The White Elster[1][2][3] (German: Weiße Elster, Czech: Bílý Halštrov) is a 257-kilometre (160 mi) long river in central Europe, right tributary of the Saale. Its source is in the westernmost part of the Czech Republic, near Aš. After a few kilometres, it flows into eastern Germany where it cuts through the Vogtland in (according to the Encyclopædia Britannica) a "deep and picturesque valley".[4] In Germany it flows through the states of Saxony, Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt. The White Elster flows through the cities of Plauen, Greiz, Gera, Zeitz, Pegau and Leipzig, and into the river Saale in Halle.

White Elster Weiße Elster, Bílý Halštrov
White Elster valley near Wünschendorf/Elster
Location
Countries	Germany Czech Republic
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Western Czech Republic
• elevation	724 m (2,375 ft)
Mouth
• location	Saale
• coordinates	51°25′57″N 11°57′10″E
Length	257 km (160 mi)
Basin features
Progression	Saale→ Elbe→ North Sea
Tributaries
• left	Weida
• right	Schwarzbach, Trieb, Göltzsch, Schnauder, Pleiße, Parthe, Reide

Name

Although "Elster" is German for "magpie", the origin of the name has nothing to do with the bird. It is of Slavic origin: alstrawa = hurrying water. The White Elster never meets the Black Elster, which flows from Lusatia into the River Elbe. The rivers have the names "white" and "black" to distinguish between them.

History

The White Elster proved disastrous to the French troops when they retreated from Leipzig in October 1813, as a part of the Napoleonic Wars.[2] Józef Poniatowski, Marshal of France, drowned in the river on 19 October 1813.

• 
  Source of the White Elster in the westernmost part of the Czech Republic, near Aš

See also

• Black Elster
• Elster glaciation

References

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На других языках

[de] Weiße Elster

[es] Río Elster Blanco

[it] Elster Bianco

[ru] Вайсе-Эльстер