What month is best for water levels on the Rhine?
The Best Time of Year to Take a River Cruise
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What are facts about the Rhine River?
River Rhine Fact File
- Countries: Switzerland, Germany, France and the Netherlands.
- Length:
- Source:
- Mouth: The Rhine is the longest river in Germany. Many large settlements have developed on the banks of the River Rhine, these include: Bonn, Cologne, Dusseldorf (in Germany), Arnhem and ...
What countries border the Rhine River?
The Rhine forms the border between Liechtenstein and Switzerland, Switzerland and Germany and part of the border between Germany and France. The river is navigable for about 500 miles, from the North Sea to Basel, Switzerland, though ocean-faring ships can’t go past Cologne.
Where does the Rhine start and finish?
Where does the Rhine River begin and end? The Rhine flows through Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, the Netherlands and Liechtenstein. It is over 700 miles long, begins in the Swiss Alps and empties into the North Sea after flowing through the Netherlands. Are there any rivers that drain into the North Sea in Germany?
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What is the deepest part of the Rhine River?
Lorelay Rock, marks the narrowest and deepest part of the Rhine River.
Can you swim across the Rhine?
Every year people drown whilst swimming in the Rhine, as they underestimate the potential danger! The dangerous currents create an underflow so strong that even experienced swimmers are in danger of being pulled under to the bottom of the river.
Why is the Rhine river so dirty?
Polluted with pesticides As a result, huge amounts of pesticides were released into the Upper Rhine, killing a multitude of fish and micro-organisms. The accident turned the river into Europe's biggest sewer.
How dirty is the Rhine River?
Between Basel and Rotterdam, the Rhine has one of the highest microplastics pollution so far measured in rivers, with the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan area showing peak numbers of up to four times the average. Among investigated rivers, the Rhine is thus among those most heavily polluted with microplastics.
Are there sharks in the Rhine river?
Tagerwilen, Switzerland - December 15, 2015: a police sign on the shore of the Rhine River to inform the public that there are no sharks in the river.
How Fast Is Rhine River?
The Rhine is a 450 m (1,480 ft) wide, slow-flowing stream at Mainz and Wiesbaden. At the Loreley Rock, the Rhine narrows to 130 m (420 ft) and flows at a rapid 10 km/h (6 mph). After the Loreley, the Rhine once again slows down and continues to flow at a more sedate pace.
Can you drink from the Rhine River?
Despite the deteriorating quality of the water in the Rhine, the drinking water that comes out of the tap is still safe, Stroomberg said. "We purify it until it is healthy and clean. But that costs us more and more effort."
Are there fish in the Rhine river?
Currently there are more than 50 fish species in the Rhine, 37 of them being considered as “native”. Native means, that the species naturally occur here.
Is the Rhine River freshwater?
The River Rhine is called different names depending on the country it flows through. It is called Rhein in Germany; Rhine in France and Rijn in Netherlands. Many years ago, the Rhine was considered as one of the most polluted rivers in Europe....Rivers.ContinentEuropeSourceSwiss AlpsMouthRotterdam into the North Sea3 more rows
What happened to the Rhine river in 1986?
On 1 November 1986, a major fire at a chemicals warehouse in Schweizerhalle on the Rhine above Basel led to an environmental disaster with devastating consequences, especially for the biota of the Rhine (Capel et al.
How big is the Rhine river?
about 765 milesThe length of the Rhine was long given as 820 miles (1,320 km), but in 2010 a shorter distance of about 765 miles (1,230 km) was proposed. An international waterway since the Treaty of Vienna in 1815, it is navigable overall for some 540 miles (870 km), as far as Rheinfelden on the Swiss-German border.
Is the Rhine international waters?
International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine (ICPR) and its contract shows alignment with the UN Convention on international watercourses and has proven effective in its goals for the Rhine and the Rhine Basin.
Why does the Rhine water fall into the depths?
But then, at the so-called Rheinbrech, the Rhine water abruptly falls into the depths because of the greater density of cold water.
What is the longest river in Germany?
The Rhine is the longest river in Germany. It is here that the Rhine encounters some more of its main tributaries, such as the Neckar, the Main and, later, the Moselle, which contributes an average discharge of more than 300 m 3 /s (11,000 cu ft/s). Northeastern France drains to the Rhine via the Moselle; smaller rivers drain the Vosges and Jura Mountains uplands. Most of Luxembourg and a very small part of Belgium also drain to the Rhine via the Moselle. As it approaches the Dutch border, the Rhine has an annual mean discharge of 2,290 m 3 /s (81,000 cu ft/s) and an average width of 400 m (1,300 ft).
Where does the Alpine Rhine flow?
Next to Reichenau in Tamins the Anterior Rhine and the Posterior Rhine join and form the Alpine Rhine. The river makes a distinctive turn to the north near Chur. This section is nearly 86 km long, and descends from a height of 599 m to 396 m. It flows through a wide glacial Alpine valley known as the Rhine Valley ( German: Rheintal ). Near Sargans a natural dam, only a few metres high, prevents it from flowing into the open Seeztal valley and then through Lake Walen and Lake Zurich into the Aare. The Alpine Rhine begins in the westernmost part of the Swiss canton of Graubünden, and later forms the border between Switzerland to the west and Liechtenstein and later Austria to the east.
How long is the Rhine?
The length of the Rhine is conventionally measured in "Rhine-kilometers" ( Rheinkilometer ), a scale introduced in 1939 which runs from the Old Rhine Bridge at Constance (0 km) to Hook of Holland (1036.20 km).
What were the four treaties that were signed along the Rhine?
Four diplomatic treaties were signed among German state governments and French regions dealing with the changes proposed along the Rhine, one was "the Treaty for the Rectification of the Rhine flow from Neuberg to Dettenheim" (1817) , which surrounded states such as Bourbon France and the Bavarian Palatinate.
What is the name of the European capital located on the Upper Rhine?
Strasbourg is the seat of the European Parliament, and so one of the three European capitals is located on the Upper Rhine. The Upper Rhine region was changed significantly by a Rhine straightening program in the 19th Century. The rate of flow was increased and the ground water level fell significantly.
What is the delta of Lake Constance?
The mouth of the Rhine into Lake Constance forms an inland delta. The delta is delimited in the west by the Alter Rhein ("Old Rhine") and in the east by a modern canalized section. Most of the delta is a nature reserve and bird sanctuary. It includes the Austrian towns of Gaißau, Höchst and Fußach.
What is the longest river in Germany?
WITH A TOTAL LENGTH of 820 mi (1,320 km) flowing through SWITZERLAND, GERMANY, and the NETHERLANDS, the Rhine is the longest river in Germany and probably the most important waterway of western Europe. The Vorderhein, Hinterrhein, and Alpenrhein are the sources of the river within Switzerland. The Rhine then enters the Bodensee (Lake Constance) and reemerges as the Hochrhein up to Basel on the Swiss-German border. From Basel, it passes as the Oberrhein on the French-German border via Strasbourg/Kehl into Germany to the cities of Carlsruhe, Mannheim/Ludwigshafen, and Mainz. After Mainz, it becomes the Mittelrhein and Niederrhein and goes on via Bonn, Cologne, Duesseldorf, and Duisburg to the German-Dutch border. It terminates its route via Nijmegen at Rotterdam, the Netherlands, on the North Sea.
Where does the Rhine flow?
It terminates its route via Nijmegen at Rotterdam, the Netherlands, on the North Sea. Flowing roughly northwest, the Rhine's annual flow at its mouth is 16.6 cubic mi (69.3 cubic km). The river is of enormous economic, cultural, and historical importance for all of western Europe.
Where does the Rhine flow through Switzerland?
The Vorderhein, Hinterrhein, and Alpenrhein are the sources of the river within Switzerland. The Rhine then enters the Bodensee (Lake Constance) and reemerges as the Hochrhein up to Basel on the Swiss-German border. From Basel, it passes as the Oberrhein on the French-German border via Strasbourg/Kehl into Germany to the cities of Carlsruhe, ...
What countries did the Rhine form?
These territories now form—at least in parts— FRANCE , Germany, Switzerland, AUSTRIA, BELGIUM, LUXEMBOURG , and the Netherlands. When the empire broke up after the death of Charles, two succession regions (what is today France and Germany) engaged in longstanding disputes, whereby the Rhine was a symbol as well as a catalyst.
Which king embraced the left side of the Rhine as the French border?
The concept of natural borders developed under the French King Louis XIV embraced all the left (western) side of the Rhine as the French border. This strategic goal was not reached until the military successes of Napoleon Bonaparte.
Who came to the Rhine?
The Romans came to the Rhine and tried to colonize parts of Germania by crossing the river, but it was in the early Middle Ages, when the new empire of Charles the Great consisted of large territories on both sides of the Rhine.
What are the major ports in Europe?
The ports of Strasbourg, Mannheim, and Duisburg are important river ports within western Europe, and the port of Rotterdam is the busiest harbor worldwide. During the last decades, environmental protection of the Rhine both for animals (especially birds and fish) and for the prevention of floods ...
How long is the Rhine River?
The Rhine River Facts & Figures. Length: Approximately 1,230 kilometers / 765 miles. Source: Mountain brooks in the Swiss Alps. Mouth: North Sea.
What is the Rhine River?
The Rhine River in European Culture. Over the centuries, the civilizations along the Danube have contributed mightily to some of the most significant artistic movements in European history – and the river itself has inspired a wide range of works across the spectrum: Architecture.
How many countries are there on the Rhine River?
learn about the river's importance in history, transportation and culture throughout time. Flowing through six countries, the Rhine River has served as a link between southern and northern Europe since Roman times.
What are some interesting places along the Rhine?
Interesting Sites Along or Near the Rhine. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, Netherlands: The national museum of the Netherlands - one of Europe’s top collections of art and historical items and the world’s largest collection of Dutch Master paintings.
Where was the Rhine located?
Over time, the Rhine became a major shipping route and a central axis of the Holy Roman Empire. The Romans’ first urban settlement, recognized circa 50 A.D., was on the present-day site of Cologne, Germany. Medieval Period to World War I:
Which countries flow through the Rhine River?
The Rhine flows through the countries of Switzerland, the Principality of Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, France and the Netherlands. UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Rhine River Region: Netherlands: Defense Line (to control the waters) & 17th-century Canal Ring, Amsterdam.
When did Alsace become part of Germany?
The borders along the Rhine, as we know them today, were shaped mostly between the late 1700s and the early 1800s. In the 1870s, Germany took Alsace from France during the Franco-German War; Alsace was returned to France after World War I. World War II to Present:
How long is the Rhine River?
On the map of the Rhine River, we can appreciate its immense size. The total length of this important river is of 1233 km, being its navigable stretch of 883 km, in the areas from Basel (Switzerland) and its Delta that is located in the North Sea.
Where is the Rhine River located?
Nestled in the European territory, the Rhine River has its birth in the region called Canton of Graubünden, in the Swiss Alps and deposits its waters at its mouth located in the North Sea. His path comprises a long route of 1,233 kilometers.
What direction does the Rhine River flow?
The flow of its waters leads in a north-northwest direction with its drainage on a watershed of approximately 185,000 km2. The average discharge of the Rhine River is of 2,900 m3 / sec. It receives water from other smaller rivers such as the Tamina, Rein da Medel, Neckar, Mosel, Ruhr and Lahn.
Why did the Rhine River increase its volume?
Through the ages, that small stream that was the Rhine River was increasing its volume due to the waters it received from other small streams and rivers. At the era of Glaciation, the waters flowed westward into its mouth in the Atlantic Ocean through the Strait of Calais.
What caused the Rhine River to run down?
It is said that the formation of the Alps, created a crack from north to south and this crack caused several existing bodies of water to run down. This is how the Rhine River begins as a small stream. This is determined by the observations made on the oldest sediments of the Miocene era.
Why is the Rhine River important?
The Rhine River is one of the most important rivers in Europe, because it has become the most traveled waterway in the European Union. Its name comes from the original Celtic and its meaning is Flow.
Which river has the highest microplastics?
On December 8, 2015, students of Marine Biology at the University of Guadalajara concluded that the Rhine River has one of the highest microplastics contamination levels in the world. The study was carried out on several rivers and of all of them the Rhine presented four times more contamination than the average.
Where does the Rhine flow?
The Rhine has its sources in the Swiss Alps southwest of Chur. Passing through Lake Constance, it retains its alpine character along the Swiss-German border down to the Basle region, where navigation begins at Rheinfelden. Just below the busy inland port of Basle the river leaves Switzerland and forms the French-German border over a distance of 184km, down to Lauterbourg. The Rhine then runs north and northwest through Germany and the Netherlands to discharge into the North Sea, 1320km from its source. The Upper Rhine (from Basle down to Bingen in Germany) has always been a difficult and often a dangerous river to navigate. Large-scale channel improvements were carried out between 1840 and 1860, but they had the effect of increasing the current speed and bed erosion. A meandering channel formed within the corrected 250m-wide bed and rocky bars were gradually exposed, the most notorious being at Istein near Kembs. Further works were required, to fix the channel by means of transverse groynes, but Basle was still only accessible to 600-tonne barges under favourable conditions. A more effective solution for navigation was already being envisaged before the 1914-1918 war. This was the construction of a canal stretching down the left bank from Basle to Strasbourg, the Grand Canal d’Alsace, designed as a series of hydroelectric power schemes, with benefits for agriculture as well as navigation. France was authorised to undertake the project under the the Treaty of Versailles and the works were conceded to Electricité de France. The first section of the canal, avoiding the Istein bar, was opened in 1932. By 1956 three further schemes had been completed. The project was then modified under a new agreement between the French and German governments, to limit the serious environmental impact on the Rhine itself. Subsequent schemes took the form of diversion canals of varying length, with a dam on the Rhine and power station and locks towards the downstream end of the canal. In the 1970s two further schemes were completed downstream of Strasbourg. As a result, the Rhine is canalised almost throughout its course on the French border.
When was the canalisation of the Rhine authorised?
History – Canalisation of the Rhine for hydropower and navigation was authorised under the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 for the exclusive benefit of France. The twin Kembs locks, built in the 1930s, were 182.50 by 25 m and 100 by 25m.
What was the Grand Canal d'Alsace built on?
Subsequent schemes, with locks 185 by 12m and 185 by 23m (later widened to 24 m), were built on diversion canals.
When was the canal opened in France?
The first section of the canal, avoiding the Istein bar, was opened in 1932. By 1956 three further schemes had been completed.
Is the Rhine canalised?
As a result, the Rhine is canalised almost throughout its course on the French border. Distances on the river are counted from the Rheinbrücke at Constance (under international agreement). The distance table here covers the section of the river shared by France between PK 168.5 and PK 352.1.
What is the Rhine River?
The Rhine river is the primary pillar of commerce and trade in Germany. The Rhine Valley is the most famous growing region of the Germany’s Riesling wine. The Oder river flowing through the boundaries ...
How many miles are there in the Rhine?
1. Danube. 1,777 miles (shared with 9 other countries) 2. Rhine. 764 miles (shared with 5 other countries) 3. Elbe. 678 miles (shared with the Czech Republic)
How long is the Danube Canal?
The 2,200 miles long Main-Danube Canal connects the Main with the Danube and the Rhine rivers. The Main-Radweg is the most prominent German bicycle recreation course with over 370 miles. In the world War II era, the river separated Southern German Catholic population from Northern Germany Federation.
What is the second largest river in Germany?
Rhine. River Rhine is the second largest river in Germany with 764 miles. The river sources from Lake Tomasee, and Paradies Glacier in Switzerland flows through the German cities of Karlsruhe, Mannheim, Wiesbaden, Bonn, and Duisburg. It also flows through Austria, and France where it serves as a boundary between Germany and France, ...
What are the major rivers in Germany?
Major Rivers Of Germany. The Danube in Regensburg, Germany. Danube River is shared with nine other European countries, and it is the longest river to pass through Germany, while the Main is the longest river flowing entirely in Germany. Most of the rivers flowing through the country also source, drain, flow or pass through other European countries.
How long is the Elbe River?
It is 678 miles long and the rivers of Vltaza, Mulde, Ohre, Havel, Saale, and Schwarz Elster pours their waters in the Elbe River. In eastern Germany, the river serves as a river port to Torgau, Magdeburg, Aken, and Dessau among others. The river serves as the most historic river in Germany. It once separated East Germany from West Germany.
Why are rivers important in Germany?
German has one of the most developed inland navigation systems in the world thanks to all the rivers flowing through it, to or from other European countries. The rivers have also been a primary source for hydroelectric generation, recreational platforms, marking national borders and most importantly creating a vibrant ecosystem.
How deep is the Middle Rhine?
This gorge is quite deep, about 130 metres (430 ft) from the top of the rocks down to the average water-line. The "Middle Rhine" is one of four sections ( High Rhine, Upper Rhine, Middle Rhine, Lower Rhine) of the river between Lake Constance and the North Sea.
Where is the river Rhine?
View from the Loreley. Between Bingen and Bonn, Germany, the river Rhine flows as the Middle Rhine ( German: Mittelrhein) through the Rhine Gorge, a formation created by erosion, which happened at about the same rate as an uplift in the region, leaving the river at about its original level, and the surrounding lands raised.
What is the Rhine Gorge?
The name Rhine Gorge refers to the narrow gorge of the Rhine flowing through the Rhenish Slate Mountains between Bingen am Rhein and Rüdesheim am Rhein in the South and Bonn- Bad Godesberg and Bonn- Oberkassel in the North . Between Rüdesheim and Lorch, the left bank belongs to the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate; the right bank belongs to the wine region of Rheingau in the state of Hesse. Downstream of Lorch, both banks belong to Rhineland-Palatinate until the river crosses the border with North Rhine-Westphalia shortly before Bonn .
What is the upper half of the Rhine Gorge?
The upper half of the Middle Rhine (Rhine Gorge) from Bingen (Rhine-kilometer 526) to Koblenz (Rhine-kilometer 593) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (2002) with more than 40 castles and fortresses from the Middle Ages and many wine-villages. The lower half from Koblenz (Rhine-kilometer 593) to Bonn ...
What is the lower half of the Rhine Valley known for?
The lower half from Koblenz (Rhine-kilometer 593) to Bonn (Rhine-kilometer 655) is famous for the formerly volcanic Siebengebirge with the Drachenfels volcano. Both parts together are known as "the romantic Rhine". The Middle Rhine Valley has been a major tourist attraction since the 19th century.
Why is the Middle Rhine Valley important?
To improve the safety of shipping, the Middle Rhine Warning System was created which uses light signals to guide ships through the dangerous passages.
Where are the terraces of the Middle Rhine Valley?
Evidence of this are the barrow fields around the city forest of Boppard and in the forest of Brey and the ring walls on the Dommelberg in Koblenz and on the giant hill at St. Goarshausen. On the western border of the Middle Rhine region, there are also traces of a Celtic settlement, with the grave pillars of Pfalzfeld and the Waldalgesheim chariot burial. In the 4th century BCE, the area had come under the influence of Mediterranean civilizations. The north-south link between mouth of the Nahe and the Moselle estuary rich already in use in pre-Roman times. The Roman development of the route overlaps in large sections with the route of the modern Bundesautobahn 61
Overview
Geography
The length of the Rhine is conventionally measured in "Rhine-kilometers" (Rheinkilometer), a scale introduced in 1939 which runs from the Old Rhine Bridge at Constance (0 km) to Hook of Holland (1036.20 km).
The river is significantly shortened from its natural course due to a number of canalisation projects completed in the 19th and 20th century. The "total lengt…
Name
The variants of the name of the Rhine in modern languages are all derived from the Gaulish name Rēnos, which was adapted in Roman-era geography (1st century BC) as Greek Ῥῆνος (Rhēnos), Latin Rhenus.
The spelling with Rh- in English Rhine as well as in German Rhein and French Rhin is due to the influence of Greek orthography, while the vocalisation -i- is due to the Proto-Germanic adoption o…
Geologic history
The Rhine flows from the Alps to the North Sea Basin. The geography and geology of its present-day watershed has been developing since the Alpine orogeny began.
In southern Europe, the stage was set in the Triassic Period of the Mesozoic Era, with the opening of the Tethys Ocean, between the Eurasian and African tectonic plates, between about 240 MBP and 220 MBP (million years before present). The present Mediterranean Sea descends from this som…
Military and cultural history
The Rhine was not known to Herodotus and first enters the historical period in the 1st century BC in Roman-era geography. At that time, it formed the boundary between Gaul and Germania.
The Upper Rhine had been part of the areal of the late Hallstatt culture since the 6th century BC, and by the 1st century BC, the areal of the La Tène culture cover…
Lists of features
During its course from the Alps to the North Sea, the Rhine passes through four countries and constitutes six different country borders. On the various parts:
• the Anterior Rhine lies entirely within Switzerland, while at least one tributary to Posterior Rhine, Reno di Lei originates in Italy, but is not considered a part of the Rhine proper.
• the Alpine Rhine flows within Switzerland till Sargans, from which it becomes the border between Switzerland (to …
See also
• Central Commission for Navigation on the Rhine
• EV15 The Rhine Cycle Route
• Köln-Düsseldorfer
• Piz Lunghin (triple watershed: Po–Rhine–Danube)
External links
• Rhine with maps and details of navigation through the French section; places, ports and moorings, by the author of Inland Waterways of France, Imray
• Navigation details for 80 French rivers and canals (French waterways website section)
• Old maps of the Rhine, from the Eran Laor Cartographic Collection, The National Library of Israel