Alte Elbe

Old Elbe is the name of cut, former river sections of the Elbe ( oxbow lakes ), which at the touch of two river bends ( meanders ) arise.

The longest piece " Old Elbe" is Dornburger Old Elbe, it branches off southeast of Magdeburg in Dornburg from the main stream and runs in many loops about 20 km parallel to the Elbe; it ends at the level of Magdeburg- Salbke. Near Plötzky branches of the Elbe Umflutkanal from the Old Elbe and arrives at Lostau (northeast of Magdeburg ) back into the Elbe. In the section from the Umflutkanal Dornburger Alte Elbe is now threatened by siltation due to the closure of the fresh water inflow.

In the city of Magdeburg, the same splits into a western, the River Elbe, and an eastern arm, the Old Elbe. Both rivers flow around the Red Horn Island and unite even in the urban area again. The Old Elbe is navigable for shipping. It is supported by a weir, the Cracauer waterfall, frozen. The weir is to maintain the water level of the River Elbe for navigation at low water. Only at higher water levels greater flow through the Old Elbe takes place (see web link).