Editing Aller (Germany) (section)

== Course ==

=== Upper Aller ===
[[File:Skizze Allerkanal.png|thumb|upright=2|Section of the Upper Aller near [[Gifhorn]] with the [[Aller Canal]], the only remaining part of the river with tight [[meanders]]]]
[[File:Aller Flusssystem topo.png|thumb|upright=2|Rivers of Aller basin in blue, others in grey]]
The Aller rises in the state of Saxony-Anhalt in the west of the region known as the [[Magdeburg Börde]] near [[Seehausen (Börde)|Seehausen]] and north of [[Oschersleben (Bode)]]. It has several source streams that run down the northeastern side of the [[Hohes Holz]] within the municipal boundaries of [[Wormsdorf]] (part of Gehringsdorf), [[Ovelgünne]] (part of Siegersleben) and [[Eggenstedt]]. The Eggenstedt tributary is the most southerly of the source streams. The nearest large centres of population in the source region are [[Helmstedt]], about {{convert|20|km|mi}} northwest, and [[Magdeburg]] around {{convert|25|km|mi}} east.

Initially, the Aller flows rather like a canalised brook in a northwestern direction through low hills and intensively farmed arable fields. As it does, it passes the [[Flechtingen Hills]] to the east and another range of hills to the west that stretches from the [[Lappwald]] over the Hohes Holz as far as Oschersleben (Bode). The river passes the villages of [[Eilsleben]] and [[Weferlingen]]. After about {{convert|60|km|mi|adj=pre|river}}, it reaches [[Oebisfelde]] and the southern edge of the [[Drömling]]. After crossing the state border between Saxony-Anhalt and Lower Saxony, the Aller bends sharply southwest near [[Grafhorst]]. Here, the terrain is already only about {{convert|55|m|ft}} above [[Normalnull|sea level]]. Between here and its mouth, {{convert|150|km|mi}} away, its elevation drops by only about {{convert|40|m|ft}}, so that the speed of the current is considerably reduced in Lower Saxony. Near Grafhorst, the Aller meets the Breslau-Magdeburg-Bremen [[glacial valley]] and then, for the most part, follows it. From here on, the river mainly runs through [[grassland]].

Near [[Wolfsburg-Wendschott]], the Aller passes under the [[Mittelland Canal]] in a [[culvert]] where there is a barrier that is impassable to fish. The Aller swings northwest again from [[Wolfsburg]]. In the area of the town it crosses the [[Allerpark]] and flows past the [[Allersee]] before flowing past the [[Barnbruch]].

{{gallery
|width=180
|height=135

|File:Allerbeiwefensleben.jpg
|The Aller near [[Wefensleben]], about {{convert|10|km|mi|0}} below its source

|File:Aller Oebisfelde.jpg
|The Aller near [[Oebisfelde]]

|File:Allerbrücke.jpg
|Bridge on the Upper Aller in [[Wolfsburg-Vorsfelde]]
}}

South of [[Weyhausen]], the [[Aller Canal]] branches off the Aller. The canal was built between 1860 and 1863 and is about {{convert|18|km|mi}} long. It was supposed to drain the long-standing floods that were greatly feared at that time. The canal runs parallel to, and generally a few miles south of, the Aller, rejoining it near Brenneckenbrück (west of Gifhorn). The canal runs south past Gifhorn, whilst the Aller flows through the town. This {{convert|20|km|mi|adj=mid|-long}} section, which parallels the Aller Canal, is the only section of the Aller that meanders in its natural river channel. Elsewhere, the Aller has been straightened and widened along its entire length from source to mouth. East of Gifhorn near [[Osloß]] it crosses under the [[Elbe Lateral Canal]], which is carried over it on an [[Navigable aqueduct|aqueduct]]. After that it runs via [[Gifhorn]] to [[Müden (Aller)|Müden]], where it merges with the [[Oker]].{{clear}}

[[File:Aller Schleife.jpg|thumb|upright=2|Bend in the river on the Upper Aller in [[Dannenbüttel]]]]{{clear}}

=== Middle Aller ===
The {{convert|30|km|mi|adj=mid|-long}} section of the Aller from the mouth of the Oker to [[Celle]] is referred to as the Middle Aller ({{lang|de|Mittelaller}}). After passing [[Wienhausen]], it is navigable as far as Celle. Here, the river has so much water that there are [[barrage (dam)|barrage]]s and the water power is extracted from the river using [[weir]]s.
{{gallery
|width=180
|height=135

|File:PICT4952 Okermündung in Müden.JPG
|Confluence with the Oker (right) near [[Müden (Aller)|Müden]]

|File:Aller in Blumlage (Celle) IMG 2472.jpg
|The river in Celle

|File:Örzte Mündung Aller.jpg
|Mouth of the [[Örtze]] (left) near [[Winsen (Aller)]]
}}

=== Lower Aller ===
The section of the river known as the Lower Aller (''Unteraller'') begins at Celle and runs for {{convert|120|km|mi}} to the [[Weser]]. The Lower Aller is a designated federal waterway (''Bundeswasserstraße''). The river is navigable from here to [[Winsen (Aller)|Winsen]]. Near [[Eickeloh]] a [[reaction ferry]] crosses the Aller and it is here that the [[Leine (river)|Leine]] flows into the Aller. Upstream and downstream of [[Rethem (Aller)|Rethem]], there are two groups of impressive meanders. Below them it passes  [[Verden (Aller)|Verden]]. About {{convert|4|km}} northwest of the town, near Eißel, a village in the borough of Verden, the Aller finally discharges into the Weser. There are two ''Alte Allers'', i. e. old branches of the Aller. One is on the left bank opposite Verden. The other is on the right bank and is the former lowest part of the course of the river.

[[File:Verden aller.jpg|thumb|left|600px|Floods on the Old Aller near [[Verden an der Aller|Verden]]]]
{{clear}}