IJssel

IJssel
Gelderse IJssel
Sunset on the IJssel at Deventer
Location of river IJssel in dark blue
Native nameIessel(t) (Dutch Low Saxon)
Location
CountryNetherlands
ProvincesGelderland, Overijssel
DistrictsLiemers, Veluwe, Achterhoek, Salland
CitiesArnhem (suburbs), Doesburg, Zutphen, Deventer, Zwolle (suburbs), Kampen
Physical characteristics
SourceNederrijn
 • locationWestervoort, Gelderland, Netherlands
 • elevation6 metres
MouthKetelmeer (arm of below-sea-level channel east of the Flevopolder, Flevoland)
 • location
Kampen, Salland, Overijssel, Netherlands
 • coordinates
52°34′58″N 5°50′24″E / 52.58278°N 5.84000°E / 52.58278; 5.84000
 • elevation
−3 metres
Length125 km (78 mi)
Discharge 
 • average340 m3/s (12,000 cu ft/s)
Basin features
ProgressionRhine, Pannerdens Kanaal, IJssel
Tributaries 
 • rightOude IJssel, Berkel, Schipbeek

The IJssel (Dutch: [ˈɛisəl] ; Dutch Low Saxon: Iessel(t) [ˈisəl(t)]) is a Dutch distributary of the river Rhine that flows northward and ultimately discharges into the IJsselmeer (before the 1932 completion of the Afsluitdijk known as the Zuiderzee), a North Sea natural harbour. It more immediately flows into the east-south channel around the Flevopolder, Flevoland which is kept at 3 metres below sea level. This body of water is then pumped up into the IJsselmeer.

It is sometimes called the Gelderse IJssel (IPA: [ˌɣɛldərsə ˈʔɛisəl] ; "Gueldern IJssel") to distinguish it from the Hollandse IJssel. It is in the provinces of Gelderland and Overijssel, the latter of which was named after this river. The Romans knew the river as Isala. It flows from Westervoort, on the east side of the city of Arnhem.

Similar to the Nederrijn which shares its short inflow, the Pannerdens Kanaal, it is a minor discharge of the Rhine. At the fork where the Kanaal is sourced the Rhine takes the name the Waal. This splitting-off is west of the German border. The Waal in turn interweaves with other rivers and the lower course of the Nederrijn, which altogether is known as the Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta.

The name contains the digraph ij, used throughout modern Dutch orthography, which is why both letters appear capitalized (as in: IJmuiden and IJsselmeer).