Gerdau (river)

{{Short description|River in Germany}}

{{Infobox river

| name = Gerdau

| map =

| map_size =

| map_caption =

| image = Gerdau.png

| image_size =

| image_caption = The Gerdau near {{ill|Groß Süstedt|de}} (municipality Gerdau)

| subdivision_type1 = Country

| subdivision_name1 = Germany

| subdivision_type2 = State

| subdivision_name2 = Lower Saxony

| subdivision_type3 = Location

| subdivision_name3 = Counties of Celle and Uelzen

| subdivision_type4 = Reference no.

| subdivision_name4 = DE: 5942

| length = 29.71 km {{GeoQuelle|DE-NI|UK}}

| width_avg =

| depth_avg =

| source1_location = In the Lüneburg Heath between Faßberg and Eimke

| source1_coordinates = {{Coord|52.9420139|10.239306|type:river_region:DE-NI|format=dms|display=inline}}

| source1_elevation = ca. {{Höhe|70|DE-NHN|link=true }}

| mouth_location = Confluence: Near {{ill|Veerßen|de}} (Uelzen) with the Stederau to become the Ilmenau

| mouth_coordinates = {{Coord|52.9476|10.5537|type:river_region:DE-NI|format=dms|display=inline,title}}

| mouth_elevation = ca. {{Höhe|35|DE-NHN|link=true}}

| basin_population =

| basin_landmarks = {{ubl|Large towns: Uelzen|Villages: Faßberg, Eimke, Gerdau}}

| progression = {{RIlmenau}}

| basin_size_km2 = 427.74

| basin_size_ref = {{GeoQuelle|DE-NI|UK}}

| discharge1_location =

| discharge1_min =

| discharge1_avg =

| discharge1_max =

| tributaries_right = {{ill|Häsebach|de}}, {{ill|Hardau (river)|lt=Hardau|de|Hardau (Fluss)}}
(for these and others see section tributaries)

| tributaries_left = Schwienau
(for these and others see section tributaries)

| waterbodies =

| ports =

| bridges =

| custom_label = References

| custom_data =

| extra =

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Hydrologically the main headstream of the Ilmenau

}}

File:BrambostMoorb.jpg

The Gerdau is a {{cvt|30|km}} long, left (western) source river for the Ilmenau in the north German state of Lower Saxony.

The river rises in the eastern part of the Lüneburg Heath on the northeastern edge of the Südheide Nature Park. From its source, which is located in the Brambostel Moor Nature Reserve,[http://www.nlwkn.niedersachsen.de/master/C33524598_N5512611_L20_D0_I5231158 NSG Brambosteler Moor] north of the 94 m high Faßberg, the Gerdau flows by the villages of Eimke and Gerdau towards Uelzen. South of Uelzen it merges with the Stederau to form the Ilmenau.