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Image: Ina Fassbender/AFPImage: Ina Fassbender/AFP

Rhine River

The Rhine is Germany's longest river. It has been an important transportation link between the north and south of Europe for thousands of years.

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All Content on this topic

Scene of destruction, with truck and damaged cars

Scene of destruction, with truck and damaged cars

Germany: Trucker leaves trail of destruction after amok ride

A truck driver has injured 19 people during a zigzag ride over two highways in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

DW's Eco Africa

DW's Eco Africa

Eco Africa: Improving mobility and the power of teamwork

Making Lagos more livable, bikes for girls in Uganda, and tackling marine litter in Egypt.

A picture split in two. One side shows the Rine widened with an sand island in the middle of it. The other shows the narrow Rhine.

A picture split in two. One side shows the Rine widened with an sand island in the middle of it. The other shows the narrow Rhine.

Alpine Rhine project aims for flood protection, biodiversity

On the border of Austria and Switzerland, the Rhine River will be restored to prevent floods and support biodiversity.

DW Eco India (Sendungslogo)

DW Eco India (Sendungslogo)

Eco India: Restoration, rejuvenation, recovery

From flood protection and river clean-ups to a seed preserver.

German police vehciles, a bike and car, parked

German police vehciles, a bike and car, parked

Germany: Man dies after standoff with police in Bochum

Officials were responding to a situation with a man throwing things out of his window. But the situation escalated.

Cocaine bricks among a crate of bananas in Mönchengladbach, Germany

Cocaine bricks among a crate of bananas in Mönchengladbach, Germany

German supermarket finds €7M of cocaine in crates of bananas

Police did not identify the discount supermarket chain in question.

makeshift memorial of flowers and candles at the site of a knife attack in Solingen

makeshift memorial of flowers and candles at the site of a knife attack in Solingen

Solingen knife attack heats up German election campaign

A suspected Islamist stabbed three people to death. This has reignited the debate on migration and security.

Ambulances and police vans on the scene in Solingen following Friday's deadly stabbing attack

Ambulances and police vans on the scene in Solingen following Friday's deadly stabbing attack

Germany: Several killed in stabbing at Solingen street party

Police have launched a manhunt after a man killed three people and seriously injured five more with a knife.

Klaus Töpfer, seen in 2023, in a black and white photo

Klaus Töpfer, seen in 2023, in a black and white photo

Germany: Top environmentalist Klaus Töpfer dies

He was one of West Germany's most popular politicians and spearheaded environment policy in reunified Germany.

The official mascot of UEFA EURO 2024 stands by the trophy

The official mascot of UEFA EURO 2024 stands by the trophy

Euro 2024: The west continues to dominate German sports

Of the 10 cities hosting matches for the European Football Championship, only one is located in former East Germany.

An ambulance and emergency doctor drive through a Düsseldorf street with blue lights flashing to an operation on Dec 16, 2023.

An ambulance and emergency doctor drive through a Düsseldorf street with blue lights flashing to an operation on Dec 16, 2023.

Germany: Girl falls to her death from hotel window

A teenage girl fell from the sixth floor of a hotel near the center of Düsseldorf, in North Rhine Westphalia.

Firefighters battling a blaze in a city-center house in Solingen, western Germany, in the early hours of March 25, 2024.

Firefighters battling a blaze in a city-center house in Solingen, western Germany, in the early hours of March 25, 2024.

Solingen house fire was arson, prosecutors say

A fatal house fire in the German city earlier this week appears to have been set intentionally, prosecutors said.

DW Dokumentationen | Pulverfass Vulkaneifel

DW Dokumentationen | Pulverfass Vulkaneifel

Germany’s Volcanic Eifel region - A powderkeg?

The Volcanic Eifel is a peaceful region in western Germany.

Police vehicles in a wooded area on a separate case

Police vehicles in a wooded area on a separate case

Germany: Police find missing woman's body in woods

Police found her body Tuesday and arrested her husband, who will appear before a magistrate on Wednesday.

ThyssenKrupp Steel, Schwelgern coking plant on the Rhine in Duisburg Marxloh, coal-fired power station Walsum at the back

ThyssenKrupp Steel, Schwelgern coking plant on the Rhine in Duisburg Marxloh, coal-fired power station Walsum at the back

German metalworkers union secures 5.5% wage hike

IG Metall struck an agreement guaranteeing compensation payouts, shorter work-weeks and job guarantees.

Pfalzgrafenstein castle is seen on a tiny island in the Rhine river.

Pfalzgrafenstein castle is seen on a tiny island in the Rhine river.

10 reasons to love Rhineland-Palatinate

The western German state boasts beautiful countryside, charming valleys, great wine, rich history and lots of culture.

A close up shot of a North Rhine-Westphalia police officer's arm patch and handcuffs

A close up shot of a North Rhine-Westphalia police officer's arm patch and handcuffs

Germany: Teens allegedly planned Christmas market attack

Two teenagers arrested this week allegedly planned to set off an explosion at a Christmas market in Leverkusen.

A file photo of three men at the Chorweiler Mosque in Cologne in 2015

A file photo of three men at the Chorweiler Mosque in Cologne in 2015

Outrage after Taliban member speaks at German mosque

Abdul Bari Omar was previously in the Netherlands where he attended a WHO event.

Lock gate on the Rhine near Iffezheim

Lock gate on the Rhine near Iffezheim

Germany: 'Drunk' Rhine ship pilot causes major gate damage

A cargo ship caused €1.5 million worth of damage after ramming a lock gate on the Rhine River near Karlsruhe.

View of Cologne Cathedral and Hohenzollern Bridge at sunset

View of Cologne Cathedral and Hohenzollern Bridge at sunset

10 reasons to love North Rhine-Westphalia

North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany's most populous state, boasts a wide variety of architectural gems and attractions.

Rachel Stewart sits outside at a table on a sunny day. She holds a glass of white wine in her hand and more glasses as well as bottles of white wine lined up on the table.

Rachel Stewart sits outside at a table on a sunny day. She holds a glass of white wine in her hand and more glasses as well as bottles of white wine lined up on the table.

German road trip: Discovering the western side

In a four part series, Euromaxx explores the regions of Germany. This time, it's off to western Germany.

Armed and masked police escort a man in front of a building in Berlin's Neukoelln district during raids against organized clan criminality on February 18, 2021 in the German capital.

Armed and masked police escort a man in front of a building in Berlin's Neukoelln district during raids against organized clan criminality on February 18, 2021 in the German capital.

80,000 German emergency workers attacked on duty — survey

A German newspaper group found that North Rhine-Westphalia saw the most violence against first responders.

bird's eye view of woman sitting on the floor with a laptop and a cup of coffee

bird's eye view of woman sitting on the floor with a laptop and a cup of coffee

Can working from home and coworking help German rural areas?

Working from home has become established practice in Germany. The concept of coworking could be a boon for rural areas.

Close-up of a German prisoner operating a circular saw, with sparks coming off the metal as he works. Shot taken from behind the subject, whose face is not visible.

Close-up of a German prisoner operating a circular saw, with sparks coming off the metal as he works. Shot taken from behind the subject, whose face is not visible.

German top court tells two states to pay prisoners better

Germany's constitutional court rules that the going rate of less than €3 per hour in two German states is inadequate.

A massive container ship entering the Panama Canal

A massive container ship entering the Panama Canal

Climate change could cut off the Panama Canal

The water level in the Panama Canal is falling due to less rain. It may put global supply chains at risk.

Emergency crews, some with specialist breathing equipment, gather on a street near the site of the explosion. Ratingen, western Germany, May 11, 2023.

Emergency crews, some with specialist breathing equipment, gather on a street near the site of the explosion. Ratingen, western Germany, May 11, 2023.

Germany: Suspect arrested after blast at high-rise building

Over 20 police officers and several firefighters were injured in a blast at an apartment tower in Ratingen.

Deutschland Mittelrhein

Deutschland Mittelrhein

The alluring legend of the Rhine River's Loreley

The Loreley is a popular motif along the Rhine River, but also has sex appeal. What is her saga?

Four police officers outside a gym in Duisburg, Germany, after a man stabbed four people in the building. April 18, 2023

Four police officers outside a gym in Duisburg, Germany, after a man stabbed four people in the building. April 18, 2023

Germany: Suspect still on loose after Duisburg gym stabbings

Police are seeking a fairly tall man aged about 30 still on the loose after stabbing four people in a fitness center.

DW's On the Green Fence Podcast

DW's On the Green Fence Podcast

The Rhine: Protecting a precious water source

The Rhine used to be a heavily polluted river. Today, it serves as a source for drinking water. How was this achieved?

German police cordoning off crime scene in wooded area near Freudenberg

German police cordoning off crime scene in wooded area near Freudenberg

Girl found dead in woods was killed, German police say

The girl's body was found on Sunday in a stretch of forest near her home town of Freudenberg.

The electricy pylon at the Garzweiler coal mine

The electricy pylon at the Garzweiler coal mine

RWE suspects sabotage of Garzweiler coal mine power pylon

The Garzweiler coal mine has been a flashpoint for climate action in Germany.

Passengers stand near the departures board on January 17, 2023 at Düsseldorf International Airport amid a strike affecting flights.

Passengers stand near the departures board on January 17, 2023 at Düsseldorf International Airport amid a strike affecting flights.

Germany: Public sector strikes in NRW to hit major airports

It's the latest chapter in a series of strikes locally and nationwide in recent weeks.

A person dressed in a lavish clown costume during Carnival in Brazil.

A person dressed in a lavish clown costume during Carnival in Brazil.

Carnival around the world: From Rio to the Rhine

People are unpacking their costumes and getting ready to party — not just in Germany, but the world over.

Police experts wear hazmat suits while conducting investigations in Castrop-Rauxel into a potential planned chemical attack

Police experts wear hazmat suits while conducting investigations in Castrop-Rauxel into a potential planned chemical attack

Germany: No toxins found in anti-terror garage searches

German police have searched two garages in connection with a suspected planned bioweapon attack.

Low water levels in the Rhine river near the Mäuseturm in Bingen

Low water levels in the Rhine river near the Mäuseturm in Bingen

Plans to 'deepen' Rhine river hit resistance

Water levels on the river typically drop later in fall with knock-on effects for trade and industry.

Athletes cheer during Artistic Gymnastics competition during Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi

Athletes cheer during Artistic Gymnastics competition during Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi

The Special Olympics and the right to participate

The Special Olympics may not be as well-known as the Olympic Games, but they are no less important.

Pawnbroker Nikolaus Bode standing in his shop next to cases filled with jewelry and other items

Pawnbroker Nikolaus Bode standing in his shop next to cases filled with jewelry and other items

Pawnbrokers win out amid growing crisis

Prices are rising in Germany. And as they do, more Germans are turning to their local pawnbroker to make ends meet.

The view of a road on the Amalfi coast, Italy

The view of a road on the Amalfi coast, Italy

A road trip along panoramic routes through Europe

Every week we feature different ways to travel — This time road trips on Europe's most beautiful panoramic roads.

Is deepening the Rhine River a good idea?

A government plan to deepen the Rhine in key sections is meeting with stiff resistance. Why is this so controversial?

On the Green Fence 210311 Podcast Picture Teaser

On the Green Fence 210311 Podcast Picture Teaser

The Rhine as a symbol of identity

The Rhine has played a key role in shaping Germany and Europe. But just what makes this river so special?

Wildflowers and trees growing outside Andernach's castle ruins

Wildflowers and trees growing outside Andernach's castle ruins

Germany's pioneer 'edible city' on the Rhine

Andernach is hoping to change the way locals think about food by creating edible gardens anyone can harvest.

Sunflowers stand on a field near Frankfurt, Germany

Sunflowers stand on a field near Frankfurt, Germany

Germany has record year for summer sunshine

Germany has had its sunniest summer on record, according to the country's DWD meteorological service.

Reviving the Rhine's wetlands during drought

A historic drought is drying out the few remaining wetlands along Germany's Rhine, putting native wildlife under stress.

A train yard in the state of North Rhine Westphalia

A train yard in the state of North Rhine Westphalia

Germany makes coal a priority on rail network

Germany's Cabinet has approved a measure that will prioritize coal on the country's rail lines.

An aerial view shows a branch of the Loire River amid a historic drought in France

An aerial view shows a branch of the Loire River amid a historic drought in France

Drought: What you need to know

What qualifies as drought? And what can we do to safeguard against it?

On the Green Fence 210311 Podcast Picture Teaser

On the Green Fence 210311 Podcast Picture Teaser

The mighty Rhine: A shrinking river?

Scant rainfall and hot temperatures have caused the Rhine water level to drop to near-record lows. Is worse yet to come?

Rhine bank near Wesseling, Germany

Rhine bank near Wesseling, Germany

Supply chains at risk as Rhine dries up

The Rhine is Germany's most important waterway, and now supply chains are in danger because of low water levels.

Low water levels in the Rhine

Low water levels in the Rhine

Rainfall won't help low water in German rivers

Experts issued warnings for flash foods, but say the brief rainfall will not be enough to refill the country's rivers.

Low water on the Middle Rhine

Low water on the Middle Rhine

Traffic backed up on Rhine as engine failure worsens woes

The Rhine is already suffering from low water levels. Now, traffic has been blocked by a ship's engine failure.

Riverbed and tourist ship in the distance

Riverbed and tourist ship in the distance

Drought: Germany's rivers dying of thirst

Weeks without rain have led to shipping disruptions. But there are also some surprises emerging from German rivers.