Werse

Werse
Confluence of the Werse with the Ems near Münster-Gelmer
Location
CountryGermany
StateNorth Rhine-Westphalia
Reference no.DE: 32
Physical characteristics
Source 
  locationSource: near Beckum from three headstreams
  coordinates51°45′29″N 8°02′53″E / 51.7580417°N 8.0481083°E / 51.7580417; 8.0481083
  elevation112 m above sea level (NN)
Mouth 
  location
near Münster-Gelmer into the Ems
  coordinates
52°02′05″N 7°40′58″E / 52.0347056°N 7.682775°E / 52.0347056; 7.682775
  elevation
41 m above sea level (NN)
Length66.6 km
Basin size762.47 km2 (294.39 sq mi)
Basin features
ProgressionEmsNorth Sea
Landmarks

The Werse [German pronunciation: [ˈvɛʁzə]] (river no. 32) is a 67-kilometre-long (42 mi), left-hand tributary of the River Ems in Münsterland, North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany. The catchment area of the Werse is 762.47 km². Its name may be derived from a pre-Indo-European language, Vasconic, from which the Basque language developed. Its water quality is Class II-III and, in places, Class II. Contamination from communal sewage farms, fish ponds, but especially diffuse contamination from agriculture pollutes the mass balance of the Werse and leads to eutrophication along the entire river course, especially in the retention basin areas.