Elbląg (river)

The Elbląg (German: Elbing) is a 14.5-kilometre (9.0 mi) river in northwest Poland connecting Lake Drużno with the Vistula Lagoon. The city of Elbląg is situated on the river.

Tributaries include:

The oldest known mention of the river in the form Ilfing comes from the report of sailor Wulfstan from the end of IX century. The report was included in The Voyages of Ohthere and Wulfstan which was written in Anglo-Saxon in King Alfred's reign.

Etymology

Latest research suggest Scandinavian origin of the name. According to Elbląg museum[1] the elusive Truso settlement was founded and inhabited mostly by Scandinavians. The research by ArcheoHist [2] shows that the name Ilfing was Anglo-Saxon form of a Scandinavian name, which could be reconstructed as Old-Nordic Elfeng, Elfangr or Elfing from Old-Nordic elf-r - meaning "river", and Old-Nordic eng, enge, engi meaning "meadow". Thus the meaning of the river's name would be "River flowing trough boggy meadows".

References

  1. ^ Jagodziński M. F. Wikingowie i Truso, [w:] Pacifica Terra. Prusowie-Słowianie –Wikingowie u ujścia Wisły, red. J. Trupinda, Muzeum Zamkowe w Malborku, s. 55-63., 2004
  2. ^ http://sites.google.com/site/archeohist/httparcheohistpl/trusofrage/a