Weisse Elster

White Elster (Weiße Elster)
White Elster valley
Country	Germany, Czech Republic
Basin
Main source	Western Czech Republic 724 m (2,375 ft)
River mouth	Saale 51°25′57″N 11°57′10″E / 51.43250°N 11.95278°E / 51.43250; 11.95278Coordinates: 51°25′57″N 11°57′10″E / 51.43250°N 11.95278°E / 51.43250; 11.95278
Physical characteristics
Length	257 km (160 mi)
Features
Tributaries	Left: Weida Right: Schwarzbach, Trieb, Göltzsch, Schnauder, Pleiße, Parthe, Reide

The White Elster (German: Weiße Elster, Czech: Bílý Halštrov) is a 257-kilometre (160 mi) long river in central Europe, right tributary of the Saale. Its source is in the westernmost part of the Czech Republic, near Aš. After a few kilometres, it flows into eastern Germany. In Germany, it flows through the states of Saxony, Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt. The White Elster flows through the cities of Plauen, Greiz, Gera, Zeitz, Pegau and Leipzig. It flows into the river Saale in Halle.

Although "Elster" is German for "magpie", the origin of the name has nothing to do with the bird. It is of Slavic origin: alstrawa = hurrying. The White Elster never meets the Black Elster, which flows from Lusatia into the River Elbe. The rivers have the names "white" and "black" to distinguish between them.

The White Elster proved disastrous to the French troops when they retreated from Leipzig in October 1813, as a part of the Napoleonic Wars.Józef Poniatowski, Marshal of France, drowned in the river on 19 October 1813.

Source of the White Elster in the westernmost part of the Czech Republic, near Aš