The Spree-Marathon is a two-day canoe marathon held on the Spree River in the Lausitz region, with Cottbus serving as the primary race hub. Participants navigate 51 kilometers from Spremberg, passing through Cottbus, and concluding in Burg in the Spreewald. This format constitutes a point-to-point river race, distinct from a short lap event.
The course features portages and low river sills, requiring participants to disembark, carry their boats, relaunch, and continue. This element demands more than steady downstream paddling. The competition draws both elite paddlers and juniors, and the event is recognized on the International Canoe Federation calendar as an Olympic Canoe Marathon Basic International Event.