ELSTER, the name of two rivers of Germany. (I) The Schwarze (Black) Elster rises in the Lausitz range, on the southern border of Saxony, flows north and north-west, and after a course of II2 M. enters the Elbe a little above Wittenberg. It is a sluggish stream, winding its way through sandy soil and fre quently along a divided channel. (2) The Weisse (White) Elster rises in the north-western corner of Bohemia, a little north of Eger, cuts through the old hard rocks of the Vogtland in a deep and picturesque valley, passing Plauen and Greiz. Further down stream, round Gera and Zeitz, the scenery changes and for the rest of its course it meanders through lower and often sandy land. Above Leipzig it receives its chief tributary, the Pleisse. At Leipzig it divides, the main stream turning north-west and entering the Saale a little above Halle; the other arm, the Luppe, flowing parallel to the main stream and south of it enters the Saale below Merseburg. Total length, 121 m.; total descent, 1,286 ft.