Why Is the Elbe a Difficult River to Navigate at Times?

Plus, AmaWaterways' Low Water Guarantee. The Elbe has always been a tricky river to navigate. Many who book Elbe river cruises return home disappointed because their ships were unable to sail due to low water. They end up sleeping on the ships and doing bus tours during the day.

Is the Elbe river navigable?

The Elbe itself is navigable for 1,000-ton barges as far as Prague through the Vltava. In eastern Germany it serves the river ports of Magdeburg, Schönebeck, Aken, Dessau, Torgau, Riesa, and Dresden, carrying bituminous coal, lignite, coke, metal, potash, grain, and piece goods.

What is the Elbe river known for?

One of Central Europe's most important waterways, the Elbe River rises at an elevation of about 5,000 feet in the northwestern Czech Republic. It is fed by a number of small streams, the most important being the White Elbe. The river traverses much of Germany in a northwesterly direction on its way to the North Sea.