Oste
Encyclopedia
The Oste (ˈʔoːstə, also [ˈɔstə]) is a river in northern Lower Saxony
, Germany
with a length of 153 km, left tributary of the Elbe
. It flows through the districts of Harburg, Rotenburg
, Stade
and Cuxhaven
and empties into the Elbe
river near Otterndorf
. Its drainage area is 1.711 km² and the decline between the source and the estuary is 31 m. Tributaries are Ramme, Aue
, Twiste
, Bade, Bever
and Mehe
.
The Oste is part of the "Deutsche Fährstraße
" established in May 2004, an institution similar to the American National Scenic Byway
s. It connects various places between Bremervörde
and Kiel
with relation to the history of ferries
and crossing of rivers, like the historic transporter bridges in Rendsburg
and Osten
. Also at the Oste there are two pram ferries
in Gräpel
and Brobergen
. The ferry in Gräpel is actually manually operated.
Although recognized as an official waterway the Oste has not much ship traffic.
The river has its source near Tostedt
at the border of the Lüneburg Heath
, flowing to the west passing Sittensen
and Zeven
, changing direction to north and passing Bremervörde
, where influence of the tides is starting, Hemmoor
and Neuhaus
.
Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony is a German state situated in north-western Germany and is second in area and fourth in population among the sixteen states of Germany...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
with a length of 153 km, left tributary of the Elbe
Elbe
The Elbe is one of the major rivers of Central Europe. It rises in the Krkonoše Mountains of the northwestern Czech Republic before traversing much of Bohemia , then Germany and flowing into the North Sea at Cuxhaven, 110 km northwest of Hamburg...
. It flows through the districts of Harburg, Rotenburg
Rotenburg (district)
Rotenburg is a district in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is bounded by the districts of Stade, Harburg, Heidekreis, Verden, Osterholz and Cuxhaven.-History:...
, Stade
Stade (district)
Stade is a district in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is bounded by the districts of Harburg, Rotenburg and Cuxhaven, the Elbe River, and the city state of Hamburg.-History:...
and Cuxhaven
Cuxhaven (district)
Cuxhaven is a district in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is bounded by the districts of Stade, Rotenburg, Osterholz and Wesermarsch, the city of Bremerhaven and the North Sea.- History :...
and empties into the Elbe
Elbe
The Elbe is one of the major rivers of Central Europe. It rises in the Krkonoše Mountains of the northwestern Czech Republic before traversing much of Bohemia , then Germany and flowing into the North Sea at Cuxhaven, 110 km northwest of Hamburg...
river near Otterndorf
Otterndorf
Otterndorf is a town on the coast of the North Sea in the region of Lower Saxony, Germany, and is part of the Samtgemeinde Land Hadeln . The town is at the mouth of the river Medem on part of the Elbe delta in the district Cuxhaven...
. Its drainage area is 1.711 km² and the decline between the source and the estuary is 31 m. Tributaries are Ramme, Aue
Aue (Oste)
The Aue is a left, southwestern, tributary of the Oste in northern Lower Saxony, Germany. It is about long.- Geography :Before the construction of the Neuhaus-Bülkau Canal the Aue was the natural outlet of the Balksee lake in the southwest part of the parish of Wingst on the southern edge of the...
, Twiste
Twiste (Oste)
Twiste is a river of Lower Saxony, Germany....
, Bade, Bever
Bever (Oste)
Bever is a river of Lower Saxony, Germany....
and Mehe
Mehe
Mehe is a river of Lower Saxony, Germany.-See also:*List of rivers of Lower Saxony...
.
The Oste is part of the "Deutsche Fährstraße
Deutsche Fährstraße
The Deutsche Fährstraße , established in May 2004, is a theme route similar to the American National Scenic Byways. It connects various places between Bremervörde and Kiel with relation to the history of ferries and crossing of rivers, like the historic transporter bridges in Rendsburg and Osten.It...
" established in May 2004, an institution similar to the American National Scenic Byway
National Scenic Byway
A National Scenic Byway is a road recognized by the United States Department of Transportation for its archeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational, and/or scenic qualities. The program was established by Congress in 1991 to preserve and protect the nation's scenic but often...
s. It connects various places between Bremervörde
Bremervörde
Bremervörde is a town in the north of the district Rotenburg, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated at the Oste river near the mid of the triangle, which is formed of the rivers Weser and Elbe respectively the cities of Hamburg, Bremen and Cuxhaven....
and Kiel
Kiel
Kiel is the capital and most populous city in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein, with a population of 238,049 .Kiel is approximately north of Hamburg. Due to its geographic location in the north of Germany, the southeast of the Jutland peninsula, and the southwestern shore of the...
with relation to the history of ferries
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
and crossing of rivers, like the historic transporter bridges in Rendsburg
Rendsburg
Rendsburg is a town on the River Eider and the Kiel Canal in the northeastern part of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is the capital of the Kreis of Rendsburg-Eckernförde. As of 2006, it had a population of 28,476.-History:...
and Osten
Osten
Osten is a municipality in the district of Cuxhaven, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated on the river Oste. Osten also means "East" in German.Osten belonged to the Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen, established in 1180...
. Also at the Oste there are two pram ferries
Pram
Pram may refer to:*Pram, Austria* Pram , a musical group* Pram , a type of shallow-draught, flat-bottomed ship * A type of dinghy with a flat bow* A type of wheeled baby transport...
in Gräpel
Estorf
Estorf is a municipality in the district of Nienburg, in Lower Saxony, Germany....
and Brobergen
Brobergen
Brobergen is a village in the German municipality of Kranenburg in the district of Stade, Lower Saxony. The village of 6.06 km² has 220 inhabitants ....
. The ferry in Gräpel is actually manually operated.
Although recognized as an official waterway the Oste has not much ship traffic.
The river has its source near Tostedt
Tostedt
Tostedt is a municipality in the district of Harburg, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated approx. 35 km southwest of Hamburg, and 12 km southwest of Buchholz in der Nordheide....
at the border of the Lüneburg Heath
Lüneburg Heath
The Lüneburg Heath is a large area of heath, geest and woodland in northeastern part of the state of Lower Saxony in northern Germany. It forms part of the hinterland for the cities of Hamburg, Hanover, and Bremen and is named after the town of Lüneburg. Most of the area is a nature reserve...
, flowing to the west passing Sittensen
Sittensen
Sittensen is a municipality in the district of Rotenburg, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated approx. 20 km northeast of Rotenburg, and 45 km southwest of Hamburg.Sittensen belonged to the Prince-Archbishopric of Bremen, established in 1180...
and Zeven
Zeven
Zeven is a town in the district of Rotenburg, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It has a population of around 14,000. The nearest large towns are Bremerhaven, Bremen and Hamburg. It is situated approximately 22 km northwest of Rotenburg, and 40 km northeast of Bremen...
, changing direction to north and passing Bremervörde
Bremervörde
Bremervörde is a town in the north of the district Rotenburg, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated at the Oste river near the mid of the triangle, which is formed of the rivers Weser and Elbe respectively the cities of Hamburg, Bremen and Cuxhaven....
, where influence of the tides is starting, Hemmoor
Hemmoor
Hemmoor is a municipality in the district of Cuxhaven, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated near the river Oste, approx. 40 km northeast of Bremerhaven, and 25 km south of Brunsbüttel.-History:...
and Neuhaus
Neuhaus
- Places :*in Germany:**in Bavaria:***Neuhaus an der Pegnitz, in the district Nürnberger Land***Neuhaus am Inn, in the district of Passau**in Lower Saxony:***Amt Neuhaus, in the district of Lüneburg***Neuhaus , in the district of Cuxhaven**in Thuringia:...
.
Sources
- August Heinrich von Brook (Hrsg.): Die Oste. Lebensader zwischen Elbe und Weser. Aufsatzsammlung. Heimatbund der Männer vom Morgenstern, Bremerhaven 2003. ISBN 3-931771-39-3
- Willi Klenck: Heimatkunde des ehemaligen Kreises Neuhaus. Pockwitz, Stade 1957, Otterndorf 1986 (Faks.).
- Gisela Tiedemann, Jochen Bölsche: Über die Oste - Geschichten aus 100 Jahren Schwebefähre Osten - Hemmoor. Drochtersen 2009, ISBN 978-3938097175