The Vechte (German pronunciation: [ˈfɛçtə]) (in German and in Low Saxon (Dutch Low Saxon pronunciation: [v̯ɛxtə])[2][3] or Vecht (in Dutch) (Dutch pronunciation: [vɛxt]), often called Overijsselse Vecht (Dutch pronunciation: [oːvərˈɛi̯səlsə ˈvɛxt]) in the Netherlands to avoid confusion with its Utrecht counterpart, is a river in Germany and the Netherlands. Its total length is 182 km (113 mi), of which 107 km (66 mi) are on German soil.

Vecht(e)
The Vechte near Schüttorf, Germany
Location
Countries
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationat the foot of the Bertmaring Farm, Oberdarfeld, Westphalia
 • elevation110 m (360 ft)
Mouth 
 • location
Zwarte Water
 • coordinates
52°33′44″N 6°6′4″E / 52.56222°N 6.10111°E / 52.56222; 6.10111
Length181.7 km (112.9 mi)[1]
Basin size5,740 km2 (2,220 sq mi)[1]
Basin features
ProgressionZwarte WaterIJsselmeer
Route of the Vechte

The Vechte originates in Oberdarfeld in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia near the city of Coesfeld and flows north into the state of Lower Saxony, past the towns of Nordhorn and Emlichheim, across the border and then westwards into the Dutch province of Overijssel (hence its alternate Dutch designation). There, it flows through the north part of the Salland region past Hardenberg and Ommen, taking in the water of the Regge stream along the way.

Close to the city of Zwolle, the river suddenly bends north to end in confluence with the Zwarte Water river near the town of Hasselt.

The Vechte is probably the Vidrus mentioned by Ptolemy in his map of Magna Germania.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b Hydrographic Directory of the NRW State Office for Nature, the Environment and Consumer Protection (Gewässerverzeichnis des Landesamtes für Natur, Umwelt und Verbraucherschutz NRW 2010) (xls; 4.67 MB)
  2. ^ Reeks Nederlandse Dialectatlassen. Zuid-Drenthe en Noord-Overijssel
  3. ^ The places near the Vechte in the County of Bentheim have the same pronunciation