The Enz (also: Enzbach) is a 37.9-kilometre-long (23.5 mi), orographically right-hand tributary of the Prüm in the Eifel mountains of Germany.

Enz
Waterfall on the Enz in Neuerburg
Course of the Enz
Location
CountryGermany
StateRhineland-Palatinate
Reference no.DE: 26286
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationnorth of Arzfeld
 • coordinates50°6′13″N 6°17′18″E / 50.10361°N 6.28833°E / 50.10361; 6.28833
 • elevation544 m above sea level (NHN)
Mouth 
 • location
in Holsthum into the Prüm
 • coordinates
49°53′29″N 6°24′41″E / 49.89139°N 6.41139°E / 49.89139; 6.41139
 • elevation
189 m above sea level (NHN)
Length37.927 km (23.567 mi)[1]
Basin size148.516 km² [1]
Basin features
ProgressionPrümSauerMoselleRhineNorth Sea

Geography

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The Enz rises about 650 metres (2,100 ft) south-southwest of Lichtenborn at a height of 544 m above sea level (NHN). Its source region is on the Arzfeld Plateau (Arzfelder Hochfläche). From here it flows initially mainly in a south-southwesterly direction and, after about 150 metres (490 ft), reaches the municipality of Arzfeld. Continuing in a south-southwesterly direction, it flows through Arzfeld. At the Arzfeld Mill (Arzfeldermühle), the Enz is impounded to form a small pond. Roughly below the mill the Enz heads southwards, forming the municipal boundary between Kickeshausen and Arzfeld, and then, further south, between Jucken und Emmelbaum. This is the start of the Neuerburg Enz Valley (Neuerburger Enztal). On its way to Neuerburg, the Enz now turns in a southeasterly direction. After passing the villages of Enztalhof, Engelsdorf, Zweifelscheid, Weidendell and Beyerhof, the Enz reaches the village of In der Enz, where the Wahlbach joins it from the right.

A little later, the Enz reaches Neuerburg. By the old mill, the waters of the Enz flow over a waterfall. Below the fall, the Enz continues heading southeast making several bends. After passing Daudistel the Enz crosses the municipal boundary into Sinspelt. At the northern edge of the village the Radenbach [de], the Enz’s largest tributary, joins from the right. Continuing southeast the Enz passes Mettendorf, Enzen and Schankweiler. Below Schankweiler it turns in a prominent bend towards the east before emptying into the Prüm in Holsthum at a height of 189 m above NHN.

On its 37.9-kilometre-long (23.5 mi) route the Enz drops through a height of 355 metres, which gives an average riverbed gradient of 9.4 per mille. Its catchment covers and area of 148.5 km2 (57.3 sq mi) and it drains via the Prüm, Sauer, Moselle and Rhine into the North Sea.

Tributaries

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Numerous, mostly short, tributaries flow into the Enz from the uplands. Its most important tributary is the 12.2-kilometre-long (7.6 mi) Radenbach. The following table gives details of the tributaries according to the water management authorities of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate.

Name Location
[km][2]
Left/right tributary Length
[km][1]
Catchment
[km²][1]
Mouth elevation
[m above NHN][2]
GKZ[1]
N.N. 35.680 left0 00.6 00.414 480 26286 112
Betzbach 34.910 left0 02.4 04.016 467 26286 120
Kuhbach 32.250 right 01.5 01.184 434 26286 140
Emmelseifen 28.520 left0 02.6 02.767 389 26286 160
Grimbach 25.540 left0 03.2 03.491 353 26286 180
Wahlbach 24.080 left0 07.9 16.940 339 26286 200
Radenbach [de] 15.920 left0 12.2 36.260 276 26286 400
Ringsbach 13.990 left0 0 2.6 03.717 263 26286 540
Asterbach 13.120 left0 02.0 01.780 257 26286 592
Alsbach 11.730 right 03.5 06.187 249 26286 600
Urselt 09.260 right 01.0 01.803 238 26286 720
Silberbach 07.220 right 03.3 03.787 226 26286 740
Rohrbach 05.060 left0 04.6 05.406 216 26286 800
Diebach 02.570 right 01.7 01.778 203 26286 920
Fielsbach 00.294 right 00.9 01.067 189 26286 940

Environment

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From its source to its confluence with the Radenbach, the Enz has among the highest concentration of coarse material and silicates of streams in the German Central Uplands (Type 5) and below the confluence has one of the highest concentrations of fine to coarse silicates (Type 9).[1] Its water quality is recorded as slightly contaminated downstream of Arzfeld. In the section from Neurath to Neuerburg, its water quality is moderately polluted and from Neuerburg to its mouth it is assessed as slightly polluted.[1]

Transport routes

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The old railway line from Pronsfeld via Arzfeld to Neuerburg (Enz Valley Railway), a branch line of the West Eifel Railway, runs through the upper valley of the Enz. After its closure in 1989, the tracks were lifted and sections of the trackbed were converted into a cycleway. Since late 2011, the cycle path from Pronsfeld to Neuerburg has been completely tarmacked.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Geoexplorer of the Rhineland-Palatinate Water Authority (Wasserwirtschaftsverwaltung Rheinland-Pfalz)
  2. ^ a b Measurement based on German terrain maps (Deutscher Grundkarte) 1:5000 series