The Rhein (Rhine) river


The Rhein (Rhine)	Daniel Ullrich - GNU FDL

The Rhein (Rhine) is the biggest river in Germany. With a length of 1.320 km, of which 865 km in Germany, the Rhein (Rhine) river is one of the most important waterways in Europe.

Vorderrhein and Hinterrhein combine in Reichenau in the Swiss canton called Graubünden to the Alpenrhein, this flows after Rheineck into the Bodensee (Lake Constance) which it leaves in Konstanz again. From Konstanz the Rhein (Rhine) river flows to Schaffhausen. At the Rhein (Rhine) Falls of Schaffhausen it dives 20 m into the depth.


Rhein (Rhine) Falls at Schaffhausen	© Olli Hirte - Fotolia.com

From Schaffhausen the Rhein (Rhine) river flows as the Hochrhein westward to Basel. From Basel northward to Mainz, then westward to Rüdesheim.

To the north Rüdesheim the Rhein (Rhine) river breaks through the Rheinisches Schiefergebirge (rhenish slate rocks). Up to Bonn it is called Mittelrhein (Middlerhine). The Upper Middle Rhein (Rhine) from Rüdesheim to Koblenz - valley of the Lorelei - was appointed to the Upper Middle Rhine Valley World Heritage by the UNESCO in 2002, representative for the whole Rhein (Rhine) river.

From Bonn the Rhein (Rhine) river bears the name Unterrhein (Underrhine) and forms from Emmerich together with the Meuse a distinctive mouth delta of which the river Waal is the main arm.

The Rhein (Rhine) with its neighbouring states Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, France and the Netherlands flows into the North Sea.