| Eider | |
|---|---|
 The Eider atBreiholz | |
 The Eider as the borderline between the Danes, Saxons and Frisians | |
 | |
| Location | |
| Country | Germany |
| State | Schleswig-Holstein |
| Cities | |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Klaster Teich |
| • location | Wattenbek |
| • coordinates | 54°8′18″N10°7′38″E / 54.13833°N 10.12722°E /54.13833; 10.12722 |
| Mouth | North Sea |
• location | Tönning |
• coordinates | 54°18′52.27″N8°57′16.34″E / 54.3145194°N 8.9545389°E /54.3145194; 8.9545389 |
| Length | 188 km (117 mi) |
| Discharge | |
| • average | 6.5 m3/s (230 cu ft/s) |
| Basin features | |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | Tielenau,Broklandsau, Süderau |
| • right | Treene, Sorge |
TheEider (German:Eider[ˈaɪdɐ]ⓘ;Danish:Ejderen;Latin:Egdor orEidora[1]) is the longest river in theGermanstate ofSchleswig-Holstein. The river starts nearBordesholm and reaches the southwestern outskirts ofKiel on the shores of theBaltic Sea, but flows to the west, ending in theNorth Sea. The lower part of the Eider was used as part of theEider Canal until that canal was replaced by the modernKiel Canal.[2]
In theEarly Middle Ages the river is believed to have been the border between the related Germanic tribes, theJutes and theAngles, who along with the neighboringSaxons crossed the North Sea from this region during this period and settled in England. During theHigh Middle Ages the Eider was the border between theSaxons and theDanes, as reported byAdam of Bremen in 1076. For centuries it dividedDenmark and theHoly Roman Empire.[3] Today it is the border betweenSchleswig,Holstein andEiderland, the northern and southern parts, respectively, of the modern German state of Schleswig-Holstein.
The Eider flows through the following towns: Bordesholm, Kiel,Rendsburg,Friedrichstadt andTönning. Near Tönning it flows into the North Sea. Theestuary hastidal flats andbrackish water. The mouth of the river is crossed by a closeablestorm surge barrier, theEider Barrage.
A tidallock provides access for boats through theEider Barrage. The fishing port ofTönning lies 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) upstream of the barrier, whileFriedrichstadt is 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) further upstream. At Friedrichstadt a lock gives access to theRiver Treene.[4]
The Eider remains tidal as far as the lock atNordfeld, 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) above Friedrichstadt. There is a further lock namedLexfähre [de] nearWrohm, 52 kilometres (32 mi) upstream of Nordfeld. A further 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) beyond Lexfähre is the junction with the shortGieselau Canal, which provides a navigable link to theKiel Canal atOldenbüttel. The Eider therefore provides an alternative route from theNorth Sea to the Kiel Canal, avoiding the tides of the estuary of theElbe.[4]
The head of navigation lies a further 23 kilometres (14 mi) upstream atRendsburg. Although it is adjacent to the Kiel Canal, through passage is no longer possible.[4]
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