Fascinating Information about the Rhine

The Rhine is one of the best known rivers in Europe, mainly because it is also one of the longest and most important to the overall European economy. It is 766 miles long, starting in the Swiss Alps. Its spring is 3,353 meters above sea level at the Rheinwaldhorn Glacier. The Rhine being so long, it also flows through six different countries, ending up in the Netherlands where it empties into the North Sea in the city of Rotterdam. If you book yourself on a Rhine Getaway Amsterdam to Basel Viking River Cruises tour, you will be able to enjoy much of the most important parts of the river.

Did You Know?

Depending on where it flows, the Rhine is spelled in different ways. The Germans call it the Rhein, the French call it the Rhine and the Dutch call it the Rijn.

Pollution

In 1986, the Rhine officially became the most polluted river in all of Europe. This was because a chemical factory fire spilled into the river, turning it completely red. This affected the entire length of the river in just 10 days. This led to the development of the RAP (Rhine Action Program), which was designed to bring down pollution. In 2000, it achieved its goal of having salmon return to the river. Furthermore, it is once again suitable as a working river, meaning it can provide drinking water.

The 1995 Floods

In 1995, a severe flood affected the Rhine. Floods happen each year, but this one was particularly bad. It was caused by a combination of natural and man made causes:

• 1995 saw abnormal levels of rainfall and the temperatures were unusually mild, which meant none of the water could evaporate.
• The flood may be a sign of global warming and climate change. This is also because the Rhine is a polluted river, as are many of the areas through which it flows, which are heavy in industry.
• The floods were also caused by the fact that it flows through such a narrow gorge in Germany, which means that there is not enough land available to actually soak up water and prevent floods.
• It seems that humans did not look after the Rhine properly either. This is shown in pollution, but also in the vegetation, soil, ground and drainage network conditions.