The Saale is a river in Germany that flows through the states of Bavaria, Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt. After the Vltava, it is the second most important tributary of the Elbe. The length of the river is 433.9 km. Its catchment area is 24 079.1 km². It rises in the Smrchiny near Zell im Fichtelgebirge at an altitude of 728 m. It meanders northwards and enters Thuringia after passing through the industrial town of Hof. Where it flows between the wooded low mountains of the Thuringian Forest to the Saalfeld valley. After leaving the Saalfeld, the Saale flows into the Rudolstadt. Here it receives the water of the Schwarz River, in whose valley are the ruins of Schwarzburg Castle, the seat of the once-ruling Schwarzburg family
The average flow of the Saale at its mouth is 117 m³/s, compared with 60 m³/s at Naumburg. It reaches its highest levels in winter and spring. Water transport is possible from Naumburg for 175 km. From Halle, the river is regulated and there are approximately 20 locks. Hydroelectric power stations have been built on the river. The towns of Hof, Saalfeld, Rudolstadt, Jena, Naumburg, Weißenfels, Merseburg, Halle, Bernburg and Calbe are located on the river.
Where the name Saale derives from the Proto-Indo-European root *séles „marsh“, related to Welsh hêl, heledd „river meadow“. The name may also be related to the Indo-European root ‚sal‘, ‚salt‘. Where the Slavic name of the Saale River, Solawa, which is still found in Lusatian-Serbian texts, comes from Old High German sol, „salt“, and awa, „water“.
