| Werra | |
|---|---|
|
Course of the Werra |
|
| Data | |
| Location | States of Thuringia, Hesse, Lower Saxony) Germany |
| Length | 299.6 km [1] |
| Source | on the Eselsberg and Bleßberg |
| Source height | 797 m above sea level |
| Mouth | confluence with the Fulda in Hann. Münden to form the Weser |
| Mouth height | 116.5 m above sea level |
| Descent | 680.5 m |
| Basin | Weser |
| Progression | Weser → North Sea |
| Catchment | 5.496 km² |
| Discharge[2] | Average mid: 14,0 m³/s am Pegel Meiningen 23,6 m³/s Vacha 30,9 m³/s Gerstungen 40,6 m³/s Frankenroda 46,5 m³/s Allendorf 51,2 m³/s Letzter Heller, bei Hann. Münden |
| Right tributaries | Schleuse, Hasel, Hörsel |
| Left tributaries | Ulster, Felda, Wehre |
| Large towns | Meiningen, Eisenach, Eschwege, Hann. Münden |
| Small towns | Bad Salzungen, Vacha, Creuzburg, Treffurt |
| Notable bridges | Werrabrücke Vacha, Werrabrücke Creuzburg, Werratalbrücke Hörschel |
| Navigable | 89 km; motor boats in places, but not throughout |
The Werra (German pronunciation: [ˈvɛʁa]) is a river in central Germany, the right-source river of the Weser. The Werra has its source near Eisfeld in southern Thuringia. After 293 km the Werra joins the river Fulda in the town of Hann. Münden, forming the Weser.
The Werra Valley ("Werratal") forms a natural border between the Rhön Mountains and the Thuringian Forest. Highlights here include Eiben Forest near Dermbach, the fairytale sandstone cave at Walldorf, the deepest lake in Germany formed by land subsidence, which is near Bernshausen, and the "Krayenburg", the ruins of a castle (dating back to the year 786), restaurant and a tower with a wide outlook into the Werra valley near Tiefenort.
The following towns or townships lie along the Werra: Hildburghausen, Meiningen, Bad Salzungen, Tiefenort, Merkers-Kieselbach, Heringen, Philippsthal, Gerstungen, Wanfried, Eschwege, Witzenhausen and Hann. Münden.