Heller (river)

Heller during floods in Betzdorf

The Heller is a 30.2 km long, left or southeast tributary of the victory in Hesse, North Rhine -Westphalia and Rhineland -Palatinate ( Germany ). Its catchment area covers 204.231 km ². This area coincides, apart from the headwaters of the main rivers, largely with that of the Hellerberg country, the southernmost part of the natural environment Winners country on the Northern Slope of the High Westerwald. Already on 24 June 1350, the Heller was mentioned in a document as " Helre ".

Course

Source

The river Heller produced in the western part of Hesse, in the Lahn- Dill district, not far east of the border with North Rhine -Westphalia, on the saddle between the 560.7 m above sea level. NN high Donner Park in the west and about 578 m above sea level. NN high Sinner Höfchen in the east. Both peaks are part of the massif of the Cold Oak, to the southwestern foothills of the Rothaargebirge whose main peak is located north of the source. The Sinner Höfchen is on the Lahn -Sieg- watershed, that is just east springing streams drain already on the Lahn Dill for.

The headwaters of the Light is located in the " State Forest Haiger " about 2.5 km north of the commercial and industrial area " Haiger - Kalteiche ", which is located northwest of Haiger, not far north-east of North Rhine-Westphalia Würgendorf ( Siegen- Wittgenstein), an eastern district of Burbach. Immediately at the headwaters, the altitude of around 490 m. MSL, is one of several crossing points of the B 54 to A 45, which are a little further south interconnected via the exit " Haiger -Burbach ".

Upper and middle reaches

Initially, the Heller flows roughly parallel to the border of North Rhine -Westphalia and Hesse through the south of the cold oak massif to the south to the north-eastern outskirts gagging village at 430 m above sea level. NN to cross the border with North Rhine -Westphalia, kinking towards the west, and thus to enter the Middle Hellertal that already clearly starts despite its name, in the upper reaches. Links and thus roughly south of the river it will henceforth from the Lipper nürr up to 616.9 m above sea level. Accompanied NN high Heller Southern Uplands, continue right from the cold solid oak.

Henceforth, the Heller flows through the so-called free base in first western to southwestern, later in northwestern direction through the south of the winning country of Würgendorf about the nucleus of Burbach in the district election creek where you accrue the book Light from the left. They eventually reached Neunkirchen, where the Middle Hellertal as well as the free base east to north- east to the expanding of coming there Wild brook.

Lower reaches and estuary

With the inflow of Wild Bach in Neunkirchen Heller turns again to the west to first even southwestern directions. Law of the river valley from then rises Northern Hellerberg country. Well under the name of its highest elevation, approximately 517 m above sea NN high wind tap, is known.

After 16.59 km Heller transgresses the border to Rhineland- Palatinate, where it places Herdorf, Grünebach and achieved in the district Old churches with the confluence of its largest tributary Daade from left, Alsdorf.

Above Betz village they finally reached the Niederschelden - Betzdorfer Siegtal to the nucleus at about 210 m above sea level. NN from left to culminate in the coming of the northeast victory. Your water flow reached here on average about 3.8 m³ / s

Tributaries

The table shows the largest tributaries of the Light, from the source.

Environment

Characteristic of the Hellerberg country are deeply incised valleys of the Heller and its tributaries and a strong forest cover with deciduous forest in the valleys and pine forests at high altitudes. The highest mountain of this landscape is 616.9 m above sea level. NN is located on the border Lipper nürr southwest of Burbach.

Along the Wild Bach with the location of savages and Daade to which the larger town Daaden is, the settlements of Hellertals continue.

Southwest of Heller, the catchment area of ​​the Elbbachs follows, that of the north-east Eisern Bach and eastern directions that the dill or its tributary Haiger Bach. To the already located in the High Westerwald headwaters of Daade and Book Light in the South that borders the Nister.

Attractions

From the frying pan mountain tower, which is in Northern Hellerberg country on the pan mountain south of Eiserfeld (southern district of Siegen), one can overlook, for example, large parts of the Hellertals. Also worth seeing is the location in Rhineland-Palatinate part of the same ridge located Druidenstein is.

Over the mountains south of the Hellertals leads of about 39 km long trail Heller ( signposts "H"), connects the Haiger about Burbach - lip with Betz village, where he leads, for example, over the mountain Malscheid.

Transport links

The Hellertal can be reached via the main roads of the 62 (in the west ) and 54 in the east branch off state roads. By the river valley leading the railway Betz Village Haiger.

Towns

One of the towns on the Heller include:

• Würgendorf
• Burbach
• Wahlbach
• Again stone

• Zeppenfeld
• Neunkirchen
• Struthütten
• Herdorf

• Grünebach
• Alsdorf
• Betzdorf