High Rhine

High Rhine (German: Hochrhein, pronounced [ˈhoːxˌʁaɪn] ) is the name of the part of the River Rhine between Lake Constance (Bodensee) and the city of Basel, flowing in a general east-to-west direction and forming mostly the Germany–Switzerland border. It is the first of four named sections of the Rhine (High Rhine, Upper Rhine, Middle Rhine, Lower Rhine) between Lake Constance and the river delta at the North Sea.

High Rhine (Hochrhein)
Upper part of the High Rhine near Dörflingen
Location
Country	Germany
State	Baden-Württemberg
Districts	Konstanz, Lörrach, Waldshut
Country	Switzerland
Cantons	Aargau, Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Schaffhausen, Thurgau, Zürich
Physical characteristics
Source
• location	Lower Lake Constance (Untersee) in Stein am Rhein
• coordinates	47°39.4923′N 8°51.5358′E
• elevation	395 m
Mouth
• location	Basel, continues as the Upper Rhine (Oberrhein)
• coordinates	47°33.60888′N 8°35.38356′E
• elevation	252 m
Length	165 km (103 mi)
Basin size	24900 km2
Basin features
Tributaries
• left	Aare, Birs, Ergolz, Glatt, Sissle, Thur, Töss,
• right	Alb, Biber, Murg, Wehra, Wutach

Name

The term High Rhine was introduced by scientists in the 19th century. Above all geologists tried to differentiate the High Rhine (Hochrhein) linguistically from the Upper Rhine (German: Oberrhein). Until the 19th century, it was also known as the "Badisch-Swiss Rhine". It lends its name to the High Rhine Railway line, which to a great extend follows the river to the north of it.

Geography

Course

High Rhine between Stein am Rhein and Basel

The High Rhine begins at the outflow of the River Rhine from the Untersee (Rheinsee), Lake Constance, in Stein am Rhein and turns into the Upper Rhine at the Rhine knee (Rheinknie) in Basel. It is marked by Rhine-kilometers 0 to 165, with the measurements beginning at the outflow from the Obersee at the Old Rhine Bridge in Konstanz (Constance), although the part between the Upper and Lower Lake Constance is referred to as the Seerhein (English: Lake Rhine).

In contrast to both the Alpine Rhine (the main tributary of Lake Constance) and Upper Rhine, which flow mainly in a south-to-north direction, the High Rhine flows mostly from east to west. Between Schaffhausen and the confluence with the Töss, it flows from north to south, with a distinct meander at Rheinau.

In its western section, the High Rhine mostly marks the border between Germany and Switzerland except in the Swiss canton of Basel-Stadt. In the eastern part, there are several disconnected areas of Switzerland to the north of the river (canton of Schaffhausen and Rafzerfeld of the canton of Zurich). The German enclave of Büsingen am Hochrhein is located on the northern bank of the High Rhine, surrounded by Swiss territory.

Tributaries

Apart from many creeks, larger tributaries of the High Rhine are, in the order of their confluences, the Biber, Thur, Töss, Glatt, Wutach, Aare, Alb, Murg, Sissle, Wehra, Ergolz and Birs. The High Rhine's drainage basin measures 24,900 km² (9,600 sq mi).

With 590 cubic metres per second (21,000 cu ft/s), the Aare has a larger discharge than the Rhine (439 cubic metres per second (15,500 cu ft/s)). From a hydrological point of view, therefore, the Rhine is a tributary of the Aare, not vice versa. The Rhine is, however, generally considered the main stream, because it is slightly longer than the Aare.

Waterfalls and rapids

The Rhine Falls in Neuhausen

The Rhine Falls (Rheinfall), which are the largest plain waterfalls of Europe, are in the municipalities of Neuhausen am Rheinfall and Laufen-Uhwiesen, near the town of Schaffhausen. They are 150 metres (490 ft) wide and 23 metres (75 ft) high. In the winter months, the average water flow is 250 cubic metres per second (8,800 cu ft/s), while in the summer, the average water flow is 600 cubic metres per second (21,000 cu ft/s).

The rapids in the High Rhine should be viewed in the context of the relatively high slope—from 395 to 252 metres (1,296 to 827 ft) a.s.l. in just 165 kilometres (103 mi)—and the change of the river's course during the Würm ice age. In Neuhausen am Rheinfall, the river falls into a previously buried stream channel, forming the Rhine Falls at Schaffhausen. The next rapids are the Kadelburg Rapids at Koblenz. Near Laufenburg, the post-glacial Rhine failed to find the old silted-up channel and hit a spur of Black Forest crystal. The river cut itself a gorge, containing the Laufenburg Rapids. The Laufenburg and Schwörstadt Rapids have been artificially eliminated by blowing up the rocks and raising the water level with dams.

Interventions

The High Rhine at Rheinau

In Ellikon am Rhein

The character of the river has been changed over long distances by the construction of hydropower stations. The Laufenburg and Schwörstadt rapids were removed by blowing up rocks, originally to improve navigation, and later flooded due to the hydropower dams.

Between Stein am Rhein and Diessenhofen, the High Rhine is not dammed. The first power plant along the Rhine is located in Schaffhausen; it has a damming effect to slightly above Diessenhofen. The next power plant (Kraftwerk Reckingen) is located at Rekingen and Küssaberg. After Rekingen, the High Rhine flows freely through the Koblenz Rapids to the confluence with the Aare. The next hydropower plant (the Kraftwerk Albbruck-Dogern), is at Leibstadt and Dogern. There are seven more power plants between here and Basel. Altogether, the High Rhine has eleven dams and twelve hydropower plants (there are two plants at the Augst/Wyhlen Dam.

Towns and organizations

Some parts of the High Rhine valley are fairly wide, while others are more gorge-like. The population density varies accordingly. Prominent towns on the High Rhine include Stein am Rhein, Schaffhausen, Neuhausen am Rheinfall, Waldshut, Laufenburg, Bad Säckingen, Rheinfelden and Basel. Some towns on the lower section of the river, which here corresponds to the Germany–Switzerland border, are located on both banks, such as Laufenburg (Aargau) and Laufenburg (Baden) and Rheinfelden (Aargau) and Rheinfelden (Baden).

The most important organizations for cross-border cooperation on the High Rhine are High Rhine Commission and High Rhine Agency.

Authorities on the Baden-Württemberg side of the river are organized in a framework called Regionalverband Hochrhein-Bodensee ("Regional cooperation High Rhine — Lake Constance").

Bridges

Main article: List of bridges over the Rhine

Several bridges cross the High Rhine, including a few historic ones. Examples are (in direction of waterflow): Eglisau railway bridge in Eglisau, Waldshut–Koblenz Rhine Bridge between Koblenz and Waldshut-Tiengen, the wooden bridge between Stein and Bad Säckingen or the Middle Bridge in Basel.

Important regions

Numerous areas along the High Rhine are currently, or were historically considered important. From west to east, they are Dinkelberg, Augstgau, Fricktal, Table Jura, Albgau, Aargau, Hotzenwald, Klettgau, Zurzibiet, Zürichgau, Hegau and Thurgau.

Shipping

There are passenger boat lines on the lower High Rhine and between Schaffhausen and Konstanz. There are also boat tours between Eglisau and the Rhine Falls, including the Rhine Falls Rock.

See also

• High Rhine Railway
• Lake Constance

Further reading

• Andreas Gruschke: Der Hochrhein. Eine alemannische Flusslandschaft. Schillinger, Freiburg im Breisgau, 1995, ISBN 3-89155-183-5

External links

• Rhine Falls homepage
• Photographs of the Rhine Falls
• Spanish guide
• High Rhine:Pictures
• High Rhine Commission and High Rhine Agency