The Rhine River originates at the Rheinwaldhorn Glacier in the Swiss Alps and flows 820 miles north and east through Central Europe before its remnants flow into the North Sea in the Netherlands.

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The Rhine flows through and forms the borders of Switzerland, Lichtenstein, Austria, France, Germany and the Netherlands.

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From its origins in the Swiss Alps until it flows into Lake Constance the Rhine River is a fast flowing tumultuous alpine river that cuts through deep gorges including the beautiful Ruinaulta also known as the Rhine Canyon or Swiss Grand Canyon.

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Once past Lake Constance, the Rhine once again flows swiftly and forms the Rhine Falls (see picture below) and once past the falls does not slow down until it reaches the town of Basel.

At Basel the Rhine River turns north and enters the Rhine Graben, a flat floored rift valley that lies between the Vosges Mountains on the west and the Black Forest on the east. The Rhine picks up many of its tributaries in this section and expands. As the Rhine flows from Bingen to Bonn in Germany it forms the Rhine Valley which is renowned for its beauty.

In this section is the Rhine Gorge with fairytale castles and picturesque vineyards along the overhanging cliffs.

Once past Bonn, the Rhine opens out onto the North German Plain and becomes the Lower Rhine and ends flowing into the North Sea through the Netherlands.

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The Rhine River has a rich history dating back many centuries. Germanic and Gallic tribes lived along the river and in 53 and 55 BC the river was crossed by Julius Caesar. From that point on for over 400 years the Rhine River formed part of the northern boundary of the Roman Empire. In part due to its proximity to the Black Forest, the Romans considered the Rhine River area to be home to mythical beasts and barbarian tribes.

Once the Roman Empire disintegrated the Germanic tribes crossed the Rhine and occupied the lands to the south. Since then the Rhine has often seen armies from many different nations cross it and claim the territory. The last time this happened was the at the end of WW II. Since then the Rhine River area has seen increased cooperation among the bordering nations.

In 1832 the first steamboat made its way up the Rhine River all the way to Basel. Since then the Rhine has been a major waterway for shipping but today it is tourism, including Rhine River cruises, that dominates the commerce of the area.

Tourists love to visit castles and vineyards, and the Rhine River is rich with both. It is believed that there are more castles along the Rhine River than any other river in the world.

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And wines are made from grapes grown in French, German and Swiss vineyards along the Rhine and surrounding areas.

The Rhine River has a rich history and is one of the most beautiful rivers in the world today.

See also Great Rivers of Planet Earth and Danube River.