elb

Elb is a toponym that has appeared as a variant spelling of the Elbe River, a major Central European waterway. The common English and German name is Elbe; the form “Elb” is found in certain historical texts, on older maps, and in some regional languages, but it is not widely used in modern usage.

The river rises in the eastern part of Central Europe, usually linked with the Krkonoše (Giant Mountains) on the Czech–Polish border, and flows northwest through Germany. It passes Dresden and Hamburg before emptying into the North Sea at the Elbe estuary near Cuxhaven. The length is about 1,090 to 1,100 kilometers, and the drainage basin covers roughly 150,000 square kilometers.

Major tributaries include the Vltava (Moldau), Mulde, and Saale, with the Havel joining near the Berlin area. The Elbe supports commercial navigation, and the Port of Hamburg on its lower reaches is one of Europe’s largest transshipment hubs.

The Elbe basin spans the Czech Republic and Germany; efforts to reduce pollution and restore habitats have been ongoing since the late 20th century, with cross-border cooperation addressing flood protection, water quality, and ecological restoration.

In modern usage, Elb appears mainly in historical or regional contexts; for the river itself, the standard form is Elbe. The name Elb is rarely used in contemporary English, but it may appear in older literature or in certain languages.