Waal (river)

The Waal (Latin: Vahalis, older: Vacalus, from Celtic: Vocalus ) is the southern and by far the largest branch of the Rhine River delta of the Rhine in the Netherlands.

History and characteristics

Shortly after passing the German - Dutch border near Millingen, the Rhine splits into the two main estuaries Lower Rhine - Lek with 33 % of the average water flow of the Rhine and Waal - Merwede Boven ( "Upper Merwede "), with 67 % of the volume.

From the former confluence of the Waal and the Meuse at Woudrichem the name changes in Boven Merwede. This next section of the river bifurcates into the Nieuwe Merwede later with an average of 44% of the water flowing down the Rhine and into the Beneden Merwede with an average of 23%. Reached the latter, in turn, forked, as Hauptschifffahrtsweg together with the Lek and the Port of Rotterdam New Waterway as the North Sea.

Formation and development

The Waal has become only during the course of the last millennium for most water-rich branch of the Rhine in the Rhine delta. Through storm surges as the Elisabeth flood that the Scheldt estuary tore particularly north deep bays into the country, moved to there branching arms of the Rhine, the base level of erosion inland off what their outflow velocity and erosive power increased (see also: the Rhine-Meuse delta). This West relocation of the main drain lines of the Rhine would allow the Waal become the sole main power, if it had not been derived in 1771 over the existing in small form Panne Rdens channel water from the Waal for sanding Nederrijn while its up to now existing upper course would have arisen. At the same time remaining in the Waal proportion of two-thirds of the water supply was (on average around 1,500 m³ / s) specified. The section of the Waal above this branch was first called Boven Waal, later Rijn; the section below Beneden Waal, later Waal.

In the further course below the current section called the Waal parts of the burn are artificially supplied to the northern channel: at low water levels of the Rhine (<1100 m³ / s at the Lobith ) the locks of the Haringvliet dam are closed, and all the water of the Meuse and Waal only achieved in Rotterdam via the New Waterway sea.

Today's river landscape

The Waal is routed in areas with lower population density than in the current territory of the North Rhine -extending arms. The largest city, Nijmegen, situated on the high banks, which is formed by rising in the south Endmoränenhügel from the Saale glaciation. There are restaurants and terraces, a casino and the Fahrradmuseuem Velorama on the river promenade. More cities will be Tiel area Betuwe right of the Waal and Zaltbommel on the left bank.

The following bridges cross the Waal ( downriver from east to west):

  • Waal Bridge at Nijmegen, built 1931/1936
  • Nijmegen railway bridge ( railway Arnhem- Nijmegen), built in 1879, new in 1984
  • Tacitusbrücke ( A50 ), built 1971/1976, extended 2011/2013
  • Prince Willem- Alexander Bridge, built 1972/1974
  • Dr. W. Hupkes Bridge ( railway Utrecht - Boxtel ), built from 1865 to 1869 and 1932
  • Bommelse Bridge, built 1931/1933, demolished 2007/2008
  • Martinus Nijhoff - Bridge ( A2), Built in 1993/1996

Gallery

The Waal Bridge at Nijmegen

The Waal at Herveld

The Waal at Ochten

Dr. W. Hupkes Bridge, Bommelse bridge, Martinus Nijhoff - Bridge

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