View source for Mulde

{{Short description|River in Germany}}
{{One source|section|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox river
  | name              = Mulde
  | image             = Mulde dueben1.jpg
  | image_caption     = The Mulde near [[Bad Düben]]
  | source1_location  = [[Zwickauer Mulde]] and [[Freiberger Mulde]]
  | mouth_location    = [[Elbe]]
  | mouth_coordinates = {{coord|51|52|08|N|12|13|52|E|region:DE-ST|display=inline,title}}
  | subdivision_type1 = Country
  | subdivision_name1 = [[Germany]]
  | length_km = 124
  | length_ref = or {{convert|290|km|mi|abbr=on}} including Zwickauer Mulde
  | source1_elevation = {{convert|63|m|ft|abbr=on}}
  | discharge1_avg    = 
  | basin_size        = 
  | progression       = {{RElbe}}
}}
[[Image:Elbe basin.png|thumb|right|Location]]
The '''Mulde''' ({{IPA|de|ˈmʊldə|-|De-Mulde.ogg}}) is a river in [[Saxony]] and [[Saxony-Anhalt]], [[Germany]]. It is a left tributary of the [[Elbe]] and is {{convert|124|km|mi}} long.

The river is formed by the confluence, near [[Colditz]], of the [[Zwickauer Mulde]] (running through [[Zwickau]]) and the [[Freiberger Mulde]] (with [[Freiberg]] on its banks), both rising from the [[Ore Mountains]]. From here the river runs northwards through Saxony ([[Grimma]], [[Wurzen]], [[Eilenburg]], [[Bad Düben]]) and Saxony-Anhalt ([[Jeßnitz]] and [[Dessau]], the old capital of [[Anhalt]]). The Mulde flows into the Elbe {{convert|3|km|mi|0}} north of Dessau.<ref>[[1911 Encyclopædia Britannica]]</ref>

In August 2002 a flood caused severe damage, that even endangered the [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]] "Dessau-Wörlitzer Gartenreich" and the city Dessau. In June 2013, another flood caused significant damage in the region.

==Etymology==
Its name could be derived from Old German (possibly [[Gothic language|Gothic]]) "Mulda" (𐌼ᚢ𐌻ᛞᚨ), meaning "dust" and a cognate of English "[[Mold (fungus)|mould]]"). But more possibly it is related to the German "mahlen" which means "to mill". Therefore, Mulde probably means "the milling river" and corresponds to the great number of water mills driven by the river in former times. 

==See also==
*[[List of rivers of Saxony]]
*[[List of rivers of Saxony-Anhalt]]

==References==
*{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Mulde}}

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

{{Commons}}

{{Rivers of Germany}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Mulde basin| ]]
[[Category:Rivers of Saxony]]
[[Category:Rivers of Saxony-Anhalt]]
[[Category:Rivers of Germany]]


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{{SaxonyAnhalt-river-stub}}