The Erft (pronounced [ʔɛɐ̯ft]) is a river in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It flows through the foothills of the Eifel, and joins the Lower Rhine (left tributary). Its origin is near Nettersheim, and its mouth in Neuss-Grimlinghausen south of the Josef Cardinal Frings Bridge. The river is 106.6 kilometres (66.2 mi) long, which is significantly shorter than it was originally. Due to the open-pit mining of lignite in the Hambacher Loch, the flow of the river had to be changed.

Erft
Lower reaches of the Erft near Bergheim
Cours of the river Erft [1]
Location
CountryGermany
StateNorth Rhine-Westphalia
Reference no.DE: 274
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationSoutheast of Engelgau as the Kuhbach
Signed source of the Erft near Holzmülheim
 • coordinates50°29′14″N 6°35′14″E / 50.48722°N 6.58722°E / 50.48722; 6.58722
 • elevation527 m above sea level (NHN)
Mouth 
 • location
Rhine near Neuss-Grimlinghausen
 • coordinates
51°11′04″N 6°43′54″E / 51.18444°N 6.73167°E / 51.18444; 6.73167
 • elevation
31 m above sea level (NHN)
Length106.6 km (66.2 mi) (incl. Kuhbach)[1]
Basin size1,837.915 km2 (709.623 sq mi) [1]
Discharge 
 • locationat Neubrück gauge[2]
 • average16.4 m3/s (580 cu ft/s)
 • minimumRecord low: 5.15 m3/s (182 cu ft/s) (in 16.07.2007)
Average low: 10.4 m3/s (370 cu ft/s)
 • maximumAverage high: 31.3 m3/s (1,110 cu ft/s)
Record high: 46.6 m3/s (1,650 cu ft/s) (in 04.06.1984)
Basin features
ProgressionRhineNorth Sea
Landmarks
Tributaries 
 • leftVeybach, Rotbach, Neffelbach
 • rightSwist, Gillbach, Norfbach

The Erft gave its name to the town of Erftstadt, through which it flows, as well as to the Rhein-Erft district. It also flows through the towns of Bad Münstereifel, Euskirchen, Bergheim, Bedburg and Grevenbroich.

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References

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