The source of the Ruhr is near the town of Winterberg in the mountainous Sauerland region, at an elevation of approximately 670 metres (2,200 ft). It flows into the lower Rhine at an elevation of only 17 metres (56 ft) in the municipal area of Duisburg. Its total length is 219 km (136 mi), its average discharge is 79 cubic metres per second (2,800 cu ft/s) at Mülheim near its mouth. Thus, its discharge is, for example, comparable to that of the river Ems in Northern Germany or the River Thames in the United Kingdom.
The Ruhr area was Germany's primary industrial area during the early- to mid-20th century. Most factories were located there. The occupation of the Ruhr from 1923 to 1924 by French forces, due to the Weimar Republic's failure to continue paying reparations from World War I, provoked passive resistance, which saw production in the factories grind to a halt. As a result, the German hyperinflation crisis grew even worse.
During World War II, two of the dams on the Ruhr, the Möhne Dam and the Sorpe Dam were targets for Operation Chastise, in which special "bouncing bombs" were developed to take out the dams and flood the valley, with the hope of seriously affecting the German industries there. The story was told in a 1951 book and the popular 1955 film made from it, The Dam Busters.
The drainage basin of the Ruhr
Lakesedit
There are five Ruhr reservoirs on the river, often used for leisure activities.
Hengsteysee between Dortmund and Hagen, surface area: 1.36 km2 height of the weir 4.5 m
Harkortsee between Herdecke and Wetter; surface area: 1.37 km2, height of the weir 7.8 m
Kemnader See between Witten and Bochum; surface area: 1.25 km2, height of the weir 2 m
Baldeneysee in Essen-Werden; surface area: 2.64 km2, height of the weir 8.5 m
Kettwiger See in Essen-Kettwig; surface area: 0.55 km2, height of the weir 6 m
Tributariesedit
The main tributaries of the Ruhr are (from source to mouth):
^ abHydrographic Directory of the NRW State Office for Nature, the Environment and Consumer Protection (Gewässerverzeichnis des Landesamtes für Natur, Umwelt und Verbraucherschutz NRW 2010) (xls; 4.67 MB)
ruhr, river, confused, with, river, western, north, rhine, westphalia, belgium, netherlands, ruhr, river, western, germany, north, rhine, westphalia, right, tributary, east, side, rhine, ruhrthe, ruhr, essen, kettwiglocationcountrygermanystatenorth, rhine, wes. Not to be confused with the river Rur in western North Rhine Westphalia Belgium and the Netherlands The Ruhr is a river in western Germany North Rhine Westphalia a right tributary east side of the Rhine RuhrThe Ruhr in Essen KettwigLocationCountryGermanyStateNorth Rhine WestphaliaPhysical characteristicsSource locationKahler Asten elevation870 m 2 850 ft Mouth locationRhine coordinates51 27 3 N 6 43 22 E 51 45083 N 6 72278 E 51 45083 6 72278Length219 2 km 136 2 mi 1 Basin size4 485 km2 1 732 sq mi 1 Discharge average79 m3 s 2 800 cu ft s Basin featuresProgressionRhine North SeaTributaries leftLenne Volme rightMohneDescription and history edit nbsp The Ruhr valley near Bochum during a flood The source of the Ruhr is near the town of Winterberg in the mountainous Sauerland region at an elevation of approximately 670 metres 2 200 ft It flows into the lower Rhine at an elevation of only 17 metres 56 ft in the municipal area of Duisburg Its total length is 219 km 136 mi its average discharge is 79 cubic metres per second 2 800 cu ft s at Mulheim near its mouth Thus its discharge is for example comparable to that of the river Ems in Northern Germany or the River Thames in the United Kingdom The Ruhr first passes the towns of Meschede Arnsberg Wickede Frondenberg Holzwickede Iserlohn and Schwerte Then the river marks the southern limit of the Ruhr area passing Hagen Dortmund Herdecke Wetter Witten Bochum Hattingen Essen Mulheim and Duisburg The Ruhr area was Germany s primary industrial area during the early to mid 20th century Most factories were located there The occupation of the Ruhr from 1923 to 1924 by French forces due to the Weimar Republic s failure to continue paying reparations from World War I provoked passive resistance which saw production in the factories grind to a halt As a result the German hyperinflation crisis grew even worse During World War II two of the dams on the Ruhr the Mohne Dam and the Sorpe Dam were targets for Operation Chastise in which special bouncing bombs were developed to take out the dams and flood the valley with the hope of seriously affecting the German industries there The story was told in a 1951 book and the popular 1955 film made from it The Dam Busters nbsp The drainage basin of the RuhrLakes editThere are five Ruhr reservoirs on the river often used for leisure activities Hengsteysee between Dortmund and Hagen surface area 1 36 km2 height of the weir 4 5 m Harkortsee between Herdecke and Wetter surface area 1 37 km2 height of the weir 7 8 m Kemnader See between Witten and Bochum surface area 1 25 km2 height of the weir 2 m Baldeneysee in Essen Werden surface area 2 64 km2 height of the weir 8 5 m Kettwiger See in Essen Kettwig surface area 0 55 km2 height of the weir 6 mTributaries editThe main tributaries of the Ruhr are from source to mouth Left Berkelbach Vossmecke Neger Elpe Valme Nierbach Henne Kelbke Wenne Muhlenbach Rohr Bachumer Bach Hassbach Scheebach Wimberbach Honne Abbabach Baarbach Elsebach Wannebach Ergste Lenne Volme Sprockhoveler Bach Deilbach Oefter Bach Rinderbach Right Hillebach Gierskoppbach Gebke Meschede Kleine Gebke Gebke Wennemen Wanne Mohne Wannebach Westhofen Borbach Wannenbach Horsterholzer Bach Knoselsbach RumbachSee also editRuhr area Occupation of the Ruhr 1923 1924 Nearby rivers Rhine Lippe Emscher Ruhrpolen the Poles of the RuhrReferences editNotes a b Hydrographic Directory of the NRW State Office for Nature the Environment and Consumer Protection Gewasserverzeichnis des Landesamtes fur Natur Umwelt und Verbraucherschutz NRW 2010 xls 4 67 MB Sources nbsp This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Ruhr Encyclopaedia Britannica 11th ed Cambridge University Press External links edit nbsp Media related to Ruhr at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ruhr river amp oldid 1218685879, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
