EL BASSAN, ALBASSAN, or ILBASSAN, a t. of European Turkey, in the province of Albania, on the Scombi, 35 m. e. from the mouth of the river. It stands in a fertile plain, surrounded by mountains, is the capital of a sanjak, and the scat of a Greek bishop. It has manufactures of iron and copper wares. Pop. 10,000.
ELBE (called by the Romans Albis—i.e., white—and by the Bohemians Labe) an important river of northern EurOpe: It originates in the confluence of numerous streams which rise at the south-western base of the Schneekoppe (Snowcap), one of the highest summits of the Riesen-Gebirge, a mountain-range on the northern border of Bohemia. The course of the E. begins near lat. 50° 45' n., lone. 15° 36' e. ; at an eleva tion of about 4.400 ft. above sea-level. Its total length, including windings, is esti mated at from 700 to 720 in. and its basin at 56,000 sq. miles. The average depth of the E. is 10 ft., and its mean breadth 900 ft., although occasionally it has a width of upwards of 1000 ft., and at its mouth of several miles. In the course of its progress to the sea, it is joined by 17 rivers and upwards of 70 streams. From the base of the Schneekoppe, it flows s. to Pardubitz, whence it proceeds w. to Brandeis, and after wards in a general n.w. direction past Melnik, Leitmeritz, Aussig, and Tetschen, where it quits the Bohemian territory, and enters Saxony. At this point, it is 355 ft. wide. Its principal affluent in Bohemia is the Moldau. On its course n.w. through Saxony, the E. passes Pirna, Dresden, and Meissen, and entering Prussian Saxony, about 7 m. above Milhlberg, it advances to Rorgau and Wittenberg, from which point it flows first w., then n.w. to Magdeburg, receiving in its progress the Mulde and the Saale, both from the left. From :Magdeburg flowing n.e., the E. arrives at the border of Brandenburg, receiving the Havel from the right; then turning n.w., it forms
the boundary between Prussian Saxony and Brandenburg, and enters Hanover, through which it flows for upwards of 30 miles. Then still flowing n.w., it forms the boundary of Lauenburg, the Hamburg territory, and Holstein on the n., and Hanover on the s., until it empties itself into the North sea at Cuxhaven, where it attains a breadth of upwards of 10 miles. At this point, the tide rises 12 or 13 feet. The E. is divided into several branches between Hamburg on the n., and Harburg on the s., by the numerous islands that there interrupt its course. Vessels of 14 ft. draught can at all times ascend to Hamburg. The scenery of the valley of the E., although generally pleasing, is not i remarkable in any portion of its course, except that which extends between Aussig and Dresden. Between these two towns, the course of the E. is generally between bold cliffs, and high natural battlements of rock; the banks covered with foliage, wherever a tree can support itself; and occasionally varied by a strip of green glade. It has been said that here the E. has all the variety of the English Wye, on a scale nearly as majestic as that of the Rhine. Its waters are stocked with abundance of highly esteemed 'fish; beavers likewise build in the stream. Steam-boats ply from Dresden up the river, and down as far as Torgau, as well as from Magdeburg to the sea. The navigation of the E. was formerly impeded by all manner of imposts and monopolies; and, what was quite as bad, sand was allowed to accumulate, so that vessels were often obliged to wait three or four weeks for want of sufficient water. The former of these impedi ments has of late years been gradually removed, till in 1870 all then existing tolls were abolished, but something still remains to be done towards improving the channel.