Rhine

At 1,320 km (820 miles), the Rhine (German Rhein, French Rhin, Dutch Rijn, Romansch: Rein) is one of the longest rivers in Europe. The name of the Rhine in all these languages comes from Celtic Renos, literally "that which flows", from the Proto-Indo-European root *rei- ("to flow, run"), which also gave the word "to run" in English.

Related Topics:
1,320 km (820 miles) - German - French - Dutch - Romansch - River - Europe - Celtic - Proto-Indo-European

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The Rhine and the Danube formed most of the northern frontier of the Roman Empire, and since those days the Rhine has been a vital navigable waterway, carrying trade and goods deep inland. The many castles and prehistoric fortifications along the Rhine testify to its importance as a waterway. A castle identifies a location where traffic was stopped, usually for the purpose of collecting tolls, by the state controlling that portion of the river.

Related Topics:
Danube - Roman Empire

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