The Alster

One of the best-known German rivers, which is only 56 km long, has its spring 25 km north of Hamburg. The river, whose upper course winds it through charming meadows and heath-landscapes, comes into being by a confluence of two smaller streams, the old and new Alster. These two little streams join at Stegen, a village in Schleswig Holstein. Its riverbed broadens increasingly as some former mill brooks join in and near Hamburg; the river attains a considerable breadth.

At the beginning of the 19th century, the river was made navigable from Hamburg Fuhlsbüttel to the Krugkoppelbrücke in the district of Harvestehude. On the banks, private houses were built, in some cases with direct access to the water.

In the city, the river forms two great basins in the town. The outer big basin lay separated by the large Hamburg embankments, which were built from 1616 to 1625 as a city fortification around Hamburg, outside the town and therefore was called "Außenalster".

In summer, you can see apart from the Alsterdampfer (engine driven sightseeing boats) countless numbers of sailing and rowing boats on the "Außenalster". Since driving with motorboats on the waters is not permitted, one is looking for these in vain on the Alster. The only exceptions are of course the Alsterdampfer and the boats of the river police.

1.Krugkoppel-bridge, 2.Hamburger und Germania Ruderclub (rowing club),

3.sailing on the "Außenalster", 4.Alster bank 5.Living at the Alster canal

Here at the Außenalster lies the “Hamburger and Germania Ruderclub”. Germany's oldest rowing club is at the same time the second oldest one in Europe.

He who likes going for a little excursion in a boat, can hire a boat from a wide range of boats available from the boat lenders located along the lake's banks. There are sailing and rowing boats, canoes or even pedal boats in which you can undertake your own trip, or one takes it more comfortably and makes a tour with the Alsterdampfer.

ATG Alster-Touristik GmbH: www.alstertouristik.de

Read the History of over 140 years of shipping on the Alster.

Pictures of the "Alsterdampfer"

The Historical Alsterdampfer "St. Georg" - nostalgia pure ...

The St. Georg is the oldest still running steamship of Germany. She was built in Hamburg in 1876 and today she is the only one still operated with steam, owned by the non-profit association Alsterdampfschifffahrt e.V. The association offers, "historical Alster round trips" - departures at Jungfernstieg jetty.

You can buy tickets on board at the Conductor.

Boats rent at Bobby Reich
Boat hire business and sailing school: Piepers Segelschule
More addresses of boat hirers on the web site of hamburg.de

What ever your decision is, here you have the possibility of reaching up to the most remote channels and branches of the river, and find out how wonderful the Alster in the middle of the metropolis is. At the same time, you get to see quite a lot of the 2600 bridges that there is in Hamburg.
Paths on the edge of the meadows invite for long walks. Alster-hikers can be happy; the Alster walk now goes continuously of the spring up to the river mouth where the Alster flows into the Elbe.

The historical Lombardsbrücke (Lombards-bridge)

The "Binnenalster", separated by the Kennedy Bridge and the historical Lombardsbrücke from the Außenalster, appears urban. Impressive business buildings on Ballindamm and Jungfernstieg, the most important shopping mall of Hamburg, surround this rectangular water basin. From here it is only a stone's throw to the "Little Alster" which runs by the side of the town hall along a number of canals through business quarters in the centre of the city and finally flows in to the Elbe.

Ballindamm (Street) - Binnenalster - Binnenalster - Reesendammbrücke (Bridge)

In 1190, the river was dammed up to operate a mill. Near today's Reesendammbrücke by the Rathausmarkt (town hall square) was constructed a second bridge in 1250. The water thus dammed up, flooded the lower parts and in consequence, a lake of approx. 190 hectare arose.

Hamburg's particular liking of the Alster swans has not only a long tradition, but also a certain importance for the hanseatic town. The city fathers in the old days thought, as long as there are swans swimming on the Alster, Hamburg would remain a hanseatic town.
Already at the end of the 16th century, the city provided barley and oats for the swans. Since 1818, a special swan keeper is responsible for them. He looks after their food and takes care of the injured ones. In winter, he takes them to a smaller pond, which is kept ice-free for them. Hamburg’s living landmarks spend the winter together with other waterfowls on this pond.

The Alster swans belong to Hamburg like the “Michel” (St. Michaelis Church)

The approx. 120 swans spend spring and summer on the Alster. However, in late autumn, as soon as it getting uncomfortable outside, the swan keeper drives his charge into a lock of the city hall sluice. Here he snatches one after the other and distributes them to several boats and takes them into their winter quarters at the Eppendorfer millpond. In the swan accommodation, a little ward also is located, where ill or injured birds can be helped quickly. Here Hamburg's living landmarks winter together with other waterfowls on the waters that is kept free of ice, until they come back next spring on the Alster, where they soon go to their breeding places

In the lock - going aboard - departure to the winter

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In some years, when the winter is frosty cold, the Alster transforms itself into a winter wonderland. On the frozen water fair stalls will be put up where you can buy punch, tea, and other drinks as well as fried sausages and variety of cakes and pastries. The atmosphere has something of a funfair.

Klick here for more sightseeing information and for a great selection of places to stay with discount prices visit Hamburg Hotels.

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