Schwienau (river)

Schwienau
Location Lower Saxony, Germany
Length 19 kmdep1
Source In the Lüneburg Heath near Wriedel
53°01′14″N 10°16′59″E / 53.02056°N 10.2829861°E / 53.02056; 10.2829861Coordinates: 53°01′14″N 10°16′59″E / 53.02056°N 10.2829861°E / 53.02056; 10.2829861
Source height 73 m above sea level (NN)
Mouth near Groß Süstedt into the Gerdau
52°58′17″N 10°23′23″E / 52.97139°N 10.389861°E / 52.97139; 10.389861
Mouth height 48 m above sea level (NN)
Descent 25 m
Basin Elbe
Progression Gerdau Ilmenau Elbe North Sea
Left tributaries Wriedeler Bach
Villages Brockhöfe, Bode, Hanstedt I, Ebstorf, Wittenwater, Stadorf, Linden, Groß Süstedt

The Schwienau is a left tributary of the Gerdau in North Germany and is 19 km long. It rises in the Weidebruch north of Brockhöfe near Wriedel and discharges north of Groß Süstedt into the Gerdau. Initially it flows through near-natural grassland landscape. But after just 2.5 kilometres it has been straightened and directed past a pumping station. It has been artificially straightened throughout much of its route and rarely flows in its natural channel. The banks either side are mainly used for agriculture. Only near Wriedel and east of the village does it run through small woods and untended heath. Its fluvial sediment consists mainly of sand and mud. This affords a habitat particularly for leeches, snails and shrimp-like animals called scuds. Its water is generally only moderately contaminated.

Tributaries

  • Schliepbach
  • Bruchgraben
  • Wittenwater
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