RIVERS OF GERMANY

MAJOR RIVERS The major rivers of Germany are:- The Rhine The Danube The Elbe

THE RHINE The majestic Rhine is often called the “heart of Germany”. The Rhine is the most important river of Germany. It is the longest river of Germany It originates in the Swiss alps

It is in Germany that the Rhine encounters some of its main tributaries, such as the Neckar, the Main and, later, the Moselle They provide a major source of water for river. The river finally drains into the North sea

HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE The Rhine is a mystical and political symbol of Germany. During World War II, it was considered the sacred border, of Germany and still was a defensive barrier. The Germans fought especially hard to defend it. In the World War , it was recognised that the Rhine would present a formidable natural obstacle to the invasion of Germany, by the western allies.

At the end of World War I, the Rhineland was subject to the Treaty of Versailles. This decreed that it would be occupied by the allies, until 1935 and after that, it would be a demilitarised zone, with the German army forbidden to enter. The Treaty of Versailles and this particular provision, in general, caused much resentment in Germany and is often cited as helping Adolf Hitler's rise to power.

COMMERCIAL IMPORTANCE The Rhine is Germany’s main waterway.It is an important transport route to and from northern ports. Many industries are set up on the banks of the river. It is a hot spot for tourists and supports the major portion of the German economy. It is the preferred spot of honeymoon couples.

THE DANUBE The Danube is the longest river in the European Union The river originates in the Black Forest in Germany as the much smaller Brigach and Breg rivers It empties into the Black sea

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE The Danube is mentioned in the title of a famous waltz by Austrian composer Johann Strauss, On the Beautiful Blue Danube. This piece was composed as Strauss was travelling down the Danube River. This piece is well known across the world and is also used widely as a lullaby. Another famous waltz about the Danube is The Waves of the Danube by the Romanian composer Ion Ivanovici. The Danube figures prominently in the Bulgarian National Anthem, as a symbolic representation of the country's natural beauty.

IMPORTANCE Since the completion of the German Rhine–Main–Danube Canal in 1992, the river has been part of a trans-European waterway from Rotterdam on the North Sea to Sulina on the Black Sea (3500 km).

ELBE The Elbe is one of the major rivers of Central Europe. The river is linked by canals to the industrial areas of Germany and to Berlin.

PICTURE GALARY

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