Its source is located on the Zellerrain Pass near Mariazell. In the beginning, the river is called Weiße Ois, then onwards from the border between Lower Austria and Styria up to Lunz am See it is called Ois. From there until its confluence to the Danube at Ybbs an der Donau, it is finally called Ybbs.
The Ybbs has a strongly meandering course and flows for around 134 km (83 mi) from the South in a northward direction. Along the river there are many metal and lumber industry plants.
The valley of the river Ybbs is called: Ybbs Valley, or Ybbs Field (German: Ybbsfeld). In 788, it was the site of a battle, between Franks and Avars.[3]