Wölpe

Wölpe is a river of Lower Saxony, Germany. It is about 17 km (11 mi) long and a left tributary of the Alpe.

Wölpe
The Wölpe near the castle Brunsburg at Heemsen
Location
CountryGermany
StateLower Saxony
Physical characteristics
Source 
  locationeast of Nienburg
  coordinates52°39′26″N 9°14′58″E
  elevation26 m above sea level (NN)
Mouth 
  location
near Rethem into the Aller
  coordinates
52°46′38″N 9°21′52″E
  elevation
18 m above sea level (NN)
Length16.6 km (10.3 mi)[1]
Basin features
ProgressionAlpeAllerWeserNorth Sea
Landmarks
Tributaries 
  leftSchipsegraben (branches off again)
  rightSchwarze Riede, Weißer Graben

The Wölpe has its source in a depression southeast of Erichshagen-Wölpe, a village in the borough of Nienburg and flows towards the northeast. In front of Rethem the Weiße Graben ("White Ditch") links the Wölpe with the Alpe. The Alpe-Wolpe-Umfluter then discharges into the Aller near Wohlendorf in the borough of Rethem. The waterway has been considerably straightened. It flows through woods, grassland and cultivated fields. According to the 2000 Water Quality Chart issued by the NLWKN it is critically polluted throughout (quality class II−III).[2]

History

Painting of Wölpe Castle in 1823, with the Wölpe in front widened to a moat

At about 0.8 kilometres (0.5 mi) from the source near the Nienburg village of Erichshagen-Wölpe the Wölpe flows by the mound on which the former castle of the counts of Wölpe stood. During the Middle Ages the waterway was widened into a moat for the security of the fortified position and flowed around the castle built in the 12th century. After the destruction of the site in the 17th century the castle moat and the Wölpe were filled with rubble.

About 4 km (2.5 mi) further on near Heemsen the Wölpe flows into the wood by the site of the 9th century Brunsburg castle. Here, too, the stream was probably used as part of the defences.

See also

References

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