Leutra (Maua)

Leutra is a small river in Thuringia, Germany. It flows into the Saale in the village Maua, in the southern part of Jena. Another small river also named Leutra flows into the Saale in the centre of Jena, 6 km to the north.

Leutra
Location
Country	Germany
State	Thuringia
Physical characteristics
Source
• coordinates	50°51′20″N 11°27′06″E
Mouth
• location	Saale
• coordinates	50°52′8″N 11°36′01″E
Basin features
Progression	Saale→ Elbe→ North Sea

The valley through which the Leutra flows is part of an important nature reserve, called Naturschutzgebiet Leutratal und Cospoth, maintained by Naturschutzbund Deutschland.

During the Nazi era a motorway (the A4) was built through the valley, but Angela Merkel's government had a road tunnel built (Jagdbergtunnel) to increase the capacity of the Autobahn while reducing the impact of the road on the nature reserve.[1]

An aerial view of the Leutra valley in 2008, after the expansion of the nature reserve, but before the Autobahn was removed.