Ruhr facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Ruhr
Ruhrgebiet
Ruhr Metropolis
Metropole Ruhr
Official seal of Ruhr
Seal
Map of the Ruhr metropolitan region within Germany
Map of the Ruhr metropolitan region within Germany
Country  Germany
State  North Rhine-Westphalia
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)
Time zone CET (UTC+01:00)
GRP 2007
Nominal €136 billion
Website www.metropoleruhr.de

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

  • Ruhr area-map

    Map of the Ruhr

  • Alte Markt Dortmund

    Gamete of Dortmund, old market square with St.-Reinold's Church

  • Zeche Zollverein abends

    Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex in Essen, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001

  • Dortmund Zollern IMGP0620

    Zeche Zollern in Dortmund

  • Innenhafen Duisburg

    View of the redeveloped Duisburg Inner Harbour in 2010

  • Essen-Panorama

    Essen is the second largest city of the Ruhr

  • Schnettkerbruecke West

    A40 in Dortmund

  • Flughafen Dortmund

    Located in the East of the Ruhr is Dortmund Airport

  • ThyssenKrupp Quartier Essen 03

    Thyssen-Krupp

  • WILO SE headquarter

    WILO SE

  • RellingHaus I, Essen

    Evonik Industries

  • Signal Iduna Hauptverwaltung Dortmund

    Signal Iduna

  • EON-Ruhrgas-Zentrale Essen

    EON Ruhrgas


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Ruhr Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.