Werra

The Werra (German pronunciation: [ˈvɛʁa] ) is a 293-kilometre (182 mi) river in central Germany. The right-bank headwater of the Weser, it has its source near Eisfeld in southern Thuringia. The Werra joins the river Fulda in the town of Hann. Münden, forming the Weser. If the Werra is included as part of the Weser, the Weser is the longest river entirely within German territory at 744 kilometres (462 mi). "Weser" is a synonym for Werra in an old dialect of German. Its valley, the Werratal, has many tributaries and is a relative lull between the Rhön Mountains and the Thuringian Forest. Its attractions include Eiben Forest near Dermbach, an unusual sandstone cave at Walldorf, the deepest lake in Germany formed by subsidence (near Bernshausen), and Krayenburg, the ruins of a castle. The towns and main settlements along the Werra are Hildburghausen, Meiningen, Bad Salzungen, Tiefenort, Merkers-Kieselbach, Vacha, Heringen, Philippsthal, Gerstungen, Wanfried, Eschwege, Bad Sooden-Allendorf, Witzenhausen and Hannoversch Münden.