Oste

Oste

Basin
Main source	Lower Saxony
Source elevation	31 m
River mouth	Elbe 53°50′22″N 9°1′6″E / 53.83944°N 9.01833°E / 53.83944; 9.01833Coordinates: 53°50′22″N 9°1′6″E / 53.83944°N 9.01833°E / 53.83944; 9.01833
Size	1,711 km²
Country	Germany
Physiognomy
Length	153 km

The Oste (German pronunciation: [ˈʔoːstə], also [ˈɔstə]) is a river in northern Lower Saxony, Germany with a length of 153 km, left tributary of the Elbe. It flows through the districts of Harburg, Rotenburg, Stade and Cuxhaven and empties into the Elbe river near Otterndorf. Its drainage area is 1.711 km² and the decline between the source and the estuary is 31 m. Tributaries are Ramme, Aue, Twiste, Bade, Bever and Mehe.

The Oste is part of the "Deutsche Fährstraße" established in May 2004, an institution similar to the American National Scenic Byways. It connects various places between Bremervörde and Kiel with relation to the history of ferries and crossing of rivers, like the historic transporter bridges in Rendsburg and Osten. Also at the Oste there are two pram ferries in Gräpel and Brobergen. The ferry in Gräpel is actually manually operated.

Although recognized as an official waterway the Oste has not much ship traffic.

The river has its source near Tostedt at the border of the Lüneburg Heath, flowing to the west passing Sittensen and Zeven, changing direction to north and passing Bremervörde, where influence of the tides is starting, Hemmoor and Neuhaus.

Sources

August Heinrich von Brook (Hrsg.): Die Oste. Lebensader zwischen Elbe und Weser. Aufsatzsammlung. Heimatbund der Männer vom Morgenstern, Bremerhaven 2003. ISBN 3-931771-39-3
Willi Klenck: Heimatkunde des ehemaligen Kreises Neuhaus. Pockwitz, Stade 1957, Otterndorf 1986 (Faks.).
Gisela Tiedemann, Jochen Bölsche: Über die Oste - Geschichten aus 100 Jahren Schwebefähre Osten - Hemmoor. Drochtersen 2009, ISBN 978-3-938097-17-5

External links

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