Abstract (EN)

With a length of about 1,250 km and a drainage area of 185,000 km², the Rhine is the third largest European river system. It is often considered as the cultural and economic “spine” of Europe, due to its rich history, and the high concentration of population and commercial enterprises located in proximity to the river in Switzerland, France, Germany, and the Netherlands (Figure 1, next page). For Switzerland, the Rhine is the only navigable connection to the world’s oceans. Geographically, the Rhine comprises five major sections: 1) The Alpine Rhine originates from the confluence of Anterior Rhine and Posterior Rhine near Reichenau, Switzerland, and enters Lake Constance after 86 km; 2) The High Rhine flows from East to West and passes the Rhine Falls, the largest water fall of Europe; 3) The Upper Rhine follows a major graben structure from Basel to Bingen; 4) The Middle Rhine, is characterised by a narrow valley incised into the Rhenish Massif between Bingen and Bonn (i.e. known as the Romantic Rhine); and 5) The Lower Rhine, bypassing the German economic hotspots of Cologne, Düsseldorf, and the Ruhr district until it reaches its delta in the Netherlands.