Eider (river)

Eider
River
The Eider at Breiholz
Country	Germany
State	Schleswig-Holstein
Tributaries
- left	Tielenau, Broklandsau, Süderau
- right	Treene, Sorge
Cities	Bordesholm, Kiel, Rendsburg, Friedrichstadt, Tönning
Source	Klaster Teich
- location	Wattenbek
- coordinates
Mouth	North Sea
- location	Tönning
- coordinates
Length	188 km (117 mi)
Discharge
- average	6.5 m3/s (230 cu ft/s)
The Eider as borderline between the Danes, Saxons and Frisians

The Eider (German: Die Eider; Danish: Ejderen; Latin: Egdor or Egdore) is the longest river of the German state of Schleswig-Holstein. The river starts near Bordesholm and reaches the southwestern outskirts of Kiel on the shores of the Baltic Sea, but flows to the west, ending in the North Sea. The middle part of the Eider was appropriated for use as part of the Kiel Canal.

In the Early Middle Ages the river is believed to have been the border between the related Germanic tribes the Jutes and the Angles who during this period, along with the neighboring Saxons crossed the North Sea from this region and settled in England. During the High Middle Ages the Eider was the border between the Saxons and the Danes, as reported by Adam of Bremen in 1076. For centuries it divided Denmark and the Holy Roman Empire. Today it is the border between Schleswig and Holstein, the northern and southern parts, respectively, of the modern German state of Schleswig-Holstein.

The Eider flows through the following towns: Bordesholm, Kiel, Rendsburg, Friedrichstadt and Tönning. Near Tönning it flows into the North Sea. The estuary has tidal flats and brackish water. The mouth of the river is crossed by a closeable storm surge barrier, the Eider Barrage.

The Eider - Treene basin

Navigation

A tidal lock provides access for boats through the Eider Barrage. The fishing port of Tönning lies 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) upstream of the barrier, while Friedrichstadt is 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) further upstream. At Friedrichstadt a lock gives access to the River Treene.

The Eider remains tidal as far as the lock at Nordfeld, 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) above Friedrichstadt. There is a further lock at Lexfähre, 52 kilometres (32 mi) upstream of Nordfeld. A further 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) beyond Lexfähre is the junction with the short Gieselau Canal, which provides a navigable link to the Kiel Canal at Oldenbüttel. The Eider therefore provides an alternative route from the North Sea to the Kiel Canal, avoiding the tides of the estuary of the Elbe.

The head of navigation lies a further 23 kilometres (14 mi) upstream at Rendsburg. Although it is adjacent to the Kiel Canal, through passage is no longer possible.

The Eider Barrage

See also

• Eider-Treene Depression