Aabach (Afte)

Coordinates: 51°32′0″N 8°42′0″E / 51.533333°N 8.7°E / 51.533333; 8.7

The Aabach, formerly called the Große Aa, is a 14 km long river in Germany, a left tributary of the river Afte. It rises in eastern North Rhine-Westphalia near the border with Hesse, between Bad Wünnenberg and Marsberg. Its source is where the regions Briloner Höhen and Sindfeld meet, in Brilon-Madfeld. From there it flows north between up to 503 m high mountains through a wonderful forested landscape, partly in the natural park Diemelsee. After a few kilometers it flows into the artificial lake Aabachstausee. It flows to the north and empties only about 3.5 km further north after Bad Wünnenberg, where it flows into the Afte. The drainage area of the Aabach reaches the divide between the Weser and Rhine river basins: the Aabach flows to the north and drains into the Rhine via the Afte, Alme and Lippe Rivers, while the small rivers that rise on the southern side of the ridge drain into the Weser through the Hoppecke and Diemel.