The Selke is a river of Saxony-Anhalt , Germany .
31-618: It is a right-hand tributary of the Bode that starts in the Harz Mountains before breaking out onto the northeastern Harz Foreland. It has a length of 64 kilometres (40 mi), of which 30 kilometres (19 mi) lie in the forested mountains of the Harz and the rest on the agricultural lowlands of the Harz Foreland. The Selke rises near the village of Friedrichshöhe in the borough of Güntersberge at
62-529: A colossal tenderness, and from the conquered breast of rock it issued forth like sighs of passion and languorous sounds of wistfulness. The 'most devastating' floods from the Bode occurred in the years 1539, 1667, 1730, 1740, 1772 and especially at Christmas in 1925. Only on the completion of the Rappbode Dam in 1959 could the risk of flooding be eliminated. The water quantities in the Bode can vary significantly: during
93-552: A confluence of tributaries can be a true river source, though both often provide the starting point for the portion of a river carrying a single name. For example, National Geographic and virtually every other geographic authority and atlas define the source of the Nile River not as Lake Victoria 's outlet where the name "Nile" first appears, which would reduce the Nile's length by over 900 km (560 mi) (dropping it to fourth or fifth on
124-584: A height of about 520 metres (1,710 ft) above NN . From Friedrichshöhe to Mägdesprung in the borough of Harzgerode , it is accompanied by the Selke Valley Railway for a distance of 17 kilometres (11 mi). The Selke has cut deeply into the Harz Mountains in some places whilst in others it runs in a broad valley, depending on the bedrock. In Meisdorf on the northeastern edge of the Lower Harz,
155-656: A river's "length may be considered to be the distance from the mouth to the most distant headwater source (irrespective of stream name), or from the mouth to the headwaters of the stream commonly known as the source stream". As an example of the second definition above, the USGS at times considers the Missouri River as a tributary of the Mississippi River . But it also follows the first definition above (along with virtually all other geographic authorities and publications) in using
186-731: A temperature difference of 2 °C, merge not far from the Königsburg Ruins immediately before flowing into the Königshütte Dam (a feeder dam or Überleitungssperre ). Other tributaries of the Bode include the Rappbode and the Luppbode . The Rappbode is impounded near Wendefurth by the Rappbode Dam . At the northern end of this reservoir, the Rappbode joins the Bode, which is impounded here by
217-426: Is considered a linear geographic feature, with only one mouth and one source. For an example, the Mississippi River and Missouri River sources are officially defined as follows: The verb "rise" can be used to express the general region of a river's source, and is often qualified with an adverbial expression of place. For example: The word "source", when applied to lakes rather than rivers or streams, refers to
248-415: Is considered one of the river's sources , as it is the place where surface runoffs from rainwater , meltwater and/or spring water begin accumulating into a more substantial and consistent flow that becomes a first-order tributary of that river. The tributary with the longest course downstream of the headwaters is regarded as the main stem . The United States Geological Survey (USGS) states that
279-569: The Churn — although not without contention. When not listing river lengths, however, alternative definitions may be used. The Missouri River's source is named by some USGS and other federal and state agency sources, following Lewis and Clark 's naming convention, as the confluence of the Madison and Jefferson rivers, rather than the source of its longest tributary (the Jefferson). This contradicts
310-608: The Smithsonian Institution , is also used by the National Geographic Society when pinpointing the source of rivers such as the Amazon or Nile . A definition given by the state of Montana agrees, stating that a river source is never a confluence but is "in a location that is the farthest, along water miles, from where that river ends." Under this definition, neither a lake (excepting lakes with no inflows) nor
341-735: The Wendefurth Dam . Other tributaries of the Bode are the Goldbach , the Holtemme and the Selke . The waterfalls in the Harz are not high. The Upper Bode Falls ( Obere Bode-Fall ) on the Warme Bode are really a fast-flowing stream ( Sturzbach ) with small steps about 1 metre in height. Likewise the Lower Bode Falls ( Untere Bode-Fall ) on the Warme Bode is simply ledge of similar height. The Bodekessel in
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#1732859184787372-621: The Bode Gorge is a former step in a large hollow, that was reduced in height in 1798 from 2 metres to 1 metre by explosive. The fourth waterfall is in the Kästental . The Bode winds its way between Treseburg and Thale through a 10-kilometre (6 mi) long, narrow valley, the Bode Gorge . Today, the valley is a nature reserve . The Bode Gorge and its villages are the primary setting for Theodor Fontane ’s novel, Cécile . The river then crosses
403-485: The Bode at an elevation of 118 metres (387 ft). In the past Selke burst its banks on several occasions causing significant damage. This led to plans by the state government for the expansion of existing floodwater retention basins and the creation of a new one. Particularly controversial is a medium-term 3.7-to-5.5-metre (12 to 18 ft) high embankment for the Selke Valley at Meisdorf. The citizens' initiative "Save
434-637: The Bode has a specific catchment area in the Harz, that is part of the catchment area of the Bode. The catchment areas of the various reservoirs are as follows: for the Wendefurth Reservoir, 309.2 square kilometres (119.4 sq mi), for the Rappbode Pre-Dam and Rappbode Reservoirs, 269 square kilometres (104 sq mi), and for the Königshütte Reservoir, 154.2 square kilometres (59.5 sq mi). The Mandelholz Dam impounds
465-434: The Bode ist about 3000 km² in area. Important tributaries within the Harz are the Rappbode and the Luppbode . The Rappbode is impounded at Wendefurth by the Rappbode Dam . At the northern end of the reservoir the Rappbode joins the Bode which is also impounded by the Wendefurth Dam . Other tributaries are the Goldbach , the Holtemme and the largest one, the Selke . In a hydrological sense every source stream of
496-546: The Harz Foreland in a curving and, in places, diked and canalised, course until it discharges into the Saale at Nienburg . Important Bode tributaries are the Selke and the Holtemme. Other towns on the Bode river are Quedlinburg , Wegeleben , Gröningen , Oschersleben , Hadmersleben , Egeln and Staßfurt . The Bode gorge north of Thale is now a protected area . The catchment area of
527-504: The New Year flooding in 1925 a discharge of 350 cubic metres per second (12,000 cu ft/s) was recorded, whereas in the following summer of 1926 it fell to just 0.35 cubic metres per second (12 cu ft/s). Source (river or stream) The headwater of a river or stream is the point on each of its tributaries upstream from its mouth / estuary into a lake / sea or its confluence with another river. Each headwater
558-553: The Saale at Nienburg . The river is named after a legendary giant, the wild, rampaging, Bohemian, Prince Bodo , who, according to the Rosstrappe legend, changed into a marauding dog that guarded the crown of Princess Brunhilde in the Kronensumpf ("crown marsh") in the present-day Bode Gorge ( German : Bodetal ). The gorge is the narrow section of the Bode valley between Treseburg and Thale . According to tradition, there
589-570: The Selke Valley in the East Harz" is fighting this plan because they argue that it will destroy a scenically beautiful section of the Selke Valley that is important for nature conservation. High above the Selke Valley is a striking and largely preserved medieval castle, Falkenstein , which is open to the public. On the other side of the valley, on a prominent spur, is a lofty viewing point, the Selkesicht , 330 metres (1,080 ft) above sea level, and at
620-411: The Selke leaves the forested mountain region and winds across a cultivated plain, continuing to flow in an easterly or northeasterly direction as far as Ermsleben . Beyond Ermsleben the river swings through 90° to the northwest and runs from here in an almost straight line to its mouth on the Bode near Rodersdorf [ de ; nl ] , a village in the borough of Wegeleben . The Selke empties into
651-400: The combined Missouri—lower Mississippi length figure in lists of lengths of rivers around the world. Most rivers have numerous tributaries and change names often; it is customary to regard the longest tributary or stem as the source, regardless of what name that watercourse may carry on local maps and in local usage. This most commonly identified definition of a river source specifically uses
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#1732859184787682-613: The list of world's rivers), but instead use the source of the largest river flowing into the lake, the Kagera River . Likewise, the source of the Amazon River has been determined this way, even though the river changes names numerous times along its course. However, the source of the Thames in England is traditionally reckoned according to the named river Thames rather than its longer tributary,
713-598: The melting of glacial ice . Headwater areas are the upstream areas of a watershed , as opposed to the outflow or discharge of a watershed. The river source is often but not always on or quite near the edge of the watershed, or watershed divide. For example, the source of the Colorado River is at the Continental Divide separating the Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean watersheds of North America . A river
744-636: The most common definition, which is, according to a US Army Corps of Engineers official on a USGS site, that "[geographers] generally follow the longest tributary to identify the source of rivers and streams." In the case of the Missouri River, this would have the source be well upstream from Lewis and Clark's confluence, "following the Jefferson River to the Beaverhead River to Red Rock River , then Red Rock Creek to Hell Roaring Creek ." Sometimes
775-496: The most distant point (along watercourses from the river mouth ) in the drainage basin from which water runs year-around ( perennially ), or, alternatively, as the furthest point from which water could possibly flow ephemerally . The latter definition includes sometimes-dry channels and removes any possible definitions that would have the river source "move around" from month to month depending on precipitation or ground water levels. This definition, from geographer Andrew Johnston of
806-552: The romantic Bode valley in his 1826 travelogue Die Harzreise : That dusky beauty, the Bode, did not receive me very graciously, and when I first caught sight of her in the smithy-like darkness of the Rübeland, she seemed even sullen and shrouded herself in a silver-grey veil of rain: but in a rush of love she threw it off when I reached the heights of the Roßtrappe, her face lit up opposite me in sunny splendour, from every aspect breathed
837-732: The site of another castle, the Ackeburg , with good views of Falkenstein Castle and the Selke valley. Both locations are checkpoints in the Harzer Wandernadel hiking network. Bode (river) 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 169 kilometres (105 mi) it discharges into
868-539: The so-called Rosstrappe . Meanwhile, Bodo was turned into a dog. As her horse leapt the gorge, however, the princess lost her golden crown, which was now guarded by the dog Bodo in the valley of the river. The river was given the name Bode after the giant Bodo who was now under a spell. The Bode is heavily divided in its source region on the Brocken , the highest peak in the Harz, but its two most important source streams are the: The two rivers, which actually have
899-501: The source of the most remote tributary may be in an area that is more marsh -like, in which the "uppermost" or most remote section of the marsh would be the true source. For example, the source of the River Tees is marshland . The furthest stream is also often called the head stream. Headwaters are often small streams with cool waters because of shade and recently melted ice or snow. They may also be glacial headwaters, waters formed by
930-700: The water of the Kalte Bode . The total catchment area of the Bode is about 3,000 square kilometres (1,200 sq mi). In the Early Middle Ages the Bode formed the border between the provinces of the Harzgau in the west and the Schwabengau in the east. The two most important Bode crossings at that time were the settlements of Ditfurt und Gröningen, mentioned frequently in the Fuldau annals. Heinrich Heine depicts
961-421: Was once a giant called Bodo who came from Thuringia , in modern-day central Germany, to pursue Brunhilde , the king's beautiful daughter, whom he wanted to marry against her will. Brunhilde fled on a white stallion ( Ross ), but they suddenly came to a deep ravine. With one bold leap she reached the rocks on the far side, but her pursuer fell into the abyss. The hoofprint of her horse can still be seen today as