Lichte (river)


The Lichte is a right tributary of the Schwarza in Thuringia, Germany, and is long.

Course

The Lichte flows north through the Thuringian Forest Nature Park, first through the Finsterer Grund, where a now closed section of the Sonneberg – Probstzella single-track railway line passes over it on a viaduct. It then reaches the municipality of Lichte, which extends for approximately along its banks. In the centre of Lichte the Piesau joins the Lichte. Below the municipality of Lichte, the river passes through a roughly long and deep gorge, which ends in the Deesbach Forebay. This is followed by the Leibis-Lichte Dam, the second tallest valley dam in Germany, high. The municipality of Unterweißbach borders the dam and extends for approximately along the river, which then empties into the Schwarza to the west of the municipality at Mankenbachsmuehle.
The Lichte and Piesau both have unusually steep and deep gorges, the difference between hill tops and valley bottoms often exceeding.

Tributaries

The rivers and streams in the area of the Lichte valley have been known for centuries for deposits of placer gold and are considered the most significant sources of gold in Germany. Recreational placer miners continue to find occasional gold nuggets.