9 questions · Geography
Germany's great rivers have shaped its cities, trade and borders for centuries. The most important waterway is the Rhine, one of the busiest in the world; its Middle Rhine valley, with castles and the Lorelei, is a World Heritage Site. From France comes the Moselle, winding in tight loops past steep vineyards before joining the Rhine, while the Main flows through Franconia and Hesse past the banking city of Frankfurt. Via the Main and the Main-Danube Canal, ships can travel all the way from the North Sea to the Black Sea. The Danube is the odd one out: it rises in the Black Forest and is Germany's only major river flowing east, on through Vienna, Budapest and Belgrade to the Black Sea. Europe's second-longest river after the Volga flows through ten countries in all. At Passau it is joined by the Inn, a fast-flowing Alpine river from Switzerland and Tyrol that often carries more water there than the Danube itself. In the north and east, the rivers run towards the sea. The Elbe rises in the Czech Republic, passes Dresden, Magdeburg and Hamburg and flows into the North Sea near Cuxhaven. The Oder, too, starts in the Czech Republic, but heads for the Baltic and for long stretches forms the border between Germany and Poland. The Weser is the only major river running entirely within Germany: it is formed at Hann. Münden, where the Werra and Fulda meet, and reaches the North Sea at Bremerhaven. The smallest of the major rivers, the Ems, crosses Emsland and East Frisia and occasionally carries giant cruise ships from the Meyer shipyard down to the sea.
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Which river is highlighted?
Danube
The Danube is Germany's only major river flowing east; it rises in the Black Forest and empties into the Black Sea. Vienna, Budapest and Belgrade all lie on it.
💡 Did you know? The Danube is Europe's second-longest river after the Volga and flows through ten countries.
Elbe
The Elbe is one of the longest rivers in Central Europe and an important waterway. Cities such as Dresden, Magdeburg and Hamburg lie along it.
💡 Did you know? The Elbe rises in the Czech Republic and flows into the North Sea near Cuxhaven.
Ems
The Ems is the smallest of the major German rivers and flows through the north-west into the North Sea. It shapes the landscape of Emsland and East Frisia.
💡 Did you know? Giant cruise ships built at the Meyer shipyard are floated down the Ems to the North Sea.
Inn
The Inn rises in the Swiss Alps, flows through Tyrol and joins the Danube at Passau. It is a typical fast-flowing Alpine river.
💡 Did you know? At Passau the Inn often carries more water than the Danube it flows into.
Main
The Main is one of the Rhine's longest tributaries and flows through Franconia and Hesse. The banking city of Frankfurt lies on it.
💡 Did you know? Via the Main, the Main-Danube Canal links the North Sea and the Black Sea.
Moselle
The Moselle winds in tight loops from France through the German uplands to the Rhine. Its valley is famous for steep vineyards and castles.
💡 Did you know? The steep slopes of the Moselle valley are among Germany's best-known wine regions.
Oder
The Oder rises in the Czech Republic and flows north into the Baltic Sea. For long stretches it marks the German-Polish border.
💡 Did you know? For long stretches the Oder forms the border between Germany and Poland.
Rhine
The Rhine is one of the longest and most important rivers in Europe and Germany's most significant waterway. Its Middle Rhine valley, with castles and the Lorelei, is a World Heritage Site.
💡 Did you know? The Rhine is one of the busiest waterways in the world.
Weser
The Weser is the only major river running entirely within Germany. It flows through Lower Saxony and reaches the North Sea at Bremerhaven.
💡 Did you know? The Weser is formed at Hann. Münden where the Werra and Fulda rivers meet.
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