Nederrijn

Nederrijn
River
Nederrijn near Arnhem
Country Netherlands
Region Gelderland
Source Pannerdens Kanaal
 - location Huissen, Gelderland, Netherlands 51°56′59″N 5°57′7″E / 51.94972°N 5.95194°E / 51.94972; 5.95194
 - coordinates 51°56′59″N 5°57′7″E / 51.94972°N 5.95194°E / 51.94972; 5.95194
Mouth Lek
 - location Wijk bij Duurstede, Utrecht, Netherlands 51°58′11″N 5°21′8″E / 51.96972°N 5.35222°E / 51.96972; 5.35222
 - coordinates 51°58′11″N 5°21′8″E / 51.96972°N 5.35222°E / 51.96972; 5.35222Coordinates: 51°58′11″N 5°21′8″E / 51.96972°N 5.35222°E / 51.96972; 5.35222
Length 50 km (31 mi)
Location of the Nederrijn
Course of the Nederrijn

Nederrijn ("Nether Rhine"; not to be confused with the section called Lower Rhine further upstream) is the name of the Dutch part of the River Rhine from the confluence at the town of Angeren of the cut-off Rhine bend of Oude Rijn and the Pannerdens Kanaal (which was dug to form the new connection between the Waal and Nederrijn branches). The city of Arnhem lies on the right (north) bank of the river Nederrijn, just past the point where the River IJssel branches off. The Nederrijn flows on to the city of Wijk bij Duurstede, from where it continues as the River Lek. The once-important but now small Kromme Rijn branch (in Roman times part of the Limes Germanicus and border river of the Roman Empire) carries the name "Rhine" towards the city of Utrecht.

In order to regulate the distribution of drainage between the different branches of the Rhine, several dams have been constructed. If the dams are closed, there is little flow in the Nederrijn and most of the water drained by the IJssel.

Bridges over the Nederrijn are in Arnhem (railway and three road bridges), in Heteren (A50) and Rhenen. Ferries are found near Doorwerth, Wageningen, Opheusden, Elst and Amerongen.

History

In 1530, the Rhine near Arnhem was moved, a project that was completed in 1536. The city, which originated along the St. Jansbeek ("St. John's Brook'), could develop better now that it was closer the river, and was also more easily defended against Habsburg expansionism into Guelders.

See also

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