Editing Ems (river) (section)

==Course==
The source of the river is in the southern [[Teutoburg Forest]] in North Rhine-Westphalia. In Lower Saxony, the brook becomes a comparatively large river. Here the swampy region of [[Emsland]] is named after the river. In [[Meppen, Germany|Meppen]] the Ems is joined by its largest tributary, the [[Hase]] River. It then flows northwards, close to the [[Netherlands|Dutch]] border, into [[East Frisia]]. Near [[Emden]], it flows into the Dollard bay (a [[national park]]) and then continues as a [[tide|tidal]] [[river]] towards the Dutch city of [[Delfzijl]].

Between Emden and Delfzijl, the Ems forms the border between the Netherlands and Germany and was subject to a mild dispute: the Dutch believed that the border runs through the geographical centre of the estuary, whereas the Germans claimed it runs through the deepest [[channel (geography)|channel]] (which is close to the Dutch [[coast]]). As the parties are now friendly states with an open border, the argument went no further than an agreement to disagree. The issue was settled amicably in October 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dw.com/en/germany-and-the-netherlands-end-centuries-old-border-dispute/a-18020219|title=Germany and the Netherlands end centuries-old border dispute – DW – 24.10.2014|website=DW.COM}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldbulletin.net/europe/147013/germany-netherlands-end-ems-river-border-dispute|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180215023737/http://www.worldbulletin.net/europe/147013/germany-netherlands-end-ems-river-border-dispute|url-status=usurped|archive-date=February 15, 2018|title=Germany, Netherlands end Ems River border dispute – World Bulletin|website=worldbulletin.net}}</ref>

It became an active issue in late July 1914, when the Imperial German government began plans to mine the whole of the estuary that they claimed, in preparation for the launching of the Great War. The Dutch envoy in Berlin, Wilem Alexander Frederik Baron Gevers, tactfully announced the boundary was uncertain, and that the dispute was "opgeschort", which could mean either "suspended" or "resolved", depending on the context. The Dutch government endorsed the ambiguous declaration, thus relieving itself of an obligation to declare war on Germany for violating its neutrality. After the war, the dispute was resumed.<ref>''Collected Diplomatic Documents Relating to the Outbreak of the European War''  pp. 326–332, 379, 381–382.  pub. His Majesty's Stationery Office -London 1915</ref>

Past Delfzijl, the Ems discharges into the Wadden Sea, part of the [[North Sea]]. The two [[strait]]s that separate the German [[island]] of [[Borkum]] from its neighbours [[Rottumeroog]] (Netherlands) and [[Memmert]] (Germany) continue the name "Ems", as they are called ''Westere(e)ms'' and ''Osterems'' (West and East Ems).