Elbe

The Elbe, known as Labe in Czech, is a major Central European river that drains parts of the Czech Republic and Germany and flows into the North Sea. It rises in the Krkonoše (Giant Mountains) in the Czech Republic and generally travels northwest for about 1,090 kilometers before reaching the North Sea at the Elbe estuary near Cuxhaven. The Elbe basin covers roughly 150,000 square kilometers and spans several German states as well as the Czech Republic.

From its source, the Elbe passes through Ústí nad Labem and the Elbe Sandstone Mountains, then onward to Dresden, Magdeburg, and Hamburg before the river splits into the Unterelbe and the Outer Elbe as it enters the North Sea. The river is navigable for significant portions of its length, making it an important commercial waterway that supports ports such as Hamburg and regional industry along its course.

Major tributaries include the Vltava (Moldau) in the Czech Republic, the Ohře (Eger) in western Bohemia, and the Mulde in Germany. The Elbe collects waters from Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Lower Saxony as it flows toward the sea, shaping a landscape that includes the Elbe Sandstone Mountains and extensive floodplains.

Historically, the Elbe has served as a geographic and political boundary. In the 20th century it became a salient border between East and West Germany, and the meeting of Soviet and American troops at the Elbe near Torgau in 1945 is commemorated as Elbe Day. Today the region faces environmental challenges such as industrial pollution and flood risk, with ongoing restoration and conservation efforts along its course.