The Spree is the main river of Berlin, Brandenburg, Lusatia, and the settlement area of theSorbs, who call the riverSprjewja; the name derives ultimately fromProto-Germanic*spreutaną "to spring forth". For a very short distance close to its sources, the Spree constitutes, asSpréva, the border between Germany and theCzech Republic. The Spree's longest tributaries areDahme (confluence in Berlin-Köpenick) andSchwarzer Schöps (Čorny Šepc; confluence inBoxberg/O.L.-Sprey [de]), other well-known tributaries (since they are Berlin rivers) arePanke andWuhle.
Course of Spree River with its natural and artificial affluents and branches. In addition the canals joining the Spree and Havel river system to Oder River.
In the Spreewald the river passes through the towns ofLübbenau,Lübben andLeibsch. Just below Leibsch, theDahme Flood Relief Canal diverts water from the Spree to run into theRiver Dahme atMärkisch Buchholz. The Spree continues north from Leibsch before flowing into theNeuendorfer See at the northern edge of the Spreewald. From the Neundorfer See it then flows in an easterly direction to theSchwielochsee, and then in a northerly and westerly direction to the town ofFürstenwalde. From Fürstenwalde the river continues to flow westwards, through theDämeritzsee andMüggelsee, toKöpenick in the southeastern part ofBerlin, where it is joined by its tributary, the River Dahme.[2]
The final reach of the Spree is where it is best known. It flows through the city centre of Berlin to join theRiver Havel inSpandau, one of Berlin's western boroughs, which itself ultimately merges with theElbe to enter the sea inCuxhaven, after flowing throughHamburg. On its route through Berlin, the river passesBerlin Cathedral (Berliner Dom), theReichstag and theSchloss Charlottenburg. The renownedMuseum Island (Museumsinsel), with its collection of five majormuseums, is an island in the Spree.[2]
In 2004 theBadeschiff floating swimming pool opened on the Spree in Berlin.[3]
Small craft, such aspunts, are widely used in wetlands of the Spreewald. Larger craft can reach as far upstream as Leibsch, although the upper reaches are relatively shallow and are generally used only by leisure craft. Some intermediate reaches are unnavigable and by-passed by canals.[2]
For a stretch of about 20 kilometres (12 mi) east of and flowing through Fürstenwalde, the river forms part of theOder-Spree Canal. On this reach, and on the reach west of the confluence with the River Dahme at Köpenick, the river forms part of secondary commercial link between Berlin and theRiver Oder and hencePoland.[2] The canal diverges from the Spree just east of Fürstenwalde and later joins the River Dahme at the (lake)Seddinsee.
In Berlin, the Spree forms part of a dense network of navigable waterways, many of which are artificial, and which provide a wide choice of routes. Several important commercial harbors can be found on this network, and tugs and barges move sand, grain, bricks, and beer. Tour boats tour the central section of the Spree and its adjoining waterways on a frequent basis.[2][4]
Many people died in the Spree during the Cold War while trying to cross theBerlin Wall, including children who drowned when rescuers were not allowed to enter the river to save them.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
