RIESA, rē'zȧ. A town and railway centre in Saxony, on the Elbe, 33 miles by rail northwest of Dresden. A large bridge of iron and stone here spans the river (Map: Germany, E 3). The town has a public library and a municipal hospital, and various special schools. The harbor is good and possesses ample shipping facilities, and Riesa is consequently the centre of important shipbuilding interests and of a large trade, including fish, oil, coal, lumber, grain, iron ore, etc. Sandstone, which is quarried extensively, is also shipped. There are rolling mills and many other manufactories. Population, in 1900, 13,477.