. A
retention basin is planned here. The Selke rises near the village of Friedrichshöhe in the borough of
Güntersberge at a height of about above
NN. From Friedrichshöhe to
Mägdesprung in the borough of
Harzgerode, it is accompanied by the
Selke Valley Railway for a distance of . The Selke has cut deeply into the Harz Mountains in some places whilst in others it runs in a broad valley, depending on the bedrock. In
Meisdorf on the northeastern edge of the Lower Harz, the Selke leaves the forested mountain region and winds across a cultivated plain, continuing to flow in an easterly or northeasterly direction as far as
Ermsleben. Beyond Ermsleben the river swings through 90° to the northwest and runs from here in an almost straight line to its mouth on the Bode near , a village in the borough of
Wegeleben. The Selke empties into the Bode at an elevation of . In the past Selke burst its banks on several occasions causing significant damage. This led to plans by the state government for the expansion of existing floodwater retention basins and the creation of a new one. Particularly controversial is a medium-term high embankment for the Selke Valley at Meisdorf. The citizens' initiative "Save the Selke Valley in the East Harz" is fighting this plan because they argue that it will destroy a scenically beautiful section of the Selke Valley that is important for nature conservation. == Castles ==