| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | Rheinland Pfalz andHessen inGermany |
| Criteria | Cultural: (ii), (iv), (v) |
| Reference | 1066 |
| Inscription | 2002 (26thSession) |
| Area | 27,250 ha (67,300 acres) |
| Buffer zone | 34,680 ha (85,700 acres) |
| Coordinates | 50°10′25″N7°41′39″E / 50.1736°N 7.69417°E /50.1736; 7.69417 |
  Location of Rhine Gorge in Germany | |
TheRhine Gorge is a popular name for theUpperMiddle Rhine Valley, a 65 km (40 mi) section of theRhine betweenKoblenz andRüdesheim in the states ofRhineland-Palatinate andHesse inGermany. It was added to theUNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in June 2002 because of its beauty as acultural landscape, its importance as a route of transport across Europe, and the unique adaptations of the buildings and terraces to the steep slopes of the gorge.[1]
The region's rocks were laid down in theDevonian period and are known as RhenishFacies. This is a fossil-bearingsedimentary rock type consisting mainly ofslate. The rocks underwent considerable folding during theCarboniferous period. The gorge was carved out during a much more recent uplift to leave the river contained within steep walls 200 m (660 ft) high, the most famous feature being theLoreley.
The gorge produces its ownmicroclimate and has acted as a corridor for species not otherwise found in the region. Its slopes have long been terraced for agriculture, in particularviticulture which has good conditions on south-facing slopes. Most of the vineyards belong to the wine regionMittelrhein, but the southernmost parts of the Rhine Gorge fall inRheingau andNahe.
The river has been an important trade route into central Europe since prehistoric times and a string of small settlements has grown up along the banks.[1] Constrained in size, many of these old towns retain a historic feel today. With increasing wealth, roughly 40 hilltopcastles were built and the valley became a core region of theHoly Roman Empire. It was at the centre of theThirty Years' War, which left many of the castles inruins, a particular attraction for today's cruise ships which follow the river. At one time forming a border ofFrance, in the 19th century the valley became part ofPrussia and its landscape became the quintessential image ofGermany.
This part of the Rhine features strongly infolklore, such as a legendary castle on the Rhine being the setting for the operaGötterdämmerung. The annualRhine in Flames festivals include spectacular firework displays atSankt Goar in September andKoblenz in August, the best view being from one of a convoy of boats.
