Unterelbe River

river, Europe

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Last updated

July 14, 2026

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The Unterelbe River is the estuary of the Elbe River, a major waterway in central Europe. The Elbe originates in the Czech Republic and flows through Germany to the North Sea. The Unterelbe specifically extends from Hamburg to Cuxhaven, a distance of about 55 miles, and varies in width from one to two miles. This section of the river is crucial for navigation, with buoyed and dredged channels allowing significant maritime traffic. The Elbe's drainage basin is extensive, and its flow can vary greatly, impacting navigation. Historically, the Elbe has been a significant boundary and transportation route, with cities like Hamburg developing as major ports along its course.1

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Hamburg
Site
…old city, to form the Unterelbe, which flows into the North Sea some 65 miles downstream from Hamburg. Two other rivers flow into the Elbe at Hamburg—the Alster from the north and the Bille from the east.
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…old city, to form the Unterelbe, which flows into the North Sea some 65 miles downstream from Hamburg. Two other rivers flow into the Elbe at Hamburg—the Alster from the north and the Bille from the east.
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Elbe River
Physiography
…proper of the Elbe (Unterelbe) extends from Hamburg to Cuxhaven, a distance of about 55 miles. It varies in width from one to two miles, but much of it is occupied by mud flats and sandbanks. The main channel is buoyed and dredged. At high tide the channel has…
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…proper of the Elbe (Unterelbe) extends from Hamburg to Cuxhaven, a distance of about 55 miles. It varies in width from one to two miles, but much of it is occupied by mud flats and sandbanks. The main channel is buoyed and dredged. At high tide the channel has…
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