Vorderrhein

Vorderrhein

The Vorderrhein in the Ruinaulta gorge

Area of the Alpine Rhine with its headwaters
Native name Rein Anteriur
Other name(s) Anterior Rhine
Country Switzerland
Canton Canton of Graubünden
Basin features
Main source Tujetsch
46°39′10″N 8°42′43″E / 46.65278°N 8.71194°E / 46.65278; 8.71194
River mouth Reichenau
585 m (1,919 ft)
46°49′24″N 9°24′28″E / 46.82333°N 9.40778°E / 46.82333; 9.40778Coordinates: 46°49′24″N 9°24′28″E / 46.82333°N 9.40778°E / 46.82333; 9.40778
Progression Rhine → North Sea
River system Rhine
Basin size 1,512 km2 (584 sq mi)
Physical characteristics
Length 76 km (47 mi)
Discharge
  • Average rate:
    53.8 m3/s (1,900 cu ft/s)

The Vorderrhein (German; English: Anterior Rhine; in the local Sursilvan language: Rein Anteriur) is one of the two sources of the Rhine. Its catchment area of 1,512 square kilometres (584 square miles) is located predominantly in the canton of Graubünden (Switzerland). The Vorderrhein is about 76 kilometres (47 mi) long, thus more than 5% longer than the Hinterrhein/Rein Posteriur (each measured to the farthest source). The Vorderrhein, however, has an average water flow of 53.8 m3/s (1,900 cu ft/s),[1] which is less than the flow of the Hinterrhein. According to the Atlas of Switzerland of the Swiss Federal Office of Topography,[2] the source of the Vorderrhein– and the Rhine –is located north of the Rein da Tuma and Lake Toma.

Vorderrhein was also the name of a judicial district that was created in 1851 with the reorganization of the judiciary of Graubünden. In 2001, it was annexed by the District Surselva.

The largest communities along the Vorderrhein are Disentis and Ilanz.

Course

Confluence of the Hinterrhein (right) and the Vorderrhein (left) at Reichenau

The Vorderrhein flows mostly in an east-northeast direction, through the Surselva, a large longitudinal valley. Its north side is steep, with short valleys, the southern side, however, is divided by some long valleys (similar to the situation in the Canton of Valais further west). Consequently, its main tributaries, the Rein da Sumvitg, the Glenner and the Rabiusa all come from the south. In its lower course the Vorderrhein flows through the Flims Rockslide, giving rise to the canyon country of the Ruinaulta. Near Reichenau, it joins the Hinterrhein to form the (Alpine) Rhine.

Headwaters

Some of the tributaries of the Vorderrhein are almost as long as the main branch. In downstream order, they are (measuring their length from their respective sources to the confluence with Hinterrhein at Reichenau):

So the longer arms are not the source at Oberalppass, but further southeast. The longest headwater front of the Vorderrhein (and thus the Rhine as a whole, see sources of the Rhine), is the Reno di Medel, which rises on the border of the municipality Quinto in Ticino. In the uppermost part of its course, it runs in the Val Cadlimo, south of the geomorphological main Alpine ridge, west of the Lukmanier Pass.

Tourism

The Vorderrhein at Schluein

Thanks to its attractive scenery and some interesting passage, the Vorderrhein is a popular river for paddling and rafting, especially the section between Ilanz and Versam.

Along entire length of the Vorderrhein there is a narrow-gauge railway line: from Chur to Disentis there is a line of the Rhätische Bahn. From Disentis, the Furka-Oberalp line of the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn runs to the Oberalp Pass and on to Andermatt. In the Ruinaulta area, the main road runs to the North of the river, and at its highest point, at Flims, it is about 480 metres (1,575 ft) above the Rhine.

The Senda Sursilvana, a hiking trail along the young Rhine River lead from the Oberalp Pass along the Vorderrhein in the direction of Chur.[3]

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Hydrologischer Atlas der Schweiz 2002, Tafel 5.4 Natürliche Abflüsse 1961-1980 (Ausschnitt)
  2. ↑ Trial version of the Atlas of Switzerland with flashing rivers
  3. ↑ Hiking Switzerland on the Senda Sursilvana in Graubünden
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