| Helge River | |
| Map: | Helge River watershed.jpg |
| Map Size: | 270 |
| Subdivision Type1: | Country |
| Subdivision Name1: | Sweden |
| Subdivision Type3: | County |
| Length: | 190km (120miles)[1] |
| Discharge1 Avg: | 55m3/s |
| Discharge1 Max: | 320m3/s |
| Mouth: | Swedish: [[Hanöbukten]] |
| Mouth Coordinates: | 55.8583°N 14.2361°W |
| Mouth Elevation: | 0m (00feet) |
| Basin Size: | 4748.9km2[2] |
| Custom Label: | Designation |
The river Helge or, in Swedish, Helgeån, alternatively Helge å (lit. The Holy river), is a river which flows through Småland and Skåne in southern Sweden. The course of the river takes it through Kristianstad and out to the Bay of Swedish: [[Hanöbukten]] in the Baltic Sea.
In the southern parts, there are large wetland areas with a rich bird life. The Swedish: Kristianstads Vattenrike (The Rich Wetlands of Kristianstad/Water Kingdom) reserve extends along 35km and covers 100,000 hectares in the river's lower course near the city of Kristianstad and the Bay of Swedish: [[Hanöbukten]].[3] This wetland is recognized as having international importance under the Ramsar Convention.
Within the catchment area, there are 14 major lakes and 16 watercourses designated as being of national or regional value. There are also 64 Natura 2000 areas, 14 of which have been established because of their high nature values in the water.