Niederelbe

River in Germany

Niederelbe
The Lower Elbe at Rissen, Hamburg
Location
Country	Germany
State	Hamburg–Cuxhaven
Physical characteristics
Length	108 km (67 mi)
Width
• minimum	2 km (1.2 mi)
• maximum	18 km (11 mi)
Depth
• maximum	30 m (98 ft)
Basin features
River system	Elbe

The Niederelbe (i.e. Lower Elbe) is a 108 kilometers (67 miles) long section of the river Elbe, from western Hamburg downstream to its mouth into the North Sea near Cuxhaven. Starting at Mühlenberger Loch [de; nds] (or Elbe kilometer 634) near Finkenwerder, Hamburg, it gradually widens from 2 km (1.2 mi) to 18 km (11 mi). Once passing the Hamburg state border, the Niederelbe also forms the border between the states of Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein.

The Niederelbe forms part of the Elbe section named the Unterelbe (i. e. Lower ("Under") Elbe), comprising all parts of the Elbe influenced by the North Sea's tides, starting further inland at the sluice in Geesthacht (or Elbe kilometer 586).