Difference between revisions of "Rhine"

<p> (n.) A water course; a ditch. </p>

<p> One of the chief rivers of Europe; of several small Alpine head-streams, the Nearer and the [[Farther]] [[Rhine]] are the two principal, issuing from the eastern flanks of Mount St Gothard; a junction is formed at Reichenau, whence the united stream—the Upper Rhine—flows N. to Lake Constance, and issuing from the NW. corner curves westward to Basel, forming the boundary between [[Switzerland]] and Germany. From Basel, as the Middle Rhine, it pursues a northerly course to Mainz, turns sharply to the W. as far as Bingen, and again resumes its northward course. The Rhine-Highland between [[Bingen]] and [[Bonn]] is the most romantic and picturesque part of its course. As the Lower Rhine it flows in a sluggish, winding stream through the Rhenish Lowlands, enters [[Holland]] near Clèves, at [[Nimeguen]] bends to the W., and flowing through Holland some 100 m. reaches the German Ocean, splitting in its lowest part into several streams which form a rich delta, one-third of Holland. It is 800 m. in length; receives numerous affluents, <i> e.g </i> . Neckar, Main, Moselle, Lippe; is navigable for ships to Mannheim. </p>