Oder River facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Oder (Odra)
River
The Oder River, seen between Kienitz and Zollbrücke in Germany
Countries	Czech Republic, Poland, Germany
Source
- location	Oderské vrchy, Silesia, Czech Republic
Mouth	Szczecin Lagoon
- location	Baltic Sea, Poland
- coordinates	53°40′19″N 14°31′25″E / 53.67194°N 14.52361°E / 53.67194; 14.52361
Length	854 km (531 mi)
Basin	118,861 km² (45,892 sq mi)
Discharge	mouth
- average	574 m³/s (20,271 cu ft/s)

The Oder River (called Oder in German and Odra in Czech and Polish) is a major river in Central Europe. It starts in the Czech Republic and flows through Poland and Germany. For 187 kilometres, it forms part of the border between Poland and Germany.

The river is 854 kilometres long. It finally flows into the Szczecin Lagoon before reaching the Baltic Sea. Some important cities along the Oder include Wrocław, Eisenhüttenstadt, Frankfurt on the Oder, and Szczecin. The largest city on the Oder River is Wrocław in Poland.

What's in a Name?

The Oder River has slightly different names in various languages. Most of these names sound very similar:

• In English and German, it's called Oder.
• In Czech, Polish, and Lower Sorbian, it's called Odra.
• In Upper Sorbian, it's Wódra.
• In Kashubian, it's Òdra.

These names come from the old Latin language names. In the Middle Ages, people called the river Od(d)era in Latin. Later, in the 1500s, a new Latin name, Viadrus, was created for the river. The name of the river in the Old Church Slavonic language was Vjodr.

Where Does the Oder River Flow?

The Oder River is 854 kilometres long in total.

• About 112 kilometres of the river are in the Czech Republic.
• About 742 kilometres flow through Poland.
• For 187 kilometres, it forms the border between Germany and Poland.

The Oder is the second-longest river in Poland. The Vistula River is the longest.

The River's Journey

The Oder River starts in the Oder Mountains in the Czech Republic. Its watershed (the area of land where all the water drains into the river) covers 118,861 square kilometres. Most of this area is in Poland, with smaller parts in the Czech Republic and Germany.

As it flows, the river passes through five different regions (called voivodeships) in Poland. It also goes through two states in Germany.

Where the River Ends

The Oder River ends in the Szczecin Lagoon near a town called Police, Poland. Before it reaches the lagoon, the river splits into three smaller rivers:

• The Dziwna River
• The Świna River
• The Peene River

These three rivers then flow from the Szczecin Lagoon into the Bay of Pomerania, which is part of the Baltic Sea.

Cities Along the Oder

The Oder River in Szczecin, Poland

The Oder River flows past many important cities and towns. Here are some of the major ones:

• Ostrava
• Bohumín
• Racibórz
• Kędzierzyn-Koźle
• Krapkowice
• Opole
• Brzeg
• Oława
• Jelcz-Laskowice
• Wrocław
• Brzeg Dolny
• Ścinawa
• Szlichtyngowa
• Głogów
• Bytom Odrzański
• Nowa Sól
• Krosno Odrzańskie
• Eisenhüttenstadt
• Frankfurt (Oder)
• Słubice
• Kostrzyn
• Cedynia
• Schwedt
• Vierraden
• Gartz
• Gryfino
• Szczecin
• Police

Towns on the River Branches

After the Oder splits, its branches also pass through towns:

• The Dziwna River branch goes through Wolin, Kamień Pomorski, and Dziwnów.
• The Świna River branch goes through Świnoujście.
• The Peene River branch goes through Usedom, Lassan, and Wolgast.

Some towns are located right on the Szczecin Lagoon:

• Nowe Warpno
• Ueckermünde

Related pages

• Oder-Neisse line

Images for kids

• 

  Oder in Wrocław, overlooking Ostrów Tumski – Cathedral Island

• 

  The Oder dividing Poland and Germany seen from the Polish side near Kostrzyn nad Odrą

• 

  Estuary of the Lusatian Neisse into the Oder

• 

  The Oder in Szczecin, Poland, flows along the banks of the Old Town and the Ducal Castle

• 

  Łarpia, a left distributary of the Oder in Police, Poland

See also

In Spanish: Óder para niños