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Uecker
The rivers Ucker/Uecker, Randow, and Welse
Location
Country	Germany
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Temmen-Ringenwalde
• coordinates	53°4′5″N 13°42′49″E / 53.06806°N 13.71361°E / 53.06806; 13.71361
• elevation	76 m (249 ft)
Mouth
• location	Szczecin Lagoon
• coordinates	53°45′0″N 14°4′1.2″E / 53.75000°N 14.067000°E / 53.75000; 14.067000
Length	98 km (61 mi)
Basin size	2,200 km (850 sq mi)

The Uecker (German pronunciation: [ˈʏkɐ] ) or Ucker is a river in the northeastern German states of Brandenburg, where it is known as the Ucker, and of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Its source lies in the Uckermark district, one kilometer north of Ringenwalde. It flows northward through several lakes. The first one is Großer Krinertsee. The next ones are rather small.

Then there are two large lakes, Lake Oberuckersee and Lake Unteruckersee, joined by the navigable section of the river, called der Kanal, with the smaller Lake Möllensee in between. The island within Oberuckersee was the residence of a Slavic ruler in the 10th century, and connected to the coast of the lake by a long wooden bridge. On the northern end of Unteruckersee the city of Prenzlau is situated, nowadays the district capital of Uckermark. In Middle Ages, it was granted urban rights by the Pomeranian Griffins earlier than Szczecin in 1234, shortly before they lost the Uckermark to the Margraviate of Brandenburg in 1250.

Most of the course below Unteruckersee is not navigable. An effort of the von Arnim family to prepare it for large river boats ceased after a few decades in the 19th century. Between Prenzlau and the junction of the river Köhntop, it is sometimes even difficult to travel by canoe. Near the small village of Nieden, the river arrives in (Mecklenbuurg-) Hither Pomerania, where it is called Uecker. In this country, it passes through the towns of Pasewalk, Torgelow, and Eggesin. Pasewalk, as well as Prenzlau, features some important Brick Gothic architecture.

In Eggesin, the northern section of the river Randow discharges into the Uecker. In Ueckermünde, the Uecker ends in Szczecin Lagoon, which is connected to the Baltic Sea by the three straits Peenestrom, Świna and Dziwna.

The name Ucker originates from a West Slavic language, the word vikru/vikrus, meaning 'fast' or 'quick'. The Uecker gave its name to the Uckermark historical region and to the two districts Uckermark and Uecker-Randow.

Notes

1. Polish Ukra and Wkra: see „Dokłandny słownik języków polskiego i niemieckiego w czterech tomach“, Wydanie grugie, Wiedeń, Nakładem c. i k. księgarni nadwornej Maurycego Perlesa, 1913, Dział drugi: Сześć niemiecko-polska, Тom II, Strona 40.
2. Heinrich, p. 382

References

• Heinrich, Gerd (1973). Handbuch der historischen Stätten Deutschlands, Band 10, Berlin und Brandenburg (in German). Stuttgart: Alfred Kröner Verlag. p. 563. ISBN 978-3-520-31103-0.

v t e Rivers of Germany by drainage basin or main stem
Baltic Sea	Oder Lusatian Neisse Peenestrom Peene Recknitz Schwentine Trave Stepenitz Uecker Warnow Nebel
Black Sea	Danube Abens Altmühl Brenz Friedberger Ach Große Laber Günz Iller Ilz Inn Isar Lauchert Lech Mindel Naab Paar Regen Riß Rot Schwarze Laber Vils Wörnitz Zusam
North Sea	Elbe Aland Alster Bille Black Elster Eger Havel Ilmenau Jeetzel Löcknitz Mulde Ohre Oste Saale Stör Stepenitz Weißeritz Wesenitz Eider Treene Ems Hase Rhine Acher Ahr Elz Emscher Erft Kinzig Lahn Lauter Lippe Main Moselle Murg Nahe Neckar Pfinz Queich Rench Ruhr Sauer Selz Sieg Wied Wiese Wupper Wutach Weser Aller Diemel Fulda Hunte Lesum Werra Werre
Maas	Niers Rur Inde Merzbach Wurm
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