Ems, a river of N. W. Prussia, rising in the province of Westphalia, near the S. E. extremity of the Teutoburg forest, on the confines of Lippe-Detmold. It flows first S. W. and then N. W. through Westphalia, and finally N. through Hanover, until it empties through the Dollart estuary into the North sea near the town of Emden and the boundary of Holland. Length of course, about 200 m. It is navigable for vessels of 200 tons to a distance of about 14 m. from its mouth; for small vessels as far as the town of Rheine, about 75 m. from the sea, and a few miles S. of the Hanoverian boundary. Its chief affluents are the Hopster-Aa, Haase, and Leda on the right, and the Werse on the left. The Ems enters the estuary of Dollart by four streams, or "gats," separated by islands, the chief of which is that of Borkum.

Ems #1

Ems, a market town and watering place of Prussia, province of Hesse-Nassau, in the valley of the Lahn, 7 m. S. E. of Coblentz; pop. in 1871, 5,438. It is one of the most famous resorts of Germany, its waters being used with great effect, especially against chronic nervous diseases, both for bathing and drinking. On July 13, 1870, the famous interview between King William of Prussia and the French ambassador Benedetti took place here, which was followed by the declaration of war by France.