Rhine

views updated May 14 2018

Rhine (Rhein, Rhin or Rijn) River in w Europe. It rises in the Swiss Alps and flows n, bordering on or passing through Switzerland, Austria, Liechtenstein, Germany, France, and the Netherlands to enter the North Sea at Rotterdam. The Rhine is navigable to ocean-going vessels as far as Basel in Switzerland and is a major transport route for some of w Europe's most industrialized areas. Length: c.1320km (820mi).