German Rhein
River, western Europe.
Rising in the Swiss Alps , it flows north and west through western Germany to drain through the delta region of The Netherlands into the North Sea. It is 820 mi (1,319 km) long and navigable for 540 mi (870 km). Its many canals connect it with the Marne , and Danube river systems. It has been an international waterway since 1815 (see Congress of {{link=Vienna, Congress of">Vienna ). It has played a prominent part in German history and legend. During World War II its course was a major line of defense. Major cities along its banks include Basel , Mannheim , Koblenz , Cologne , Duisburg , and Rotterdam .