle – Kröllwitz – Lettin –
BrachwitzBrachwitz is a village and a former municipality in the Saalekreis district, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Since 1 January 2011, it is part of the town Löbejün-Wettin....
– Schiepzig –
SalzmündeSalzmünde is a village and a former municipality in the district Saalekreis, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Since 1 January 2010, it is part of the municipality Salzatal....
– Pfützthal –
DöblitzDöblitz is a village and a former municipality in the Saalekreis district, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Since 1 January 2011, it is part of the town Löbejün-Wettin....
– Zaschwitz –
WettinWettin is a small town and a former municipality in the Saalekreis district of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, situated on the River Saale north of Halle. Since 1 January 2011, it is part of the town Löbejün-Wettin. It is known for Wettin Castle, the ancestral seat of the House of Wettin, ruling dynasty of...
–
KloschwitzKloschwitz is a village and a former municipality in the district Saalekreis, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Since 1 January 2010, it is part of the municipality Salzatal....
– Rumpin – Dobis – Friedeburg – Zickeritz – Rothenburg – Nelben – Gnölbzig – Trebnitz – Alsleben – Poplitz – Großwirschleben –
PlötzkauPlötzkau is a municipality in the district of Salzlandkreis, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany....
–
GrönaGröna is a village and a former municipality in the district Salzlandkreis, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Since 1 January 2010, it is part of the town Bernburg....
– Neuborna – Bernburg – Dröbel – Nienburg –
WedlitzWedlitz is a village and a former municipality in the district Salzlandkreis, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Since 1 January 2010, it is part of the town Nienburg....
– Damaschke Plan – Wispitz – Calbe – Trabitz –
Groß RosenburgGroß Rosenburg is a village and a former municipality in the district Salzlandkreis, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Since 1 January 2010, it is part of the town Barby....
– Werkleitz
Tributaries
Left (from source to mouth):
- Schwarza
The Schwarza is a left tributary of the Saale in Thuringia, Germany, and 53 km long. Its source is in the Thuringian Forest, near Neuhaus am Rennweg. It flows into the Saale in Rudolstadt. Other towns on the Schwarza are Schwarzburg and Bad Blankenburg. It has 50 tributaries, the largest being the...
- Ilm
The Ilm is a long river in Thuringia, Germany. It is a left tributary of the Saale, into which it flows in Großheringen near Bad Kösen.Towns along the Ilm are Ilmenau, Stadtilm, Kranichfeld, Bad Berka, Weimar, Apolda and Bad Sulza....
- Unstrut
The Unstrut is a river in Germany and a left tributary of the Saale. It originates in northern Thuringia near Dingelstädt and its catchment area is the whole of the Thuringian Basin...
- Wipper
The Wipper is a river in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, left tributary of the Saale and has a length of 85 km. The name is coming from the old German word "Uipparaha" which means "singing, springing river".-River course:...
- Bode
The Bode is a river in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt, a left tributary of the Saale.It rises in the Harz mountains and drains them in a northerly direction. After it discharges into the Saale at Nienburg...
|
Right:
- Orla
The Orla is a 35 km long river in eastern Thuringia, Germany, right tributary to the river Saale. Its source is near the town Triptis. It flows west through the towns Neustadt an der Orla and Pößneck. The Orla flows into the Saale in Orlamünde, 17 km south of Jena....
- Weisse Elster
|
Etymology
The name
Saale comes from a
Proto-Indo-EuropeanThe Proto-Indo-European language is the reconstructed common ancestor of the Indo-European languages, spoken by the Proto-Indo-Europeans...
root *
séles ‘marsh’, akin to
WelshWelsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
hêl, heledd ‘river meadow’,
CornishCornish is a Brythonic Celtic language and a recognised minority language of the United Kingdom. Along with Welsh and Breton, it is directly descended from the ancient British language spoken throughout much of Britain before the English language came to dominate...
heyl ‘estuary’,
GreekAncient Greek is the stage of the Greek language in the periods spanning the times c. 9th–6th centuries BC, , c. 5th–4th centuries BC , and the c. 3rd century BC – 6th century AD of ancient Greece and the ancient world; being predated in the 2nd millennium BC by Mycenaean Greek...
hélos ‘marsh, meadow’,
SanskritSanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
sáras ‘lake, pond’,
SárasvatiThe Sarasvati River is one of the chief Rigvedic rivers mentioned in ancient Hindu texts. The Nadistuti hymn in the Rigveda mentions the Sarasvati between the Yamuna in the east and the Sutlej in the west, and later Vedic texts like Tandya and Jaiminiya Brahmanas as well as the Mahabharata...
‘sacred river’, Old Persian
Harauvati ‘
Hārūt RiverThe Harut River is a river of Afghanistan. It is a river which belongs to the Sistan Basin.The source of the river lies in the mountains to the southeast of Herat. The river flows for about 245 miles into the Sistan Lake. Along its course are various canals for irrigation, particularly in the...
;
ArachosiaArachosia is the Latinized form of the Greek name of an Achaemenid and Seleucid governorate in the eastern part of their respective empires, around modern-day southern Afghanistan. The Greek term "Arachosia" corresponds to the Iranian land of Harauti which was between Kandahar in Afghanistan and...
’, Avestan
Haraxvatī ‘id’.
Sources
- Ernst-Otto Luthardt, Reinhard Feldrapp: An der Saale. Vom Fichtelgebirge durch Thüringen bis zur Elbe. Würzburg 1990. ISBN 3-8035-1335-9
- Wolf Thieme, Markus Altmann (Fotos): Mitten ins Herz. Sie entspringt in Bayern, durchquert Thüringen und fließt in Sachsen-Anhalt in die Elbe – die Saale ist ein Fluss, der alles verbindet. Und jedem Spaß macht: dem Sportler, dem Kulturfreund, dem Faulenzer. In: stern
Stern is a weekly news magazine published in Germany. It was founded in 1948 by Henri Nannen, and is currently published by Gruner + Jahr, a subsidiary of Bertelsmann. In the first quarter of 2006, its print run was 1.019 million copies and it reached 7.84 million readers according to...
Nr. 26 (22. Juni 2006), S. 84-89. (Online-Version)