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The Schwentine is a
river A river is a natural flowing watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, sea, lake or another river. In some cases, a river flows into the ground and becomes dry at the end of its course without reaching another body of w ...
in the North
German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) ** Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...
state of
Schleswig-Holstein Schleswig-Holstein (; da, Slesvig-Holsten; nds, Sleswig-Holsteen; frr, Slaswik-Holstiinj) is the northernmost of the 16 states of Germany, comprising most of the historical duchy of Holstein and the southern part of the former Duchy of Sc ...
. It is approximately long and rises on the hill of Bungsberg, the highest point in the state, near the village of
Kasseedorf Kasseedorf is a municipality in the district of Ostholstein, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after ...
in
Ostholstein Ostholstein (; da, Østholsten) is a district in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is bounded by (from the southwest and clockwise) the districts of Stormarn, Segeberg and Plön, the Baltic Sea and the city of Lübeck. History The district was es ...
. It then runs from its source to
Kiel Kiel () is the capital and most populous city in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein, with a population of 246,243 (2021). Kiel lies approximately north of Hamburg. Due to its geographic location in the southeast of the Jutland ...
where it flows into the
Kiel Fjord Kiel () is the capital and most populous city in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein, with a population of 246,243 (2021). Kiel lies approximately north of Hamburg. Due to its geographic location in the southeast of the Jutland pe ...
, a bay of the
Baltic Sea The Baltic Sea is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that is enclosed by Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Sweden and the North and Central European Plain. The sea stretches from 53°N to 66°N latitude and ...
. It passes through several lakes, including the
Großer Plöner See The Großer Plöner See ("Great Plön Lake") or Lake Plön ("Plöner See", ) is the largest lake (30 km²) in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is located near the town of Plön. Its main tributary, as well as its main outflow, is the River S ...
, the largest lake in Schleswig-Holstein, as well as the towns
Eutin Eutin () is the district capital of Eastern Holstein county located in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein. As of 2020, the town had some 17,000 inhabitants. History The name Eutin (originally Utin) is of Slavic origin. Its meaning i ...
,
Malente Malente is a municipality in the district of Ostholstein, in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is about 5 km northwest of Eutin and 35 km north of Lübeck. The historian Sigrid Jahns Sigrid Jahns (''née'' Langer) (born on 26 October 1 ...
,
Plön Plön (; Holsatian: ''Plöön'') is the district seat of the Plön district in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, and has about 8,700 inhabitants. It lies right on the shores of Schleswig-Holstein's biggest lake, the Great Plön Lake, as well as o ...
,
Preetz Preetz () is a town southeast of Kiel in the district of Plön, in Schleswig-Holstein, Northern Germany. Preetz is also known as "Schusterstadt" (English: 'shoemaker town') named after shoemakers who used to live and work in this town. Preetz has ...
and Kiel.


Water management

The Schwentine is of great importance in the supply of
drinking water Drinking water is water that is used in drink or food preparation; potable water is water that is safe to be used as drinking water. The amount of drinking water required to maintain good health varies, and depends on physical activity level, a ...
managed by the Kiel Utilities Company. The Schwentine Valley Waterworks (''Wasserwerk Schwentinetal'') has been located near Klausdorf since about 1900. Although the Schwentine valley gives an exceptionally natural impression along virtually its entire length, it is closely linked to the industrialisation of the city of
Kiel Kiel () is the capital and most populous city in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein, with a population of 246,243 (2021). Kiel lies approximately north of Hamburg. Due to its geographic location in the southeast of the Jutland ...
. Two
hydroelectric plant Hydroelectricity, or hydroelectric power, is electricity generated from hydropower (water power). Hydropower supplies one sixth of the world's electricity, almost 4500 TWh in 2020, which is more than all other renewable sources combined an ...
s, now classed as
cultural monument A national heritage site is a heritage site having a value that has been registered by a governmental agency as being of national importance to the cultural heritage or history of that country. Usually such sites are listed in a heritage regist ...
s, (one on the
Rosensee The Rosensee is a lake in the region of Holstein Switzerland in the state of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. History The lake began as a reservoir, built in 1908 as part of the construction of the Schwentine Hydropower Plants (''Schwentine Wasserk ...
) were laid out by the shipyard founder, Bernhard Howaldt, and are still in operation today. The once great mill industry no longer exists today. The old Howaldt Shipyard (that was merged into the firm of HDW), of which only the old metal foundry remains, was given a new lease of life as an industrial museum. Thanks to various sponsor programmes (e. g. the EU's programme) the region around the Schwentine estuary has gradually lost its character as an industrial wasteland. Apart from the immediate area of the estuary, no cargo boats use on the Schwentine. Instead there are excursion boats (''5-Seen-Fahrt, Schwentinetalfahrt'') and rowing boats.


Nature conservation

The Schwentine Oxbow Lake (''Altarm der Schwentine'') is a part of the Schwentine that has been designated as
nature reserve A nature reserve (also known as a wildlife refuge, wildlife sanctuary, biosphere reserve or bioreserve, natural or nature preserve, or nature conservation area) is a protected area of importance for flora, fauna, or features of geological or ...
since 1984. It received this conservation status because the waterbody has remained close to its natural state due to its steep river banks and is a habitat for a range of rare plants and animals. It covers an area of . In addition to the section of river it includes an ox bow lake, a tributary, hedgerows, wooded river banks and slopes, rich in herbs, and small ponds.


History

The name ''Schwentine'' comes from the Baltic ''Šventinė'' (meaning 'The holy one'; in
German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) ** Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...
, ''die Heilige'');(Schwęʃkieʃe wardas tawa) Martynas Mažvydas Catechism, printed on 8 January 1547 by Hans Weinreich in
Königsberg Königsberg (, ) was the historic Prussian city that is now Kaliningrad, Russia. Königsberg was founded in 1255 on the site of the ancient Old Prussian settlement ''Twangste'' by the Teutonic Knights during the Northern Crusades, and was name ...
.
or from the Slavic word ''Sventana'', of similar meaning. The original source of the Schwentine was not on the Bungsberg, but in the vicinity of Bornhöved. The source of the present-day
Alte Schwentine The Alte Schwentine ("Old Schwentine") is a river in the region of Holstein in North Germany. Its different sections are also known as the Bornau, Depenau, Kührener Au, Postau and Mühlenau. Course It rises near Bornhöved on the hill of Grim ...
is viewed by historians, natural scientists and linguistic researchers as the original source of the Schwentine. During the Early and
High Middle Ages The High Middle Ages, or High Medieval Period, was the period of European history that lasted from AD 1000 to 1300. The High Middle Ages were preceded by the Early Middle Ages and were followed by the Late Middle Ages, which ended around AD 150 ...
the little river marked the border between the German or Saxon region, which extended to the
Baltic Sea The Baltic Sea is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that is enclosed by Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Sweden and the North and Central European Plain. The sea stretches from 53°N to 66°N latitude and ...
near Kiel, and the Slav-settled regions in the present-day Ostholstein. In the Battle of Bornhöved on the field of Sventanafeld (Sventanapolje or "Schwentine field") near the village of Bornhöved near Neumünster in 798 the Obodrites, led by Drożko, allied with the Franks, defeated the Nordalbingian Saxons. See also:
Wagria WagriaArnold, Benjamin (1991). ''Princes and territories in medieval Germany'', Cambridge University Press, Cambridge and New York, p. 156. . (german: Wagrien, ''Waierland'' or ''Wagerland'') is the northeastern part of Holstein in the German state ...
,
Limes Saxoniae The Limes Saxoniae (Latin for "Limit of Saxony"), also known as the Limes Saxonicus or Sachsenwall ("Saxon Dyke"), was an unfortified limes or border between the Saxons and the Slavic Obotrites, established about 810 in present-day Schleswig ...
.


Photos

File:Quelle der schwentine bei bornhöved.jpg, Source of the
Alte Schwentine The Alte Schwentine ("Old Schwentine") is a river in the region of Holstein in North Germany. Its different sections are also known as the Bornau, Depenau, Kührener Au, Postau and Mühlenau. Course It rises near Bornhöved on the hill of Grim ...
near Bornhöved File:SchwentineBeiMalente.JPG, The Schwentine near Bad Malente File:Wst schwentine preetz 001.jpg, The Schwentine in the area between Preetz and the Rosensee near Raisdorf


Course

List of lakes through which the Schwentine flows (in downstream order): * Stendorfer See *
Sibbersdorfer See The Sibbersdorfer See is a lake in the district of Ostholstein within the region known as Holstein Switzerland in the North German state of Schleswig-Holstein. It lies between Sibbersdorf and Fissau, north of the Großer Eutiner See, near the ...
*
Großer Eutiner See The Großer Eutiner See is a lake in Holstein Switzerland, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It lies northeast of the town of Eutin. It has an area of , is up to 17 metres deep and lies at a height of about . It northern side borders directly on ...
*
Kellersee The Kellersee () is a lake in the Holstein Switzerland region of North Germany. It lies east of the village of Malente on the River Schwentine, has an area of , is up to 27 metres deep and lies at a height of . Southeast of the lake is the vil ...
* Dieksee * Langensee *
Behler See The Behler See is a lake in the Holstein Switzerland region of North Germany. It lies between Timmdorf (municipality of Malente) to the east and the town of Plön to the west. To the east it transitions into the Langensee, to the west into the H ...
* Höftsee *
Großer Plöner See The Großer Plöner See ("Great Plön Lake") or Lake Plön ("Plöner See", ) is the largest lake (30 km²) in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is located near the town of Plön. Its main tributary, as well as its main outflow, is the River S ...
* Stadtsee * Schwanensee *
Kleiner Plöner See The Kleine Plöner See is a lake in Holstein Switzerland in North Germany. Geography It lies west of the town of the Plön, has an area of , is up to about 31 metres deep and has a surface elevation of around . The lake is owned both by the ...
*
Kronsee The Kronsee is a lake in the Holstein Switzerland region of North Germany. It lies on the River Schwentine between the Kleiner Plöner See, upstream, and the Fuhlensee, downstream, south of Wahlstorf Manor House Wahlstorf is a village and a f ...
* Fuhlensee *
Lanker See The Lanker See is a lake in the region of Holstein Switzerland in North Germany. It lies south of the town of Preetz in the district of Plön, and is crossed from south to north by the River Schwentine. The Lanker See has wealth of small bays. Al ...
* Kirchsee *
Rosensee The Rosensee is a lake in the region of Holstein Switzerland in the state of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. History The lake began as a reservoir, built in 1908 as part of the construction of the Schwentine Hydropower Plants (''Schwentine Wasserk ...
, a reservoir


See also

*
List of rivers of Schleswig-Holstein A list of rivers of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany: A * Aalbek, flowing through the Hemmelsdorfer See and into the Baltic Sea * Aalbek, tributary of the Stör *Alster * Alte Schwentine * Arlau B * Barnitz * Basshornlaufgraben * Bekau * Beste * ...


References

{{Authority control Rivers of Schleswig-Holstein Rivers of Germany