The Latin name for one of Europe’s principal rivers, known in German as the Elbe and in Czech as the Labe. Rising in the Krkonoše mountains of the Czech Republic, the river continues into Germany through Dresden {see planet  (263) or  (3053)} to its mouth beyond Hamburg {see planet  (449) or  (723)}. Its most significant tributary is the Vltava (or Moldau) {see planet  (2123)}, on which Prague {see planet  (2367)} is located. (M 31297) _ _.