The Rhine forms in the Swiss Alps where the Vorderrhein, or Upper Rhine, and the Hinterrhein, or Lower Rhine, combine. The Rhine is joined by the Töss river (Switzerland), the Ill (Austria), the Aar (Switzerland) and the Birs (Switzerland).
The Rhine is Germany's longest river, and this is where most of the river's main tributaries exist. The Rhine is joined here by the Schussen, the Wutach, the Alb, the Wiese, the Elz, the Kinzig, the Nahe, the Rench, the Moselle, the Nette, the Acher, the Murg, the Ahr, the Pfinz, the Erft, the Main, the Lahn, the Wied River, the Sieg, the Wupper, the Düssel, the Ruhr, the Enscher and the Lippe River.
A number of rivers contribute to the Rhine from France. The Birsig, the Ill (not to be confused with the Ill river in Austria), the Moder River, the Lauter and the Mosell.
Before the Rhine divides into a series of smaller rivers and flows into the North Sea, it is joined by the Oude IJssel, the Berkel and the Meuse River in the Netherlands.
The Main is one of three major tributaries to the Rhine. The Main is a major river in itself, 574 kilometers long and flowing through the German states of Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and Hesse.
The Moselle is another of the major tributaries to the Rhine. It runs 545 kilometers through France and Luxembourg, and joins the Rhine in Koblenz, Germany.
The Neckar is another major tributary to the Rhine. It is 367 kilometers long and mainly runs through the German state of Baden-Württemberg. It joins the Rhine at Mannheim.
The Rhine is joined by two other major rivers in the Netherlands to form the Rhine--Meuse--Scheldt delta.
