This majestic river is the longest in Europe, stretching for 1,232 miles from its source in the Swiss Alps to its mouth in the North Sea. Along its course, the Rhine passes through six countries: Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, France
The Rhine is one of the major rivers of Europe. The river begins in the Swiss canton of Graubünden in the southeastern Swiss Alps. It forms part of the Swiss–Liechtenstein border, then part of the Swiss–Austrian border. From Lake Constance downstream, it forms part of the Swiss–German border. After that, the Rhine defines much of the Franco-German border. It then flows in a mostly northerly direction through the German Rhineland. Finally, the Rhine turns to flow predominantly west to enter the Netherlands, eventually emptying into the North Sea. It drains an area of 185,000 km2.