Werra

This article is about the German river Werra. For the residents' association located in Surrey, see WERRA.

The Werra (German pronunciation: [ˈvɛʁa]), a river in central Germany, is the right-bank headwater of the Weser. "Weser" is a synonym in an old dialect of German. The Werra has its source near Eisfeld in southern Thuringia. After 293 kilometres (182 mi) the Werra joins the river Fulda in the town of Hann. Münden, forming the Weser. If the Werra is included as part of the Weser, the Weser is the longest river entirely within German territory at 744 kilometres (462 mi).

Werra
Course of the Werra
Location
Country	Germany
States	Hesse Lower Saxony Thuringia
Physical characteristics
Source
• coordinates	50°29′59″N 10°57′53″E
• elevation	797 m above sea level (NN)
Mouth
• location	confluence with the Fulda in Hann. Münden to form the Weser
• coordinates	51°25′16″N 9°38′57″E
• elevation	116.5 m above sea level (NN)
Length	299.6 km (186.2 mi) [1]
Basin size	5,496 km2 (2,122 sq mi) [2]
Discharge
• location	am Pegel Meiningen[3]
• average	14.0 m3/s (490 cu ft/s)
Discharge
• location	Vacha[3]
• average	23.6 m3/s (830 cu ft/s)
Discharge
• location	Gerstungen[3]
• average	30.9 m3/s (1,090 cu ft/s)
Discharge
• location	Frankenroda[3]
• average	40.6 m3/s (1,430 cu ft/s)
Discharge
• location	Allendorf[3]
• average	46.5 m3/s (1,640 cu ft/s) Location: Letzter Heller, bei Hann. Münden[3] Average rate: 51.2 m3/s (1,810 cu ft/s)
Basin features
Progression	Weser→ North Sea
Landmarks	Large towns: Meiningen, Eisenach, Eschwege, Hann. Münden Small towns: Bad Salzungen, Vacha, Creuzburg, Treffurt
Tributaries
• left	Ulster, Felda, Wehre
• right	Schleuse, Hasel, Hörsel
Navigable	89 km (55 mi); motor boats in places, but not throughout

Its valley, the Werratal, has many tributaries and is a relative lull between the Rhön Mountains and the Thuringian Forest.

Its attractions include Eiben Forest near Dermbach, an unusual sandstone cave at Walldorf, the deepest lake in Germany formed by subsidence (near Bernshausen), and Krayenburg, the ruins of a castle.

Its towns and main settlements are Hildburghausen, Meiningen, Bad Salzungen, Tiefenort, Merkers-Kieselbach, Vacha, Heringen, Philippsthal, Gerstungen, Wanfried, Eschwege, Bad Sooden-Allendorf, Witzenhausen and Hannoversch Münden.

Gallery

• 
  The Werra near Treffurt
• 
  The Werra near Creuzburg
• 
  The Werra in Eschwege

See also

• Werra Viaduct, Hedemünden
• List of rivers of Thuringia
• List of rivers of Hesse
• List of rivers of Lower Saxony

References

1. Messung über Geopfad (kmz, 66 kB). Die Werte von 292,1 km (ohne Quellbäche) bzw. 298,7 km (über Quelle am Eselsberg) wurden um 0,9 km nach oben korrigiert, da laut hessischer Stationierung die Ulstermündung an km 161,6 liegt, im Geopfad jedoch an 160,7.
2. Environmental map service of Lower Saxony (Umweltkartendienst des Niedersächsischen Ministeriums für Umwelt, Energie und Klimaschutz)
3. Gewässerkundliches Jahrbuch Weser-Ems 2005 - PDF, 6,7 MB

External links

• Media related to Werra at Wikimedia Commons