Regnitz

Regnitz as western boundary of the Franconian Switzerland

Regnitz with Vach, from the north ( July 2003)

Template: Infobox River / Obsolete

The Regnitz is a nearly 59 -kilometer-long, left-sided or southern tributary of the River Main in Bavaria. As a body of water with the TVC 242 she has with her source river Rednitz ( 39.62 km ) and its source river Franconian Rezat ( 63.51 km ) a total length of about 162 km.

Name

Whether the name of the West Slavic Rekavica (which means as much as the river ) is derived, is controversial.

In Franconia keeping apart the phonetically easy to be confused by the name Regnitz, Rednitz and Pegnitz with the rule of thumb that Rednitz and Pegnitz flow together to Regnitz.

Geography

River

The Regnitz arises in Fürth from the confluence of the Pegnitz and Rednitz, flows northward through Fürth, Erlangen, Möhrendorf, Baierdorf Hausen. From Forchheim it flows northwestward to Bamberg. Located northwest of the city center, the Bischenberg district, joins the Regnitz with an average water flow of 56.6 m³ / s in the Main ( at km 384 ), the water flow of 44.7 m³ / s it surpasses by more than a quarter.

In parallel with the river running in the valley of the Regnitz the Main -Danube Canal, the A73 and the railway line between Nuremberg and Bamberg.

Built in 1960-1972 part of the Main -Danube Canal (MDK ) runs from Fürth mainly as a side channel to Regnitz; However, used between Hausen and Neuses to almost 10 kilometers in length, the river bed of the impounded Regnitz with the barrage Forchheim. Similarly, the MDK runs from the Bamberg lock to Regnitz mouth to good 6 kilometers in length in the Regnitz. This Regnitz sections are included in the federal waterway Main -Danube Canal; in addition, the military lines with the weirs Hausen, Neuses and Bamberg Regnitz federal waterway.

Inflows

• Farrnbach ( at Unterfarrnbach )
• Zenn ( in barns )
• Michel Bach
• Gründlach ( at Kleingründlach )
• Hutgraben ( at Eltersdorf )
• Langenau trench ( at Eltersdorf )
• Herzogenaurach ( in Bruck )
• Bimbach
• Röthelheimgraben
• Schwabach ( in Erlangen )
• Seebach ( at Kleinseebach )
• Snake creek
• Community Brunnenbach ( Regnitz )
• Shepherds Bach ( Bach at Herold )
• Wiesentfels ( in Forchheim )
• Eggerbach (right, in Eggolsheim )
• Aisch ( at Trail Village )
• Pedestrian Bach ( Altendorf )
• Rich Ebrach ( at Hirschaid )
• Rauhenebrach (northeast of Pettstadt )
• Zeegenbach (northeast of Pettstadt )
• Herzogenaurach (north of Pettstadt )
• Sendelbach

Waterwheels

At the Regnitz has already begun in the period 1250-1400 in order to use wooden waterwheels for irrigation adjacent to the flow fields. Documentary evidence of the operation of these wheels is the first time for the year 1413. In 1805 were at the Regnitz between Fürth and Forchheim over a length of approximately 25 kilometers of river about 190 such water wheels in operation, as many as in any other river in Central Europe. Adding to the wheels on the Rednitz added, so were between Schwabach and Forchheim even around 250 water wheels in use. In the meantime, they have been largely supplanted by modern pumping equipment.

The reason for the heavy use of waterwheels just this section of the river is to be found mainly in the sandy soils in conjunction with hot, dry summers, which make a strong irrigation necessary. In addition, the uniform slope and flat bank encourage the use of these wheels. The disadvantage, however, affect the recurring spring floods that can destroy the wheels by floating debris. According to the still valid today in parts Baiersdorfer water order from 1693 they must be run until September 30, for this reason only from May 1.

To the north of Forchheim use of waterwheels was not possible because the Regnitz was here already navigable, what since the 9th century, the Bamberger rulers were interested as a transport route for the royal palace in Forchheim. The data necessary for the operation of the waterwheels and running across the river wooden weirs (wing ) allowed at best passing small fishing boats through appropriate loopholes. The weirs were always cause for disputes between farmers and fishermen, for example, because Fischer boards away from the weirs to facilitate the passage.

Most of the remaining waterwheels are located at Möhrendorf (about ten), one in Fürth- barns, and another is operated again at the Herzogenaurach area in the southwest of Erlangen since 2004; in Nuremberg, a wheel was on the Pegnitz recently returned to service after historical model. The massive wooden structures that are reminiscent of mill wheels are now set up by volunteers at the beginning of the summer season and dismantled at the end of the season and stored. Some of them are now used for irrigation of wetlands that serve the preservation of the food source for the many native to this area of white storks. A slightly scaled replica of such a water bucket wheel is located in the Franconian Open Air Museum of Bad Windsheim.

The wheels are constructed virtually unchanged since the 15th century. They are made up on the iron shaft journal at the two ends of the shaft, the four clamping rings of the shaft and the hoops of Kümpfe ( Dipper ) completely out of beech and oak. Each wheel is composed of about 600 parts. The attachment of the blade boards on the wheel is made by strips of oak that are cooked for some time in order to turn them into the desired shape can. In addition, wooden nails of different lengths are used, for example, to attach the Kümpfe at the wheel come after the dismantling of the wheels in the fall must during the winter, the items will be replaced up to one third, so rebuilt the wheels again in the spring (mounted ) can be.

It is controversial how the knowledge has come to the principle of operation of this machine by means francs, or whether it is an independent parallel development. Due to the flow driven waterwheels ( Norias ) were very common in the early Middle Ages in the Middle East. This knowledge could be reached by returning crusaders, pilgrims or by traveling merchants to Central Franconia. Against the version that merchants were responsible for this, is the fact that about the regions further north on the Regnitz water wheels much earlier detectable than the waterwheels in and around the then commercial capital of Nuremberg. It is also conceivable that traditional construction of the Roman architect Vitruvius descriptions have been used as a basis for solving the irrigation problem in monasteries. Water wheels to power mills are detectable in the region well before the water bucket wheels.

Each waterwheel scoops per day about 1400 cubic meters of water over a height difference of about four meters.

Economic Importance

In the 19th century, was floated on the river wood from Nuremberg to Bamberg. In Fürth water is taken for irrigation of garlic Lands of a pumping station built in 2003.

Fauna

In the Regnitz there are endangered fish species such as the eel, pike, catfish, nose, Barbe, sporadically crayfish. Ornithologically the area is excellent for ducks observation of species such as the teal and widgeon as the migrant and Tufted Duck, Pochard and Mallard.