RHINE (ancient Rhenus), a large and important river in Europe, rises in the Alps of Switzerland, in several parts of its course separates that country from Germany, afterwards divides Germany from France, traverses the territories of several princes belonging to the German Coufederation, and lastly drains the plains of Holland, where it reaches the sea by several arms. That portion of the river which lies within or along the boundary-line of Switzerland is called the Upper Rhine ; from Basel to Cologne, it is denominated the Middle Rhine; and the remainder of the course, to its several mouths, the Lower Rhine.
Upper Rhine.—The river originates in three branches iu that elevated chain of the Alps which runs outward from the mountain road of St.-Gothard through the Grisons. The most eastern of these three branches, the Vorder-Rhein (Fore-Rhine), is considered the principal. It rises in two small lakes, situated on the eastern declivity of Mount Badus, belonging to the St.-Gothard group, about 7500 feet above the sea-level. It runs in a ravine like a torrent, and about 12 miles from its source, at Dissentis, where it is met by the second branch, the Mittel (Middle) Rhein, it is hardly more than 3600 feet above the sea. It continues its course for about 40 miles more in an east by north direction, to Reichenau and Coire. At Reichenau the waters are increased by the third branch, called the Hinter (Hinder) Rhein, and at Coire it is nearly 250 feet wide, its waters having been increased by numerous small tributaries. From Coire downwards it is navigated by small fiat river-boats, and it begins to run through a valley from one to two miles wide, in a nearly northern direction towards the Boden See, or Lake of Couatanz. This valley is nearly 50 miles long. About 20 miles north from Coire two mountains come close up to the banks of the river, so as not to leave even space for a road. The eastern is called the Fascherberg, and the western the Sehollberg. Their declivities along the river are extremely steep, and there is reason to suppose that the two mountains at some remote time formed one mass, and that the course of the river was different. from what it is at present. In fact a low tract of alluvial ground extends south of the Schollberg westward to the small town of Sargans in St-Gallen, and thence to the Lake of Wallenstadt. Between this lake and that of Zurich there is also a broad tract of level alluvial ground, in which the Linth Canal has been made. As the ground
between the present course of the Rhine and the Lake of Wallenstadt is little more than 20 feet above the level of the river, it is supposed that the Rhine formerly took its course through this low ground, and passing through the lakes of Wallenstadt and Zurich, followed the course of the Limmat, which joins the Aar a little below the mouth of the Reuss. When the Rhine is unusually swollen there is some danger of its returning to this its supposed ancient bed. In 1817 and 1821 the danger was only averted by the great efforts of the inhabitanta of the adjacent places. North of the narrow passage between tho Schollberg and Fibscherberg the valley is much wider, and here the river constitutes the boundary-line between Austria and Switzerland. Where the river enters the Boden-See it runs through a swampy tract of small extent. The river issues from the lake at Conatanz, which is 1344 feet above the sea-level, and flowing in a western direction for a few mile; enters the Unter-Sce (Lower Lake), which is about 30 feet lower than the Boden-See. In this tract, and as far an Schaff haunen, the Rhine is navigable for large boats, but below the last mentioned place its waters mall over a rock, which is between 65 and 70 feet high, and this waterfall is called the cataract of Schaffhausen or Leaden. The last name is derived from that of a castle which is contiguous to the waterfall. At. Schaffhausen the surface of the Rhine is 1200 feet above the sea-level. Below this cataract the course of the river is very tortuous, between mountains and high hills, but its general direction is toward the west. Nearly 50 miles below Schaff hausen the navigation is again interrupted by a cataract, at the town of Laufenhurg, where the bed is narrowed by projecting rocks to about 50 feet. At this point goods must be unshipped, and the barges descend the river by means of ropes. The last and least impediment to navigation in the Upper Rhine occurs near Rhelufelden, about 10 miles below Laufeuburg, where a rapid of some length occurs, which does not stop the navigation, but is fatal to many boats which navigate this part of the river. It is called the Hollenhacken (Hook of Bell). Below this rapid the river is only 850 feet above the sea; and at Basel only 800 feet.