In this article, we are going to explore the fascinating world of White Elster and everything that this topic/person/date can offer us. From its impact on today's society, to its origins and evolution over time, we will dive into a complete analysis of White Elster. We will discover its many facets, its influence in different areas, as well as the opinions and visions of experts in the field. Get ready for a deep dive into the exciting universe of White Elster, where we will find relevant and updated information that will allow you to expand your knowledge and better understand this topic/person/date.
![]() | You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in German. (November 2022) Click for important translation instructions.
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White Elster Weiße Elster, Bílý Halštrov | |
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![]() White Elster valley near Wünschendorf/Elster | |
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Location | |
Countries | |
Physical characteristics | |
Source | |
• location | Hazlov, Karlovy Vary Region, Czech Republic |
• elevation | 724 m (2,375 ft) |
Mouth | |
• location | Saale |
• coordinates | 51°25′57″N 11°57′10″E / 51.43250°N 11.95278°E |
Length | 257 km (160 mi) |
Basin features | |
Progression | Saale→ Elbe→ North Sea |
Tributaries | |
• left | Weida |
• right | Schwarzbach, Trieb, Göltzsch, Schnauder, Pleiße, Parthe, Reide |
The White Elster (German: Weiße Elster, Czech: Bílý Halštrov) is a 257-kilometre (160 mi) long river in central Europe. It is a right tributary of the Saale. The source of the White Elster is in the westernmost part of the Czech Republic, in the territory of Hazlov. 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". 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.
Although "Elster" is German for "magpie", the origin of the name has nothing to do with the bird. The name comes from the Indo-European root el-/ol- meaning "flow" and the Germanic ending "-str". Alster has the same etymology. 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.
The White Elster proved disastrous to the French troops when they retreated from Leipzig in October 1813, as a part of the Napoleonic Wars. Józef Poniatowski, Marshal of France, drowned in the river on 19 October 1813.