Luhe (Ilmenau)

Course of the river Luhe at Putensen

The Luhe is a river in north-eastern Lower Saxony. It is a left tributary of the River Ilmenau.

Course

The Luhe rises near Bispingen in the Lüneburg Heath and flows Stöckte (district of Winsen (Luhe ) ) in Ilmenau, which flows into the Elbe after a further course of about 3 km. From the source to the mouth of the river length of 58.2 km.

Geology and prehistoric

The Luhe arises from a Endmoränenrücken the Lüneburg Heath and flows as grayling water to Luhmühlen the Geest, where the transition to a potamal ( zone of lowland river; area with warmer and sandy- muddy sediment on the bottom ) dominated waters begins. North widens the Luhe valley and the river reaches in Vierhöfen the Elbmarsch. First prevails valley sand, below Winsen outweigh silt and river sand. Middle of the 19th century, the Luhe regulated. It the run was shortened, thereby increasing the flow velocity.

The body of water is on average 7 to 12 m wide, has, except in a few turns and behind military stages a water depth of approximately 1.50 m and meanders strong.

The average flow is approximately 4 km / h at normal water level ( tidebeeinflusst from the mouth to the mill weir in Winsen ). Tributaries are Brunaupark, Schwindebach, Lopau and Garlstorfer floodplain. The source of the Schwindebaches is the second largest source in Lower Saxony (60 ltr / sec), it is since 1936 a nature reserve.

The entire catchment area of ​​the Luhe is densely populated since the Neolithic period, as witnessed, among other facilities such as the Necropolis of Soderstorf and Oldendorfer Totenstatt. At the height of the current city Winsen a transition on the Luhe since the 13th century by the Winsener castle was controlled.

Water quality

Except for a short section north of Bispingen the Luhe has a water quality class II ( moderately polluted / β - mesosaprobic ).

Fish stocking

The Luhe is considered one of the most prolific salmon and sea trout rivers in Germany. The stock is relatively assured. Recently, an increased volume of mitten crabs can be seen.

Navigability

Until the early 20th century, the Luhe Winsen was to sail small boats, today there are on the track no more commercial shipping. It is a popular canoe routes, subject to special reasons of nature protection Befahrung rules.