Elbe
Elbe river
Fourth largest river basin in Central Europe
On its 1,094 km course from its source in the Sudeten Mountains in the Czech Republic to its estuary at Cuxhaven, the Elbe drains a catchment area of approximately 150,000 km2 in four countries. It is the fourth largest river basin in Central Europe. About 25 million people live in the catchment area of the Elbe, thereof 18.5 million in Germany.
Other important features:
- About 735 million m3 of drinking water per year are drawn from the Elbe.
- Even though the river is relatively unspoilt, e.g., only two barrages exist on German territory, it is an important German inland waterway.
- Many protected areas are located along the river and underline its near-natural state: 136 designated or proposed bird sanctuaries, 1,165 registered flora and fauna habitats (thereof 1,137 areal and 28 linear).
- The Elbe is rich in fish species and many sections have regained their original species diversity.
- For 40 years the Elbe was the border river between East and West Germany. Today it reflects the changing pollution in the eastern parts of Germany.
The sampling area covers the 727 km long German section of the river.
Recommended analysis examples
Search data
Sub-areas
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First sub-area in the river Elbe after crossing the Czech-German border
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Transition area between the upper and middle courses of the river Elbe
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Sub-area downstream of the confluence of the rivers Saale and Mulde
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Most natural section of the River Elbe
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Only sub-area in the tidal section of the river Elbe
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The sampling areas have been selected to represent adequately the major types of ecosystems in Germany and taking into account the varying intensities of anthropogenic impact and land use.
Specimen
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Common mussel species as invasive animal in rivers and lakes with high information level for water pollution
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Bioindicator in rivers and lakes
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Fine insoluble mineral or organic particles in the water phase
Analytes
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Eighty percent of all elements on earth are metals
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Only eighteen elements in the periodic table
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Organic substances with at least one metall atom
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Group of organic compounds with at least one covalently bonded chlorine atom
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Toxic and persistent organochloropesticide
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Several isomeric compounds among the group of chlorinated hydrocarbons
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Group of organic compounds with at least three condensed six-membered rings
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Chemical agents against harmful organisms and for plant protection
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Organic compounds which are fully (per-) or partially (poly-) fluorinated
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Class of synthetic fragrances
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Class of non-ionic surfactants and their degradation products
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Atoms of one element with different weights
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Flame retardants reduce the flammability of objects
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Cyclic methylsiloxanes with persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic properties in the environment
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Additional information for the interpretation of contamination data
Sampling period
1993 - 2023