Ahr

Ahr
Map of the Ahr
Origin	Eifel 50°26′17″N 6°38′58″E / 50.43806°N 6.64944°E / 50.43806; 6.64944
Mouth	Rhine 50°33′33″N 7°16′36″E / 50.55917°N 7.27667°E / 50.55917; 7.27667Coordinates: 50°33′33″N 7°16′36″E / 50.55917°N 7.27667°E / 50.55917; 7.27667
Basin countries	Germany
Length	89 km
Source elevation	470 m
Basin area	±900 km²

The Ahr is a river in Germany, a left tributary of the Rhine. Its source is at a height of approximately 470 meters above sea level in Blankenheim in the Eifel, in the cellar of a half-timbered house near the castle of Blankenheim. After 18 kilometers it crosses from North Rhine-Westphalia into Rhineland-Palatinate.

The Ahr flows through the towns Schuld, Altenahr and Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler. Between Remagen and Sinzig (south of Bonn), at about 50 m above sea level, it flows into the Rhine. The length is approx. 89 km, of which 68 kilometers within Rhineland-Palatinate. The Ahr has a gradient of 0.4% in its lower course, and 0.4-0.8% in its upper course.

Source of Ahr in Blankenheim

The Ahr and its tributaries are a main drainage system of the eastern Eifel. The watershed is approximately 900 km². Tributaries of the Ahr are (from the mouth to the source): Harbach (Ahr), Hellenbach, Bachemer Bach, Leimersdorfer Bach, Liersbach, Vischelbach, Sahrbach, Kesselinger Bach, Armuthsbach, Dreisbach (brook), Eichenbach, Adenauer Bach, Trierbach and Ahbach.

There were isolated settlements in the Ahr valley at the latest since the Roman times, evidenced by the Roman mansion near Ahrweiler. Due to its isolated position, the upper and middle course were sparsely populated.

That changed from the mid-19th century. The development of the settlements, the traffic routes and the agricultural areas in the Ahr valley led to the fact that the riverbed was fixed.

The Ahr valley makes up the Ahr wine region, which is small but noted for its red wines made from the Spätburgunder variety.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Ahr

• AhrtalGuide.com Pictures of this region (German)
• Ahrweine (German)
• Ahr 2000 (German)

v • d • e Tributaries of the Rhine From the West Vorderrhein · Thur · Töss (Töss Valley) · Glatt (Glatt Valley) · Aare · Birs · Birsig · Ill · Sauer · Lauter (Wieslauter) · Queich · Speyerbach · Rehbach · Isenach · Eckbach · Eisbach · Pfrimm · Selz · Nahe · Moselle · Nette · Brohlbach · Ahr · Erft From the East Hinterrhein · Landquart · Ill · Dornbirner Ach · Bregenzer Ach · Argen · Schussen · Radolfzeller Aach · Wutach · Murg · Wehra · Wiese · Elz · Kinzig · Rench · Acher · Murg · Federbach · Alb · Pfinz · Kraichbach · Saalbach · Neckar · Weschnitz · Modau · Main · Wisper · Lahn · Wied · Sieg · Wupper · Düssel · Ruhr · Emscher · Lippe · Oude IJssel/Issel · Berkel · Schipbeek

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