Alster

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Alster
Aerial view of the Alster's two lakes in Hamburg
Map of Alster and canals in Hamburg
Location
Country	Germany
States	Schleswig-Holstein Hamburg
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Henstedt-Ulzburg
• coordinates	53°45′49.1″N 10°0′17.4″E / 53.763639°N 10.004833°E / 53.763639; 10.004833
• elevation	31 m (102 ft)
Mouth	Elbe
• location	Hamburg
• coordinates	53°32′40″N 9°59′0″E / 53.54444°N 9.98333°E / 53.54444; 9.98333
• elevation	4 m (13 ft)
Length	56 km (35 mi)
Discharge
• average	5.8 m3/s (200 cu ft/s)
Basin features
Tributaries
• left	Bredenbek, Ammersbek, Saselbek, Osterbek, Wandse
• right	Tarpenbek, Isebek
Progression	Elbe→ North Sea

The Alster (German pronunciation: [ˈalstɐ] ^ⓘ) is a right tributary of the Elbe river in Northern Germany. It has its source near Henstedt-Ulzburg, Schleswig-Holstein, flows somewhat southwards through much of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg and joins the Elbe in central Hamburg.

The Alster is Hamburg's second most important river. While the Elbe river is a tidal navigation of international significance and prone to flooding, the Alster is a non-tidal, slow-flowing and in some places, seemingly untouched idyll of nature, in other places tamed and landscaped urban space. In the city center, the river forms two lakes, both prominent features in Hamburg's cityscape.