Rhine knee
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TheRhine kneeorRhine's knee(‹See Tfd›German:Rheinknie) is the name of several distinctive bends in the course of the riverRhine.
Basel
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InBasel,the Rhine changes its westerly direction of flow in an angle of 90 degrees to a northerly direction, along the borders ofFranceandGermany,to flow to theNorth Sea.From a political viewpoint, the Rhine knee is near thetripointof France, Germany andSwitzerland.Therefore, this region is calledRegio TriRhena.The Basel knee separates theHigh Rhinefrom theUpper Rhinesection.
The whole Rhine knee lies within Swiss territory and is settled by the city of Basel and its adjacent municipalitiesRiehenandBettingen.Farther north are the German cities ofLörrachandWeil am Rheinas well as the French townsHuningueandSaint Louis.
The Basel knee arose in thelast glacial period(Würm glaciation), when the river flowed directly from today'sGrenzach-Wyhlenwest of the city to the area ofWeil am Rheinin the north. The northernWiesetributary transported large rubble and gravel sediments from theFeldbergglacier into the Rhine Valley, enforcing the river's characteristic bend to the south.
Bingen
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The Upper Rhine again changes its flow direction from west to north at another bend near the German town ofBingenand the mouth of theNahetributary. Coming here from the city ofMainz,parallel to the crest of theRhenish Massif,the turn to the north at Bingen marks the opening of awater gapbetween theHunsrückmountain range in the west and theTaunusin the east, stretching up toKoblenzin the north and separating the Upper from theMiddle Rhine.
The Rhine narrows at the site are called Bingen Hole (Binger Loch), marked by theMouse Toweron an island in the river and uphillEhrenfels Castle.Until several blasting operations in the 19th century, an underwaterreefofquartzitewas a great threat to ship transport.
Düsseldorf
[edit]There is also abridgeinDüsseldorfcalled "Rhine knee bridge".