Editing Ems (river)

{{short description|River in Germany and the Netherlands}}
{{about|the river in northwestern Germany and the Netherlands|the river in Hesse, Germany, tributary of the Eder|Ems (Eder)|the river in England|River Ems (Chichester Harbour)}}
{{Infobox river
| name               = Ems
| name_native        = 
| name_native_lang   = 
| name_other         = Eems ([[Dutch language|Dutch]], [[Low German]]), Iems ([[Westphalian language|Westfalian]]), Oamse ([[Saterland Frisian language|Saterland Frisian]]), Amisia ([[Latin]])
| name_etymology     = 
<!---------------------- IMAGE & MAP -->
| image              = Ems Wasserfall Hanekenfaehr.jpg
| image_size         = 300
| image_caption      = The Ems near [[Lingen]]
| map                = Ems river system topo.png
| map_size           = 330px
| map_caption        = River system of the Ems
| pushpin_map        = 
| pushpin_map_size   = 330px
| pushpin_map_caption = 
| mapframe           = yes
| mapframe-zoom      = 6
<!---------------------- LOCATION -->
| subdivision_type1  = Country
| subdivision_name1  = [[Germany]] and [[Netherlands]](part of watershed)
| subdivision_type2  = [[States of Germany|States]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Lower Saxony]] and [[North Rhine-Westphalia]]
| subdivision_type3  = Region
| subdivision_name3  = [[Emsland (region)|Emsland]]
| subdivision_type4  = 
| subdivision_name4  = 
| subdivision_type5  = Cities
| subdivision_name5  = {{hlist|[[Rheda-Wiedenbrück]]|[[Gütersloh]]|[[Warendorf]]|[[Rheine]]|[[Lingen]]|[[Meppen, Germany|Meppen]]|[[Papenburg]]|[[Leer, Lower Saxony|Leer]]|[[Emden]]}}
<!---------------------- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS -->
| length             = {{convert|362.4|km|mi|abbr=on}}{{GeoQuelle|DE-NW|GSK3C}} 
| width_min          = 
| width_avg          = 
| width_max          = 
| depth_min          = 
| depth_avg          = 
| depth_max          = 
| discharge1_location= [[Emden]]
| discharge1_min     = 
| discharge1_avg     = {{convert|80|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}
| discharge1_max     = 
<!---------------------- BASIN FEATURES -->
| source1            = 
| source1_location   = [[Schloß Holte-Stukenbrock]]
| source1_coordinates= {{coord|51|51|21|N|8|41|55|E|display=inline}}
| source1_elevation  = {{convert|134|m|abbr=on}}
| mouth              = [[Dollart|Dollart Bay]]/[[North Sea]]
| mouth_location     = [[Emden]]
| mouth_coordinates  = {{coord|53|19|32|N|7|14|41|E|display=inline,title}}
| mouth_elevation    = {{convert|0|m|abbr=on}}
| progression        = 
| river_system       = 
| basin_size         = {{convert|17934|km2|abbr=on}}
| tributaries_left   = 
| tributaries_right  = [[Leda River|Leda]], [[Hase]]
| custom_label       = 
| custom_data        = 
| extra              = 
}}

The '''Ems''' ({{langx|de|Ems}} {{IPA|de|ɛms||De-Ems.ogg}}; {{langx|nl|Eems}} {{IPA|nl|eːms||Nl-Eems.ogg}}) is a river in northwestern [[Germany]]. It runs through the [[States of Germany|states]] of [[North Rhine-Westphalia]] and [[Lower Saxony]], and discharges into the [[Dollart|Dollart Bay]] which is part of the [[Wadden Sea]]. Its total length is {{convert|362.4|km|mi}}.<ref name="DE-NW_GSK3C"/> The state [[border]] between the Lower Saxon area of [[East Friesland]] (Germany) and the [[Provinces of the Netherlands|province]] of [[Groningen (province)|Groningen]] (Netherlands), whose exact course was the subject of a border dispute between Germany and the Netherlands (settled in 2014), runs through the Ems [[estuary]].

==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).

==Tourism==
[[File:Ems nahe Quelle.jpg|thumb|275px|The ''Ems'' only a few hundred yards from its spring in [[Schloß Holte-Stukenbrock]]]]
The Ems is accompanied and crossed by different long-distance bicycle routes:
* EmsAuenWeg
* [[Emsland Route]]
* [[Hase Ems Weg]]

==Cities and municipalities==
[[Image:Ems Telgte.jpg|thumb|275px|Ems near Telgte]]
[[Image:Meppen hubbruecke.jpg|thumb|275px|Ems in Meppen]]
[[Image:bij Leer, de Eems foto1 2010-05-13 12.34.JPG|thumb|275px|Ems near Leer]]
*[[Schloß Holte-Stukenbrock]]
*[[Hövelhof]]
*[[Steinhorst (Delbrück)|Steinhorst]]
*[[Westerwiehe]]
*[[Schöning]]
*[[Rietberg]]
*[[Rheda-Wiedenbrück]]
*[[Harsewinkel]]
*[[Warendorf]]
*[[Telgte]]
*[[Greven]]
*[[Emsdetten]]
*[[Rheine]]
*[[Salzbergen]]
*[[Emsbüren]]
*[[Lingen]]
*[[Geeste, Emsland|Geeste]]
*[[Meppen, Germany|Meppen]]
*[[Haren, Germany|Haren]]
*[[Lathen]]
*[[Kluse (Emsland)|Kluse]]
*[[Dörpen]]
*[[Lehe, Lower Saxony|Lehe]]
*[[Aschendorf]]
*[[Tunxdorf]]
*[[Papenburg]]
*[[Weener]]
*[[Leer, Lower Saxony|Leer]]
*[[Jemgum]]
*[[Midlum, Lower Saxony|Midlum]]
*[[Critzum]]
*[[Rorichum]]
*[[Gandersum]]
*[[Emden]]
*[[Knock, East Frisia|Knock]]
*[[Delfzijl]]

==Tributaries==
*[[Wapelbach]]
*[[Dalke]]
*[[Lutter (Ems)|Lutter]]
*[[Axtbach]]
*[[Hessel]]
*[[Bever (Ems)|Bever]]
*[[Werse]]
*[[Eltingmühlenbach]]
*[[Große Aa]]
*[[Hase]]
*[[Nordradde]]
*[[Leda River|Leda]]

==History==
The Ems was known to several ancient authors: [[Pliny the Elder]] in ''Natural History'' (4.14), [[Tacitus]] in the ''Annals'' (Book 1), [[Pomponius Mela]] (3.3), [[Strabo]] and [[Ptolemy]], ''Geography'' (2.10). Ptolemy's name for it was the Amisios potamos, and in [[Latin]] Amisius fluvius. The others used the same, or Amisia, or Amasia or Amasios. The identification is certain, as it always is listed between the [[Rhine]] and the [[Weser]], and was the only river leading to the [[Teutoburg Forest]].

The Amisius flowed from the Teutoburg Forest, home of the [[Cherusci]], with the [[Bructeri]] and others bordering the river. These tribes were among the initial [[Franks]]. The Romans were quite interested in adding them to the empire, and to that end built a fort, Amisia, at the mouth of the Ems. As the river was navigable to their ships, they hoped to use it to access the tribes at its upper end.

Surrounding the river for most of its length, however, were swamps, bogs and marshes. The Romans found they had no place to stand, could not pick the most favourable ground, because there was none, and could not in general follow the strategies and tactics developed by the [[Roman army]]. They were stopped at the [[Battle of Teutoburg Forest]], 9 AD, and were checked again 6 years later. The Ems became a road leading nowhere for them, nor were they ever able to bridge the swamps satisfactorily with causeways.

The Dollart Bay near Emden did not exist until 1277,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Goffart |first1=Walter |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Qex4Pl0YATwC&q=dollart+ems+flood+1277&pg=PA126 |title=Historical Atlases: The First Three Hundred Years, 1570–1870 |publisher=University of Chicago Press |year=2003 |page=126 |isbn=9780226300719 |access-date=2018-09-16 }}</ref> when a catastrophic storm surge flooded 43 parishes and killed an estimated 80,000 people.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Suess |first1=Edward |url=https://archive.org/details/faceearthdasant00suesgoog |quote=dollart ems flood 1277. |title=The Face of the Earth |publisher=Clarendon Press |year=1906 |page=[https://archive.org/details/faceearthdasant00suesgoog/page/n437 417] |access-date=2018-09-16 }}</ref> Most of the land lost in that flood has been reclaimed in a series of initiatives from the 16th to the early 20th centuries. The river in 1277 curved north by Emden, covering the area of the current Emden harbor complex.

Construction of canals in more modern times connected the Ems to other waterways, opening it as a highway of industrial transportation.

== River islands ==
* [[Bingumer Sand]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Ems|Ems (river)}}
* [http://www.ems.nrw.de/ www.ems.nrw.de/] (in German)
* [http://www.unsere-schoene-ems.de/ The Ems with Emsbueren]

{{Rivers of Germany}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Ems basin| ]]
[[Category:Rivers of Groningen (province)]]
[[Category:Federal waterways in Germany]]
[[Category:Germany–Netherlands border]]
[[Category:Rivers of Lower Saxony]]
[[Category:Rivers of North Rhine-Westphalia]]
[[Category:Territorial disputes of Germany]]
[[Category:Territorial disputes of the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Rivers of the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Rivers of Germany]]