Ruhr Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Ruhr

Ruhrgebiet

Ruhr Metropolis
Metropole Ruhr

Seal

Map of the Ruhr metropolitan region within Germany

Country

Largest cities

List

Government

• Body

Regionalverband Ruhr

Area

• Metro

4,435 km² (1,712 sq mi)

Highest elevation

441 m (1,447 ft)

Lowest elevation

13 m (43 ft)

Population

• Metro

5,118,681

• Metro density

1,646/km² (4,260/sq mi)

2007

Nominal

€136 billion

The Ruhr is a river in western Germany. It flows into the Rhine River. It is 218 kilometres (135 mi) long. The Ruhr begins near the town of Winterberg and flows into the Rhine River near Düsseldorf. Winterberg is located in the Sauerland region and Düsseldorf lies in North Rhine-Westphalia in the west of Germany. It runs through Arnsberg, Iserlohn, Schwerte, Bochum and Essen, among other cities.

Several Ruhr-area cities joined the Hanseatic league during the middle ages. The Ruhr became a center for business and industry. Beginning in the mid 14th century coal was mined along the Ruhr. It became a center for coal and steel production in Germany for over 200 years. In the mid 20th century coal and steel industries came to an end. The buildings were then used for cultural events and entertainment purposes.

Images for kids

Map of the Ruhr area; in Green is a stricter or narrower definition of the Ruhr, comprising municipalities that are members of the Ruhr regional institution
Gamete of Dortmund, old market square with St. Reinold's Church
Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex in Essen, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001
Zeche Zollern in Dortmund
View of the redeveloped Duisburg Inner Harbour in 2010
Dortmund is the largest city of the Ruhr
Essen is the second largest city of the Ruhr
Opera Dortmund
Grillo-Theater Essen
Ostwall Museum at U-Tower Dortmund
Dortmund University's Mathetower
Ruhr University
Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts
Main building of the Folkwang University in Essen-Werden
Bundesautobahn 52 in Mülheim
A40 in Dortmund
Located in the East of the Ruhr is Dortmund Airport