HAVEL, a river of Prussia, Germany, rising at a height of 223 ft. on the Mecklenburg plateau, 7 m. N.W. of Neu-Strelitz, and after threading several lakes flowing south as far as Spandau. Thence it curves south-west, past Potsdam and Brandenburg, tra versing another chain of lakes, and finally continues north-west until it joins the Elbe from the right some miles above Witten berg after a total course of 2 21 m. and a total fall of only 158 feet. Its banks are mostly marshy or sandy, and the stream is navigable from the Mecklenburg lakes downwards. Several canals connect it with other rivers. Area of river basin, Io,159 sq.miles.