ELBE. Mlle (dialectic .1 the, (MG. Elba. Alba, from 011G. elf. Icel. (Ur, river: called by the Romans Albis, by popular confusion with alb us. white, and by the Bohemians Lobe). An im portant river of central Europe (Map: Ger many, D 2). It originates in the confluence of numerous streams which rise at the southwest ern base of the Selineekoppe. one of the highest of the Iiiesengebirge. a mountain range on the northeast border of Bohemia. Beginning near latitude 50' 45' N. at an elevation of 4400 feet above sea-level, it has a total length of about 725 miles. Its basin is estimated at 56.500 miles. Through most of its course the Elbe is less than 1000 feet wide, lent at its long estuary-like mouth it has a width of several miles. Front the ha•e of the S•hne.ekoppe it flows south to Pardnldtz. thence west to Keehn, and then in a generally northwest direction past Melnik. where it is 425 feet wide and becomes navigable for small At Tetse.hen it leaves Bohemian territory and enters Saxony. its prin cipal affluent in Bohemia is the .101(lau.
On its way northwest through Saxony the Elbe passe, Pirna (where it becomes navigable for quite large boats). Dresden. and Meissen. Enter ing Pru.•ian Saxony. It passes 1‘ ittenberg, from which point it flows first west. then northwest to Magdeburg 1\ here it a width of 800 !eel), having reeciNcd the Mulde and the saak, both from the ,4 Path. From Magdeburg flowing north
east the Elbe arrives at the herder of Branden burg. receiving the I bevel front t he Turning northwest, it enters Ilanover, through which it flows for about :3(1 miles. Then, still coursing northwest and past Hamburg and Al Lona. the Elbe empties into the North Sea at Cux haven, where it a breadth of about 10 miles, and where the tide rise, 1:3 feet. Numerous islands divide the Elbe into several branches be tween Hamburg on the north and Marburg on the sleuth. Ocean liners ascend to Hamburg. The scenery if the valley of the Elbe, though gener ally pleasing, is not remarkable in any portion of its course except that between Aus•ig and Dres den. Dere the bold and picturesque cliffs and other beantiful landscape features have given the district the name of 'Saxon Switzerland.' The Elbe is stocked with fine fish. Its commerce is very extensive and important. Consult : Semm ler and Aliinnig, Der Elbstrom run seim 111 Ur sprung Lis zu seiner .11iinduny (Dresden. 1845) ; Bose. Allyemeine geographisehe and hydroteek el isehe Hesehreibung der Elbe (Annaburg, 1852) Nehls and Bubenderg, Die Elbe (1Tainkurg.1852).