Elbe

elb, an important river in central Germany. It rises in Silesia and empties into the North Sea. Prague, Dresden, Magdeburg, and Hamburg are its chief cities. By treaty it is open to the ships of all nations. By means of branches and numerous canals it is connected with a large number of the cities of central Europe, including Halle, Berlin, and Leipsic. It is well stocked with fish. For the convenience of tugs towing canal boats, a chain has been laid in the Elbe from Magdeburg to a point in Bohemia 293 miles distant. The chain is picked up by a reversible drum, and runs lengthwise of the boat. When two tugs meet, the one going down stream relinquishes the chain until the other has passed. The dripping chain is fished up, laid on the drum, and the journey is continued. Over thirty tugs use the chain. They tow many barges.