Rhine River and Valley

At about 820 miles (1,320 kilometers) in length, the Rhine River is one of the longest and most important rivers in Europe. It extends from the Swiss Alps to the North Sea, flowing through six countries: Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, France, and the Netherlands, defining the border along some of these nations. Large and important cities such as Bonn, Rotterdam, Basel, Strasbourg, Mannheim, Ludwigshafen, Neuss, and Cologne are located along the river or its larger tributaries. The Rhine serves as a constant source of water for the countries it flows through: it provides drinking water and is also used by the industrial, agricultural, energy, and transportation sectors. Furthermore, the river is a natural habitat for diverse plant and animal life including many birds, fish, and ...