Rhine

Rhine is one of the chief rivers of Europe. Of several small Alpine head-streams, the Nearer and the Farther Rhine are the two principal, issuing from the eastern flanks of Mount St Gothard. A junction is formed at Reichenau, whence the united stream - the Upper Rhine - flows North to Lake Constance, and issuing from the North West corner curves westward to Basel, forming the boundary between Switzerland and Germany. From Basel, as the Middle Rhine, it pursues a northerly course to Mainz, turns sharply to the West as far as Bingen, and again resumes its northward course. The Rhine-Highland between Bingen and Bonn is the most romantic and picturesque part of its course. As the Lower Rhine it flows in a sluggish, winding stream through the Rhenish Lowlands, enters Holland near Clèves, at Nimeguen bends to the West, and flowing through Holland some 100 miles reaches the German Ocean, splitting in its lowest part into several streams which form a rich delta, one-third of Holland. It is 800 miles in length. It receives numerous affluents, e. g. Neckar, Main, Moselle, and Lippe. The river is navigable for ships to Mannheim.

Nearby pages
Rhinoplastic Operation, Rhoda Broughton, Rhode Island, Rhodes, Rhodesia, Rhone