BERGISCHES LAND

region, North Rhine-Westphalia Land (state), western Germany, along the east bank of the Rhine River, between the Sieg River south of Cologne and the Ruhr River near Duisburg, merging into the Sauerland, a hilly region to the east. The Bergisches Land extends over the area that was the medieval county and duchy of Berg (q.v.). It comprises a gentle plateau with little agriculture but has numerous industries, which are largely dependent on the Ruhr coalfields to the north.