At about 1,230 km (760 mi), [1] it is the second-longest river in Central and Western Europe (after the Danube), and third in Europe as a whole with the Volga the longest. The river begins in the Swiss canton of Graubünden in the southeastern Swiss Alps.

The Rhine connects the Alps to the North Sea and represents the most important cultural and economic axis in Middle Europe. Its use is more intensive and varied than that of all other European rivers.

The Rhine is the second-longest river in Central and Western Europe (after the Danube), at about 1,230 km (760 mi), [note 1] with an average discharge of about 2,900 m 3 /s (100,000 cu ft/s). It also contains the most powerful waterfall in Europe, the Rhine Falls.

Rhine River, river and waterway of western Europe, culturally and historically one of the great rivers of the continent and among the most important arteries of industrial transport in the world.

The Rhine River, also known as the River Rhine, is an 800-mile long European river boasting a mosaic of culture, history, food, wine and landscapes.

In this guide, I walk through the Rhine’s route section by section, highlighting the landmarks, confluences and turning points that make this river unlike any other in Europe. Traced from source to mouth, the Rhine forms a distinctive inverted “L” shape.

The Rhine River spans Central Europe and Western Europe. It flows through or along the borders of Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, France and The Netherlands. It is a major navigation way and played an important role in history and culture of Europe.