Bille (Elbe)

Bille
Bille at Grander Mühle
Country	Germany
Basin features
Main source	Schleswig-Holstein
River mouth	Elbe 53°32′24″N 10°1′27″E / 53.54000°N 10.02417°E / 53.54000; 10.02417Coordinates: 53°32′24″N 10°1′27″E / 53.54000°N 10.02417°E / 53.54000; 10.02417
Physical characteristics
Length	65 km (213,000 ft)

The river Bille is a small, slow-flowing river in Stormarn, Schleswig-Holstein and Hamburg, a right tributary of the Elbe. Its source is near Linau, north of the Hahnheide forest. It then flows south of Trittau, representing the border between Stormarn and Lauenburg, continues south of Reinbek and reaches the river Elbe near Billwerder. A lot of old estates and tasteful parks are laid out along its riverbank. Its total length is 65 km.

The Bille is one of three rivers which flow through the city of Hamburg, the other two being the Elbe and the Alster.

The upper Bille drains a wide catchment area with many brooks and small stretches of water. Main tributaries are the Corbek feeding the Bille near Witzhave and the Schwarze Au at Aumühle, having drained wide parts of the large Sachsenwald forest.