Hamme (river)

Hamme
Course of the Giehler Bach and Hamme from Langer Heide into the Teufelsmoor to its mouth on the Lesum
Country	Germany
State	Lower Saxony
Basin features
Main source	Lange Heide (Giehler Bach) 45 m above sea level (NN) 53°15′05″N 8°45′09″E / 53.25139°N 8.7525°E / 53.25139; 8.7525Coordinates: 53°15′05″N 8°45′09″E / 53.25139°N 8.7525°E / 53.25139; 8.7525
River mouth	Joins the Wümme near Ritterhude to become the Lesum 2 m above sea level (NN) 53°10′22″N 8°44′40″E / 53.17278°N 8.74444°E / 53.17278; 8.74444
Progression	Lesum → Weser → North Sea
River system	Weser
Landmarks	Small towns: Ritterhude
Tributaries	Left: Schaufleet, Kollbeck, Rummeldeisbeek, Schmoo, Neu Sankt Jürgener Schiffgraben, Umbeck, Wörpedahler Graben, Semkenfahrt, Kirchenfleet, Neugrabenfleet, Deichkampfleet Right: Butterweidengraben, Beek, Fankstaken, Osterholzer Hafenkanal, Scharmbecker Bach,
Physical characteristics
Length	48 km (30 mi)
Navigable	to Viehspecken or the Osterholz-Scharmbeck Harbour Canal

The Hamme is a 48 km long river in Germany, Lower Saxony, north-east of Bremen. Its source is north of Osterholz-Scharmbeck. It flows through the moors north-east of Bremen called Teufelsmoor (German for dead moor), and meets the river Wümme in Ritterhude. From this junction, the river is called Lesum. The Lesum flows into the river Weser in Bremen-Vegesack.

On the river Hamme there are many water-sport clubs, for example the Wassersportclub Hamme e.V. (watersports-club Hamme), the Ruder-Verein Osterholz-Scharmbeck von 1901 e.V. (Rowing Club Osterholz-Scharmbeck since 1901) and the Segel Club Hamme e.V. (Sailing Club Hamme).

The upper reaches of the Hamme are called the Giehler Bach (Giehl Stream). The Giehler Bach originates in the heathland of the Lange Heide northeast of Osterholz-Scharmbeck, a geest plateau at a height of about 45 m above sea level (NN), which is also the source of many other geest streams (such as the Drepte, Scharmbecker Bach, Schönebecker Aue and Wienbeck). The sport designated as the "source" is the outlet of several drainage ditches on the plateau which is used for farming.

From this geest ridge, a terminal moraine from the Saale glaciation, the Giehler Bach flows northeastwards and descends within a few kilometers between the villages of Hülseberg and Freißenbüttel to a height about 15 m above sea level (NN). Near Ohlenstedt it is joined by waters from the Ohlenstedter Quellseen lakes and the river, falling very gently, then flows through the collective municipality of Hambergen to the Springmoor near Giehlermühlen (Vollersode) (5 m above sea level).

From there, the stream descends very gently to the Teufelsmoor, where it is finally discharges into the Hamme into the Giehler Moor near Viehspecken (4 m above sea level). It is also joined by the Hamme-Oste Channel (Kollbeck). Flowing very slowly, the Hamme now heads south through the glacial valley named after her.