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Ruhr

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ruhr
The Ruhr in Essen-Kettwig.
Origin	Sauerland
Mouth	Rhine
Basin countries	Germany
Length	217 km
Source elevation	674 m
Avg. discharge	79 m³/s
Basin area	4,485 km²

The Ruhr is a medium-size river in western Germany (North Rhine-Westphalia), right tributary of the Rhine. Its source is at an elevation of approximately 2,200 feet near the town of Winterberg in the mountainous Sauerland region, and it flows into the lower Rhine river at an elevation of only 56 feet in the municipal area of Duisburg. Its total length is 217 km, its average discharge is 79 m³/s (cubic metres per second) at Mülheim near its mouth. Thus its discharge is comparable to that of the Thames river.

The Ruhr first passes the towns of Meschede, Arnsberg, Wickede, Fröndenberg, Holzwickede, Iserlohn and Schwerte.

Then the river marks the southern limit of the Ruhr area, passing Hagen, Dortmund, Herdecke, Wetter, Witten, Bochum, Hattingen, Essen, Mülheim and Duisburg.

There are five Ruhr reservoirs on the river, often used for leisure activities.

Hengsteysee between Dortmund and Hagen, Area of the surface: 1.36km² height of the weir 4.5m
Harkortsee between Hagen Herdecke and Wetter; Area of the surface: 1.37km², height of the weir 7.8m
Kemnader See between Witten and Bochum; Area of the surface: 1.25 km², height of the weir 2m
Baldeneysee in Essen-Werden; Area of the surface: 2.64 km², height of the weir 8.5m
Kettwiger See in Essen-Kettwig; Area of the surface: 0.55 km², height of the weir 6m

The adjacent major industrial region adopted its name from this river.

The Ruhr is used for the preparation of drinking water and has a good water quality, which is ironic, since the word "Ruhr" means dysentery in the German language. Its riversides are largely used as recreation areas.