Selke (river)
Encyclopedia
The Selke is a right tributary of the River Bode that rises in the Harz Mountains of central Germany and runs through the northeastern Harz Foreland in the state of Saxony-Anhalt
. It has a total length of 64 km, of which 30 km lies in the forested mountains of the Harz and the remaining 34 km in the agricultural region of the Harz Foreland.
at a height of about 520 m above NN. From Friedrichshöhe to Mägdesprung in the borough of Harzgerode
it is accompanied by the Selke Valley Railway for a distance of 17 km. Depending on the bedrock the Selke has incised deeply into the Harz Mountains or created broad valleys. In Meisdorf on the northeastern edge of the Lower Harz the Selke leaves the forested regions of the mountains and runs from here across a cultivated plain, continuing to flow in an easterly or northeasterly direction, as it had in the Harz, as far as Ermsleben. Beyond Ermsleben the river swing through 90° to the northwest, and runs from here in an almost straight line to its mouth on the River Bode near Rodersdorf, a village in the borough of Wegeleben
. The Selke empties into the Bode at an elevation of 118 m.
In the past, the Selke has burst its banks on several occasions causing significant damage. This led to plans by the state government for the expansion of existing floodwater retention basins and the creation of a new one. Particularly controversial is a medium-term 12 to 18 feet high embankment for the Selke Valley at Meisdorf. The citizens' initiative "Save the Selke Valley in the East Harz" is fighting this plan because they argue that it will destroy a scenically beautiful section of the Selke Valley that is important for nature conservation.
, which is open to the public. On the other side of the valley, on a prominent spur, is a lofty viewing point, the Selkesicht (330 m above sea level) at the site of another castle, the Akkeburg, with good views of Falkenstein Castle and the Selke valley. Both locations are checkpoints in the Harzer Wandernadel
hiking network.
Saxony-Anhalt
Saxony-Anhalt is a landlocked state of Germany. Its capital is Magdeburg and it is surrounded by the German states of Lower Saxony, Brandenburg, Saxony, and Thuringia.Saxony-Anhalt covers an area of...
. It has a total length of 64 km, of which 30 km lies in the forested mountains of the Harz and the remaining 34 km in the agricultural region of the Harz Foreland.
Course
The Selke rises near the village of Friedrichshöhe in the borough of GüntersbergeGüntersberge
Güntersberge is a village and a former municipality in the district of Harz, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Since 1 August 2009 it has been part of the borough of Harzgerode.- Geography :...
at a height of about 520 m above NN. From Friedrichshöhe to Mägdesprung in the borough of Harzgerode
Harzgerode
Harzgerode is a town in the district of Harz in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.-Geography:Its localities include:*Harzgerode*Alexisbad*Dankerode*Güntersberge*Königerode*Mägdesprung*Neudorf*Schielo*Silberhütte*Siptenfelde*Straßberg...
it is accompanied by the Selke Valley Railway for a distance of 17 km. Depending on the bedrock the Selke has incised deeply into the Harz Mountains or created broad valleys. In Meisdorf on the northeastern edge of the Lower Harz the Selke leaves the forested regions of the mountains and runs from here across a cultivated plain, continuing to flow in an easterly or northeasterly direction, as it had in the Harz, as far as Ermsleben. Beyond Ermsleben the river swing through 90° to the northwest, and runs from here in an almost straight line to its mouth on the River Bode near Rodersdorf, a village in the borough of Wegeleben
Wegeleben
Wegeleben is a town in the district of Harz, in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is situated on the river Bode, east of Halberstadt. It is part of the Verbandsgemeinde Vorharz. The town was the birthplace of Martin Bormann in 1900. It has a station on the Magdeburg–Thale railway....
. The Selke empties into the Bode at an elevation of 118 m.
In the past, the Selke has burst its banks on several occasions causing significant damage. This led to plans by the state government for the expansion of existing floodwater retention basins and the creation of a new one. Particularly controversial is a medium-term 12 to 18 feet high embankment for the Selke Valley at Meisdorf. The citizens' initiative "Save the Selke Valley in the East Harz" is fighting this plan because they argue that it will destroy a scenically beautiful section of the Selke Valley that is important for nature conservation.
Castles
High above the Selke Valley is a striking and largely preserved medieval castle, FalkensteinFalkenstein Castle (Harz)
Falkenstein Castle is a German castle in the Harz mountains dating to the High Middle Ages period. It is located in the town of Falkenstein/Harz between Aschersleben and Harzgerode.- Location :...
, which is open to the public. On the other side of the valley, on a prominent spur, is a lofty viewing point, the Selkesicht (330 m above sea level) at the site of another castle, the Akkeburg, with good views of Falkenstein Castle and the Selke valley. Both locations are checkpoints in the Harzer Wandernadel
Harzer Wandernadel
The Harzer Wandernadel is a network of checkpoints for walkers in the Harz mountains in North Germany. It includes a system whereby the hiker can earn badges at different levels by walking to the various checkpoints in the network and recording them...
hiking network.
Tributaries
- KatzsohlbachKatzsohlbachKatzsohlbach is a stream in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It flows through the Katzsohlteich pond....
(right) - Limbach (left)
- SteinfurtbachSteinfurtbach (Selke)Steinfurtbach is a river of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany....
(left) - Westerbach (right)
- Rödelbach (right)
- HüttenstollenHüttenstollenThe Hüttenstollen, also Straßberger Hüttenstollen, was the central drainage adit in the Straßberg mining field and was also part of the Lower Harz Pond and Ditch System in the Harz Mountains of Germany. The adit lies at a depth of 50 m and is 750 m long. The pit water was drained into the Selke...
- GlasebachGlasebach (Selke)Glasebach is a river of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany....
(right) - UhlenbachUhlenbach (Selke)Uhlenbach is a river of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany....
(left) - TeufelsgrundbachTeufelsgrundbach (Selke)Teufelsgrundbach is a river of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany....
- PulverbachPulverbach (Selke)Pulverbach is a river of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany....
(right) - SchwefelbachSchwefelbach (Selke)Schwefelbach is a river of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany....
(left) - FriedenstalbachFriedenstalbachFriedenstalbach is a river of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany....
(left) - KrebsbachKrebsbach (Selke)Krebsbach is a river of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany....
(left) - Schiebecksbach (right)
- Nagelbach (left)
- TitanbachTitanbachTitanbach is a river of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany....
(right) - Sauerbach (left)
- Getel (left)
- Hauptseegraben (right)
- Grenzgraben (left)
External links
- Rettet das Selketal! – The citizen action group's web page with map of the Selke
- Dissertation: Der Einfluß der Bergbaugschichte im Ostharz auf die Schwermetalltiefengradienten … und die … Schwermetalldispersion in den Einzugsgebieten von Bode und Selke im Harz. (pdf; 2.2 MB)