Aguilar, Rose Ann L.

BSES 3-1

Rhine River Basin

Describe the physical characteristics of the watershed.

The river Rhine is Western Europe’s largest river basin, with an area of 200,000 square
kilometers. The river has its source in the Sankt-Gotthard massif on the border of
Switzerland and Italy. On a length of 1,320 km, the main river crosses Lake Constance, flows
along the border of France with and through the territory of Germany, and ultimately splits
into multiple arms in the Netherlands, where together with the Meuse it forms an
enormous delta which empties into the North Sea. Of the nine riparian states of the Rhine
River, seven are members of the European Union: Germany, Switzerland, France,the
Netherlands, Austria, and Luxembourg, most of the territory of Liechtenstein and small
parts of the territories of Italy and Belgium.

Describe the biological characteristics of the watershed.

Around 140 species of birds, 39 species of dragonflies, more than 85 species of wild bees
and wasps, 26 species of fish, several amphibians, butterflies, and molluscs, as well as wild
boar, roe deer, foxes, badgers, bats, etc. prove that the diverse life is out in full force on the
island. As for the flora, it is made up of aquatic plants such as reeds that are found in a
swirling manner on the banks of the river. There are some perennials that have flowers that
tolerate moist soils. These plants are lilies. Other flora can also be found around the river
that form grasslands and areas with shorter grasses. In some areas where plants can grow
taller, small riparian forests can form.

Water lily Collared Snake

Red Frog Black Kite

 Common Teal Atlantic Salmon

Green Snaketail Large Copper

Greater Mouse-Eared Bat Ramshorn Snail

Describe the community that lives inside the watershed.

The Rhine river basin is shared by nine countries (Switzerland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Austria,
Germany, France, Luxemburg, Belgium and the Netherlands) with a population of about 58
million people many of them crowded in large urban areas.

What are the benefits that can be derived from the watershed you have chosen?

The Rhine provides services for transportation, power generation (Initially the Rhine's flow
was used to generate hydroelectricity and coal transports, but in later decades also to cool
nuclear power plants), industrial production, urban sanitation, drinking water for 25 million
people, agriculture and tourism. The Rhine is a classic example of a “multipurpose”
waterway for transportation, for industry and agriculture, for urban drinking and sanitation
needs, for hydroelectric production, and for recreation.

In your own words, what are the threats or environmental concerns that should be
investigated in the watershed?

The environmental concerns that should be investigated is dumping of garbage such as

diapers, used sanitay pads, plastics etc. in the river can cause pollution. Microplastic is the
number one problem in Rhine River and it should take an action to prevent this problem.
Aquatic environmental, hydrological alterations, metropolitan areas and industrial plants,
waste water treatment plants and weirs, as well as the particular current conditions caused
by Anthropogenic activities
References:

https://kops.uni-konstanz.de/handle/123456789/7202

Europe’s Rhine power: connections, borders, and flows

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4811295/#:~:text=Initially%20the%20Rhine's%20flow
%20was,%E2%80%94even%20European%E2%80%94electricity%20system.

https://uwapress.uw.edu/book/9780295985008/the-rhine/

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_impact_on_river_systems