Spree, a river of Prussia, rises in the east of Saxony, on the borders of Bohemia, and after a winding course of 227 miles, but bearing generally north and north-west, falls into the Havel (q.v.) at Spandau. Area of drainage basin, 3655 sq. m. The principal towns on its banks are Bantz, Kottbus, and Berlin. By the Frederick-William or Müllrose Canal it is connected with the Oder. A couple of short canals assist navigation near Berlin, and in 1890 it was proposed to spend close upon £1,000,000 in deepening the river and its approaches in that city so as to afford easy communication from the Oder to the Elbe. In the
Spreewald, a district near Kottbus much cut up by the interlacing arms of the river, there still exists a colony of Wends.