Editing Havel (section)

===Spandau to Plaue===
[[File:Wannsee.jpg|thumb|right|The Wannsee, looking north and upriver, with leisure craft in evidence]]
The stretch of the river between the confluence with the Spree at Spandau and the junction with the [[Elbe–Havel Canal]] at [[Plaue, Brandenburg|Plaue]] is administered as part of the [[Lower Havel–Waterway]], which also includes the stretch of river downstream to the confluence with the Elbe. Between Spandau and Plaue, the river forms part of the main inland waterway route from the Rhine and the west of Germany; from [[Hamburg]] and the North Sea ports, to both Berlin and Poland. It thus carries a considerable amount of commercial traffic.<ref name=bsiwg93/>

South of Spandau, the river widens into a wide lake that extends, through some narrower areas, to Potsdam. On the east bank south of Spandau is the [[Grunewald (forest)|Grunewald]] with several beaches, among them the [[Großes Fenster]] ({{IPA|de|ˈɡʁoːsəs ˈfɛnstɐ|-|De-Großes Fenster.ogg}}; literally "Great Window") with an unobstructed view upriver, hence the name, followed by the island of [[Schwanenwerder]] and the large arm known as the [[Großer Wannsee]]. This part of the river can be very busy with leisure craft. The island of [[Pfaueninsel]] is also a feature of this stretch of the river. A [[Ferry transport in Berlin#Routes within the city and the VBB common tariff|public ferry]] crosses these waters between Wannsee and [[Kladow]], carrying passengers and cyclists.<ref name=bsiwg93/>

The [[Teltow Canal]] joins the river from the east via the [[Griebnitzsee]] just before the city reaches the city of Potsdam, providing an alternative route to the [[Oder–Spree Canal]] avoiding central Berlin. The [[Griebnitz Canal]] provides a short cut for smaller vessels from the Griebnitzsee to the Großer Wannsee.<ref name=bsiwg93/>

At Potsdam the navigation splits into two channels. The Havel, here known as the Potsdamer Havel, takes a route southwest through Potsdam and the [[Templiner See]] to the [[Schwielowsee]], then northwest to Paretz, whilst the [[Sacrow–Paretz Canal]] takes a shorter route due east to Paretz, saving some {{convert|13|km}} compared to the {{convert|29|km}} Potsdamer Havel. The Potsdamer Havel is crossed by the [[Kiewitt Ferry]] in Potsdam itself, and by the [[Caputh Ferry]] at the entrance to the Schweilowsee.<ref name=bsiwg93/>

[[File:Stadtschleuse Brandenburg (5).JPG|thumb|left|The Stadtschleuse on the Brandenburg City Canal in winter]]
At Paretz the two channels join up again, as does the Havel Canal from further upstream. Just downstream of Paretz, the river is crossed by the [[Ketzin Cable Ferry]]. At Brandenburg an der Havel, the navigation again splits into two routes. Commercial shipping descends through a lock into the [[Silo Canal]] that passes to the north of the city centre. Leisure craft pass through the centre of the city, using the short [[Brandenburg City Canal]], a smaller lock, then a stretch of the river. Both routes rejoin in the linked lakes of [[Breitling See]] and [[Plauer See (Brandenburg)|Plauer See]], which leads up to Plaue.<ref name=bsiwg93/>