Aa River
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Aa is the name of a large number of small European rivers. The word is derived from the Old German aha, cognate to the Latin aqua, water (cf. German -ach). In German also Au and Aue exists, similar to å in North Germanic languages, with the meaning of moderately sized river. It is also an English noun, beloved of Scrabble players, meaning a stream.
The following are the more important streams of this name:
- in France:
- the river Aa, in the north of France, falling into the North Sea at Gravelines, and navigable as far as Saint-Omer.
- in Switzerland:
- Sarner Aa, a tributary of Lake Lucerne.
- Engelberger Aa, also a tributary of Lake Lucerne.
- Aabach, in the cantons of Lucerne and Aargau, which carries the waters of Lakes Baldegg and Hallwil into the Aar near Lenzburg.
- in Germany:
- the Westphalian Aa (Westfälische Aa), rising in the Teutoburg Forest, and joining the Werre at Herford.
- the Münster Aa (Münstersche Aa), a tributary of the Ems near Münster.
- the Great Aa (Große Aa), a tributary of the Ems near Lingen.
- and several others (Ahauser Aa, Alstätter Aa, Bocholter Aa, Grenzaa, Ibbenbürener Aa, Speller Aa, Steinfurter Aa).
- in the Netherlands:
- Drentse Aa, a small river in the Drenthe and Groningen provinces that also flows through Groningen city.
- Aa, a river in Noord-Brabant, flowing through Helmond and 's-Hertogenbosch.
- Aa or Weerijs, also in Noord-Brabant, a small river near Breda.
- several small rivers and canals in Groningen province, such as Pekel Aa, Ruiten Aa, Mussel Aa.
- in Latvia: