Geography

All articles on Rhine geography: river course, sections, tributaries, countries and maps.

Aerial view of the Rhine River winding through the Rhine Gorge with medieval castles and vineyards

The Rhine River: Complete Guide to Europe’s 1,232 km Waterway from Source to Sea

From its source at Tomasee in the Swiss Alps to the North Sea at Rotterdam, the Rhine flows 1,232.7 km…

Alpine lake Tomasee in the Swiss Alps at sunrise, the source of the Rhine River

Where Is the Rhine River? Course, Map & All 9 Countries Along the Rhine

The Rhine flows 1,232.7 km from the Swiss Alps to the North Sea, passing through Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, France,…

Contrasting Rhine sections from alpine mountain river to wide lowland waterway with barges

The 7 Rhine River Sections: Alpine Rhine, Upper Rhine, Middle Rhine & More

The Rhine transforms dramatically along its 1,232.7 km course. From the steep Alpine Rhine to the UNESCO-listed Middle Rhine gorge…

Aerial view of the Moselle meeting the Rhine at Deutsches Eck in Koblenz

Rhine Tributaries: The Largest Rivers Flowing into the Rhine — Aare, Moselle, Main & Neckar

The Rhine does not become Europe's busiest waterway on its own. Eleven major tributaries — from the snow-fed Aare to…

Rhine River at the Three Countries Corner in Basel where Switzerland, Germany and France meet

9 Countries Share the Rhine: How Europe’s Most International River Connects a Continent

The Rhine's 185,000 km² catchment area spans nine European countries, from a 51 km² sliver of Italy to Germany's dominant…

Vintage hand-drawn map of the Rhine from the Alps to the North Sea with compass and magnifying glass

Rhine River Map: Interactive Guide to the Full 1,232 km Course Through 9 Countries

Trace the Rhine's 1,232.7 km route from the Swiss Alps to the North Sea. Our map guide highlights every major…

Lake Constance panorama at blue hour with Alps in background and Lindau lighthouse

Lake Constance and the Rhine: Europe’s 536 km² Alpine Lake Shared by 3 Countries

Lake Constance is not just a lake on the Rhine's route — it is a transformer. The turbid Alpine Rhine…