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Elbe River
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Elbe River Map showing the Elbe, Oder, and Vistula river basins and their drainage networks across Germany, Poland, and surrounding countries. The map highlights rivers, canals, swamps, marshes, major cities, elevation changes, and national boundaries, with a locator inset in the upper right corner indicating the region within Europe.
Exploring the Elbe Sandstone Mountains
Kiel Canal Ústí nad Labem Elbe River
Study the alarming cause of water shortages in Germany
Exploring Hamburg
At a Glance
Elbe River
Elbe River summary
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Tower Bridge over the Thames River in London, England. Opened in 1894. Remains an Important Traffic Route with 40,000 Crossings Every Day.
Guess the City by Its River Quiz
water glass on white background. (drink; clear; clean water; liquid)
Water and its Varying Forms
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Elbe River
Elbe River

Elbe River

river, Europe
Also known as: Labe River
Written by
Hermann Friedrich
Director, Overseas Museum, Bremen, West Germany, 1962–70. Author of Marine Biology.
Hermann FriedrichAll
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Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
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History

Elbe River, one of the major waterways of central Europe. It runs from the Czech Republic through Germany to the North Sea, flowing generally to the northwest. The river rises on the southern side of the Krkonoše (Giant) Mountains near the border of the Czech Republic and Poland. It then makes a wide arc across Bohemia (northwestern Czech Republic) and enters eastern Germany about 25 miles (40 km) southeast of Dresden. For the remainder of...

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