Enz
| Enz | |
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Besenfeld | |
| • coordinates | 48°36′33″N 8°27′01″E / 48.609028°N 8.450278°E |
The Enz is a river flowing north from the Black Forest to the Neckar in Baden-Württemberg. It is 106 km long.
Its headstreams – the Little Enz (
Major tributaries to the Enz are Glems and Nagold (with its tributary Würm). Near Besigheim, the Enz feeds into the Neckar.
In earlier times, the Enz was important for the timber rafting industry.
Geography
River system
The Enz flows through two large natural regions: in the upper half of its course, the river and its tributaries drain the eastern half of the Northern Black Forest; later it flows through the southwest German Gäu landscape, mostly through the Neckar Basin.
Including its main headstream, the Poppelbach, the Enz has a total length of about 105 kilometres. However, unusually, its right
Headstreams
The Enz bears its name without any qualifier until it reaches the town of
In terms of water quantity and size of catchment area, the Poppelbach, which flows from the south, is the main headstream, whilst the Kaltenbach, which flows from the west, has a slightly greater length and higher source. The Poppelbach rises to the south, only 1 km north of the source of the River Nagold at 822 m (in the parish of
Great Enz and upper reaches in the Black Forest
From the confluence of the Poppelbach and Kaltenbach, the Great Enz initially flows through a narrow wooded valley that, after a small change in gradient, opens into the much broader valley of the Rombach, joining from the west. The valleys of the Enz, Rombach and other western tributaries of the upper reaches are characterised by glacial
Enz valley in the Gäu and Neckar Basin
After emerging from the Black Forest, the Enz flows down to its mouth in the Neckar Gäu country in the
Overview of the tributaries
Tributaries from the confluence of the Little (Kleine) and Great (Große) Enz. Tributary lengths are based on the source furthest from the mouth.
- Kleine Enz, from the right in Calmbach, 20 km and 88 km2.
- Förtelbach, from the right in Höfen an der Enz.
- Eyach, from the left between Höfen an der Enz and Neuenbürg, 18.5 km and 52.6 km2.
- Rotenbach, from the left in hamlet of Rotenbach near Neuenbürg.
- Größelbach, from the right between Neuenbürg and Birkenfeld.
- Tiefenbach, from the left in Birkenfeld.
- Nagold, from the right in Pforzheim, 90.4 km and 1,151 km2.
- Mäuerachklinge, from the right im Pforzheim village of Mäuerach.
- Igelsbach, from the left between Niefern.
- Schlupfgraben, from the left in Enzberg
- Erlenbach, from the left in Mühlacker, 11.1 km.
- Schmie, from the left near Vaihingen, 12.1 km and 47.4 km2.
- Strudelbach, from the right near Enzweihingen, 15 km and 55 km2.
- Dürre Enz, from the left in Oberriexingen.
- Glems, from the right near Unterriexingen, 47.2 km.
- Leudelsbach, from the right between Unterriexingen and Untermberg, 6.5 km and 22.7 km2.
- Saubach, from the right in Bissingen.
- Metter, from the left in Bietigheim, 28 km.
- Steinbach, from the left in Besigheim.
Political geography
The Enz flows mainly through the counties of Calw, Enzkreis, Pforzheim and Ludwigsburg. Some headwaters of tributaries of the Great Enz and the headwaters of the Kaltenbach flow partly through Rastatt.
Until the great territorial upheavals around 1803 and 1806, the course of the Enz ran mainly through the territory of
Environment and economy
Flora and fauna
The lower reaches of the Enz, with their typical
In the shallow waters up to 10,000 larvae - of
From early summer, the Enz is home to dense communities of
Some rare and endangered species live all year round on the Enz, which is an important resting stop for many migratory birds. These include, inter alia,
Economy
Until the early 20th century,
In the muschelkalk area of the river,
Since the 5th century; B.C. (the early La Tène period) iron ore mining has been carried out in the Enz region. The visitor mine of Frischglück Pit is an example of an individual mine.
Water sports
The upper reaches of the Enz are mainly used by
Water sports are restricted on some sections of the river in order to protect the ecosystem:
- Enzkreis: traffic lights on the weir at Mühlhausen: no boating on the mill's loop when there is a red light
- Ludwigsburg county:[6] Enter from the riverbank and landing stages only at the marked entry and exit points. Keep off pebble islands and shoals; no camping, barbecues or fires on the waterfront, except at signed and equipped places.
1 May to 30 September 30: Roßwag (river km 34.12) closed as far as the Vaihingen Seemühle (km 29.94)
Same period, but to Bietigheim-Bissingen Sawmill (km 13.16): at water levels below 65 cm (Vaihingen Gauge) Boating only with trained guide; prohibited at levels less than 45 cm.
References
- ^ a b Map services of the Baden-Württemberg State Office for the Environment, Survey and Conservation (Landesanstalt für Umwelt, Messungen und Naturschutz Baden-Württemberg)
- ^ Teilbearbeitungsgebiet 45 Enz unterhalb Nagold bis Mündung Neckar
- ^ Topographical map of Baden-Württemberg, 1:50,000 series.
- ^ Friedruch Huttenlocher & Hansjörg Dongus, Die naturräumlichen Einheiten auf Blatt 170 "Stuttgart", Bad Godesberg, 1967 (Series: "Naturräumliche Gliederung Deutschlands").
- ^ Historical Atlas of Baden-Württemberg, map VI/13.
- ^ Regulation of the Landratsamte Ludwigsburg on the regulation of the general usage on the Enz in the district of Ludwigsburg, 25 April 2006
Literature
- Max Scheifele: Als die Wälder auf Reisen gingen. Flößerei im Enz-Nagold-Gebiet. Verlag G. Braun, Karlsruhe, 1996, ISBN 3-7650-8164-7.
External links
- Map of the course of the Enz at: Map services of the Baden-Württemberg State Office for the Environment, Survey and Conservation (Landesanstalt für Umwelt, Messungen und Naturschutz Baden-Württemberg)
- High Water Forecast Office with gauge data etc. on the Enz
- Enz Valley Cycleway
- Teilbearbeitungsgebiet 45 Enz below Nagold to its confluence with the Neckar
- Boating information at kajaktour.de
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