Wupper

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Wupper
Schwebebahn over Wupper.
Schwebebahn over Wupper.
Origin Sauerland
Mouth Rhine
Basin countries Germany
Length 113 km
Source elevation 441 m
Basin area 827 km²

The Wupper is a tributary to the Rhine river in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It emerges near Marienheide, in western Sauerland. Its upper course is called Wipper. On its course of about 113 km it traverses the town of Wuppertal where the Schwebebahn Wuppertal runs over the river bed. The elephant Tuffi jumped into the river from the Schwebebahn on 21 July 1950.

The river is not navigable and is located in the former Duchy of Berg. Before industrialization, the water was used for bleaching. Early industialization profited from water power provided by the many rivulets to the Wupper.

Müngsten bridge
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Müngsten bridge

It is crossed by the highest railroad bridge in Germany near Müngsten, between Remscheid and Solingen. A few miles further down, Schloss Burg is located on a hill overlooking the river. The river enters the Rhine river in Leverkusen, south of Düsseldorf.

Else Lasker-Schüler wrote the drama: Die Wupper.

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