Treene (river)

The Treene (Danish: Trenen) is a river, hydrologically 95 km (59 mi) and nominally 73.4 km (45.6 mi) long, in the north of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is a right-bank tributary of the River Eider. It starts in northern Angeln, southeast of Flensburg, and flows mainly south-south-west before joining the Eider near Friedrichstadt.

Treene
The Treene near Wohlde
Location
Country	Germany
State	Schleswig-Holstein
Physical characteristics
Source	Bondenau
• location	Mohrkirch, Angeln
• elevation	50 m (160 ft)
2nd source	lake Tresssee, Oeversee
• elevation	20 m (66 ft)
Mouth	Eider
• location	Friedrichstadt
• coordinates	54°22′6″N 9°5′9″E
Length	95 km (59 mi)
Basin size	797 km^2 (308 sq mi)
Discharge
• average	10.7 m^3/s (380 cu ft/s)
Basin features
Progression	Eider→ North Sea

The upper course is called Bondenau. Its source is situated in the ground of Mohrkirch.[1][2] The name 'Treene' begins at the Tresssee lake near Großsolt in the district of Schleswig-Flensburg. After about 73 km (45 mi) it reaches the town of Friedrichstadt (in Nordfriesland district).[3] There it is released through valves into the estuary of the Eider, 25 km (16 mi) above the Eider Barrage. It is the most important tributary of Eider river. Since the construction of Kiel Canal, it is even stronger than Eider river itself.

Details

The Bondenau, as the main headstream of the Treene, rises 15.6 km (9.7 mi) east of the Tressee on the peninsula of Angeln, bounded by the Flensburger Förde and the Schlei. So the Treene is an unusual case of a river that rises on a peninsula in the Baltic Sea, but flows into the North Sea. The length of Bondenau is 20.43 km (12.69 mi). Half a kilometer before the Treßsee (Lake Tress), it is joined by a stream named Kielstau or Kielsau, by some people considered another headstream of Treene river. Between the Treßsee and Tüdal, there is a natural reserve covering an area of 20 square kilometres (7.7 sq mi) called Obere Treenelandschaft that extends along the river. Especially the lower part is a retreat area for migratory birds ("stork village" Bergenhusen).

The middling section between Langstedt and Treia developed to be a popular canoe district, the lower section can be used by pleasure crafts as well. In Schwabstedt, there is a public swimming site in the river.

History

From antiquity to High Middle Ages, the strip of dry land between Treene wetlands and Schlei had the function of an isthmus. Here the Danevirke secured the south border of Denmark, which at that time was marked by the Eider, more than 20 km (12 mi) further south. And the route Eider - Treene - Rheider Au (tributary of the Treene) - Schlei served as a shipping route between the North Sea and Baltic Sea (see also Haithabu). Whether thereby boats were pulled between Selker Noor (an extension of Schlei inlet) and the Rheider Au 16 km (9.9 mi) on primitive rollers over the 20 m high land ridges (usual opinion), or whether the Kograben, 1 to 2 km south of and parallel to the walls of Danevirke, also served as a shipping canal, has not yet finally been clarified.

See also

• Eider-Treene Depression
• Treene (municipality)
• List of rivers of Schleswig-Holstein

Sources

• Gerd Quedenbaum: Vorflut. Der Eiderverband, ein Beitrag zur Geschichte des Deich- und Entwässerungswesens in der mittleren Eiderregion. Eider-Verlag, Düsseldorf 2000
• Gerd Quedenbaum: Sorge und Treene. Eider-Verlag, Düsseldorf 1984

References

1. Digitaler Atlas Nord (official mapserver of Schleswig-Holstein state), showing the onset of Treene river, but not the very source
2. Environment dates of Schleswig-Holstein state → Gewässernetz (network of waterbodies), R=3547103 H=6063176
3. Stream gauge at Friedrichstadt