Lech River

The Lech (Licus, Licca) is a river in Austria and Germany. It is a tributary of the Danube and 248 km (117 miles) in length, with a drainage basin of 2,550 sq. miles.

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Its source is located in the Austrian state of Vorarlberg, where the river rises from the Formarinsee (a lake) in the Alps at an altitude of 6,120 ft. It flows in a north-north-easterly direction and crosses the German border forming the Lechfall, a 12 m high waterfall; afterwards the river enters a narrow gorge (Lechschlucht). Leaving the Alps, it enters the plains at Fussen (2,580 ft.) in the German state of Bavaria where it formed the historic boundary with Swabia, runs through the city of F?ssen and behind through the Forggensee (a lake). Here, it forms rapids and a fall.

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The river flows further northwards through a region called the Lechrain and passes the cities of Schongau, Landsberg, Augsburg (where it receives the Wertach) and Rain before entering the Danube River just below Donauworth (1,330 ft.). It is not navigable, owing to its torrential character and the gravel beds which choke its channel. There is a particularly magnifient view of the Lech valley from Neuschwanstein Castle, near Fussen.

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On more than one occasion, historic events have been decided on the banks of this river. In April 1632, Gustavus Adolphus (Gustavus II) of Sweden defeated and mortally wounded Johan Tzerclaes, Count of Tilly. At Lechfeld, a stony plain between the Lech and the Wertach, near Augsburg, Otto I defeated the Magyars in August 955.

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River: :For the Second World War frigate class, see River class frigate. For the state of Nigeria, see Rivers State....

Austria: The Republic of Austria (German: Republik ?sterreich) is a landlocked country in central Europe. It borders Germany and the Czech Republic to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the west. The capital is the city of Vienn...

Danube: : For other uses of "Danube", see Danube (disambiguation)....

Lech River related Images and Photos (experimental)

River	River IV	River Run	River Café
River Boat	River View	River Edge	River Path
River Rocks	River Scene	River Wild (U.K. Quad)	River Sunset