The Trave is a river in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. It is approximately 124 km long and flows from its source at Gießelrade in Ostholstein to Travemünde, where it flows into the Baltic Sea. It passes through the towns of Bad Segeberg, Bad Oldesloe and Lübeck, where it joins the Elbe-Lübeck Canal and is navigable for ships from the Baltic Sea to the ports of Lübeck. The Herren Tunnel and a series of bridges cross Travemünde. A ferry connects Travemünde with Priwall. Tributaries of the Trave include the Wakenitz and the Stepenitz.
The lower reaches of the Trave River were formed during the last ice age (Weichselian glaciation), when glacial currents dug deep fjords on the present-day Baltic coast. Since the end of the Ice Age it has been flowing into the sea. Its lower end is called Traveförde (Trave Fjord).
In the early Middle Ages, the upper reaches of the Trave (together with the Schwentine) formed part of the Limes Saxoniae and the western border of the Vagria. In the Old Town of Lübeck, the river forms part of the medieval city fortifications. On its lower reaches it now forms the border between Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
The area around the course of the River Trave is designated as a protected ‚plant and animal habitat‘ under the European Union Habitats Directive. The river flows through or alongside a number of nature reserves and undeveloped land. Its catchment is home to a number of rare and endangered species. The area is a popular destination for hiking, cycling, canoeing and fishing.
