Helme (river)

The Helme is a river in Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. It is a left tributary of the Unstrut.

The Helme rises in the Harz mountains near the village of Stöberhai, which is part of the municipality of Harztor in Thuringia. It flows generally eastwards through the Goldene Aue (Golden Meadow), a fertile agricultural region. Major towns and villages along its course include:

• Niedersachswerfen
• Nordhausen
• Heringen/Helme
• Oldisleben
• Heldrungen

The Helme discharges into the Unstrut river near Sachsenburg, close to Artern, in Saxony-Anhalt. Its length is approximately 65 kilometers (40 miles). The Helme is known for its relatively slow flow and its significance for agriculture in the surrounding area.