High Rhine

High Rhine (German:Hochrhein,pronounced[ˈhoːxˌʁaɪn]^ⓘ; kilometres^[a] 0 to 167 of theRhine)^[2] is the section of the Rhine betweenLake Constance (Bodensee) and the city ofBasel, flowing in a general east-to-west direction and forming mostly theGermany–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 theriver delta at theNorth Sea.^[3]

High Rhine (Hochrhein)
Upper part of the High Rhine nearDörflingen
Sections of the Rhine: Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta Lower Rhine Middle Rhine Upper Rhine High Rhine Lake Constance (Untersee,Seerhein,Obersee) Alpine Rhine,Vorderrhein,Hinterrhein Rhine sources
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) inStein am Rhein
• coordinates	47°39′53″N8°51′31″E / 47.664762°N 8.858715°E /47.664762; 8.858715
• elevation	395 m

Mouth
• location	Basel, continues as theUpper Rhine (Oberrhein)
• coordinates	47°33′37″N7°35′23″E / 47.560148°N 7.589726°E /47.560148; 7.589726
• elevation	252 m
Length	165 km (103 mi)
Basin size	24900 km²
Basin features
Tributaries
• left	Aare,Birs,Ergolz,Glatt,Möhlinbach,Sissle,Thur,Töss
• right	Alb,Biber,Durach,Murg,Wehra,Wutach

Name

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The termHigh Rhine was introduced by scientists in the 19th century.^{[citation needed]} Above all geologists tried to differentiate the High Rhine (German:Hochrhein) linguistically from theUpper Rhine (French:Rhin Supérieur,German:Oberrhein). Until the 19th century, it was also known as the 'Badisch-Swiss Rhine'.^[4] It lends its name to theHigh Rhine Railway line, which to a great extend follows the river to the north of it.

Geography

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Course

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The High Rhine begins at the outflow of the Rhine from theUntersee (Lower Lake Constance) inStein am Rhein and turns into theUpper Rhine at theRhine knee (Rheinknie) in Basel (more precisely at theMiddle Bridge). It is marked by Rhine-kilometers 0 to 167, with the measurements beginning at the outflow from theObersee (Upper Lake Constance) at theOld Rhine Bridge inKonstanz (Constance), although the part between the Upper and Lower Lake Constance is distinguished as theSeerhein (English:Lake Rhine) and the part of Lower Lake Constance through which the Rhine flows is known as theRheinsee. Therefore, the High Rhine begins at Rhine-kilometer 25.45.^[2]

In contrast to theAlpine Rhine (the maintributary of Lake Constance) and Upper Rhine, which both flow mainly in a south-to-north direction, the High Rhine flows mostly from east to west. BetweenSchaffhausen and the confluence with theTöss, it flows from north to south for about 20 km (12 mi), with a distinctmeander atRheinau. In its eastern portion, the river passes through theMolasse basin (passing south of theHegau region), while in its western part it traverses theTable Jura before entering theUpper Rhine Plain at Basel, where it turns northwards.^[5]

In its western section, the High Rhine mostly marks the borderbetween Germany and Switzerland except in theSwiss canton ofBasel-Stadt. In the eastern part, there are several disconnected areas of Switzerland to the north of the river (canton of Schaffhausen andRafzerfeld of the canton of Zurich). The Germanenclave ofBüsingen am Hochrhein is located on the northern bank of the High Rhine, surrounded by Swiss territory.

High Rhine betweenStein am Rhein andBasel

Tributaries

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Apart from many creeks, largertributaries of the High Rhine are, in the order of theirconfluences, theBiber,Durach,Thur,Töss,Glatt,Wutach,Aare,Alb,Murg,Sissle,Wehra,Ergolz andBirs. The High Rhine's drainage basin measures 24,900 km² (9,600 sq mi).^[3]

With 557 cubic metres per second (19,700 cu ft/s), the Aare has a larger discharge than the Rhine (439 cubic metres per second (15,500 cu ft/s)).^[6] 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

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The Rhine Falls inNeuhausen

TheRhine Falls (Rheinfall), which are the largest plainwaterfalls ofEurope, are in themunicipalities ofNeuhausen am Rheinfall andLaufen-Uhwiesen, near the town ofSchaffhausen. 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 theWürm 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 atKoblenz. NearLaufenburg, 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 andSchwörstadt Rapids have been artificially eliminated by blowing up the rocks and raising the water level with dams.

Interventions

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The High Rhine atRheinau

Meandering High Rhine near Rheinau

InEllikon am Rhein

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

BetweenStein am Rhein andDiessenhofen, the High Rhine is notdammed. 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 atRekingen^[b] andKüssaberg. After Rekingen, the High Rhine flows freely through the Koblenz Rapids to the confluence with theAare. The next hydropower plant (theKraftwerk Albbruck-Dogern), is atLeibstadt andDogern. 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 theAugst/Wyhlen Dam.

Towns and organizations

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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 andBasel. Some towns on the lower section of the river, which here corresponds to theGermany–Switzerland border, are located on both banks, such asLaufenburg (Aargau) andLaufenburg (Baden) andRheinfelden (Aargau) andRheinfelden (Baden).

The most important organizations for cross-border cooperation on the High Rhine are High Rhine Commission^[7] and High Rhine Agency.^[7]

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

Bridges

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Main article:List of bridges over the Rhine

Ship ofURh turning around in Diessenhofen

Several bridges cross the High Rhine, including a few historic ones. Examples are (in direction of waterflow):Eglisau railway bridge inEglisau,Waldshut–Koblenz Rhine Bridge betweenKoblenz andWaldshut-Tiengen, thewooden bridge betweenStein andBad Säckingen or theMiddle Bridge inBasel. The old wooden bridge betweenGailingen andDiessenhofen is low so that during times when the water level of the river is high, large ships can no longer pass underneath it.

Important regions

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

Transportation

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Shipping

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There are passenger boat lines on the lower High Rhine (Rheinfelden–Basel),^[8] betweenEglisau and Ellikon am Rhein (municipality ofMarthalen)^[9] and on the upper High Rhine andUntersee (URh navigation company:Schaffhausen–Konstanz).^[10] There are also boat tours between Eglisau and theRhine Falls (Rheinfall), including the Rhine Falls Rock,^[11] and between the Rhine Falls andRekingen.^[9]

Railway

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TheHigh Rhine Railway line follows the lower section of the river (betweenBasel Bad Bf andWaldshut) along its northern banks, but then runs further north to it in its upper section (except in Schaffhausen).

On the Swiss side, the river is followed by (from west to east) theBözberg railway line (betweenPratteln andStein-Säckingen) theKoblenz–Stein-Säckingen railway line (section betweenLaufenburg andKoblenz is closed to passenger trains), theWinterthur–Bülach–Koblenz railway line (between Koblenz andEglisau), theEglisau–Neuhausen railway line betweenNeuhausen Rheinfall andNeuhausen (briefly venturing through German territory crossing theJestetter Point), theRheinfall Railway line (betweenDachsen andSchaffhausen), and theLake Line between Schaffhausen andStein am Rhein.

The High Rhine is crossed by (from west to east) theBasel Connecting Line (betweenBasel SBB and Basel Bad Bf), theTurgi–Koblenz–Waldshut railway line between Koblenz and Waldshut, the Eglisau–Neuhausen railway line (betweenEglisau andHüntwangen-Wil), the Rheinfall Railway line (betweenSchloss Laufen am Rheinfall and Neuhausen), the Lake Line betweenFeuerthalen and Schaffhausen, and theEtzwilen–Singen railway line (betweenEtzwilen andHemishofen, used as aheritage railway only).

Notes

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^The kilometrage of the Rhine begins at theOld Rhine Bridge in the city ofKonstanz (Constance) and ends at theHook of Holland at theNorth Sea.^[1]
^The town ofRekingen on the Swiss side of the river spells its name with -k-; the village on the German side spells its name with -ck-; since the power station is on the German side, it uses the -ck- spelling