High rhine area

High rhine area
High Rhine near Waldshut
Alternative names	Dinkelberg and Hochrheintal
surface	223.4 km² (only D)
Systematics according to	Handbook of the natural spatial structure of Germany
Greater region 1st order	07–23 → Layer level land on both sides of the Upper Rhine Rift
Greater region 2nd order	07–16 → Southwest German step country
Greater region 3rd order	16 → High Rhine area
Natural area characteristics
Landscape type	Valley depression and layered landscape ( Muschelkalk )
Highest peak	Hohe Flum ( 536.2  m )
Geographical location
Coordinates	47 ° 37 '36 "  N , 7 ° 48' 40"  E Coordinates: 47 ° 37 '36 "  N , 7 ° 48' 40"  E
Location high rhine area
state	Baden-Württemberg
Country	Germany , Switzerland

The Upper Rhine area is the main natural unit group No. 16 in the south-west German layer level country according to the systematics of the manual of the natural spatial structure of Germany .

Natural structure

In the individual sheets of the geographical survey of the federal institute for regional studies (Bad Godesberg 1952-1994) this main unit group in sheet 185-Freiburg im Breisgau is referred to as Dinkelberg and Hochrheintal .

The area comprises two main natural areas, the High Rhine Valley , which stretches from Schaffhausen to Basel, and the Gäuplatte of the Dinkelberg located in front of the southwestern slope of the Black Forest , which are subdivided as follows:

• 160 High Rhine Valley
  • 160.0 Rheinfelden-Grenzacher Rheintal
  • 160.1 Waldshut-Laufenburger Engen
  • 160.2 Hohentengen-Zurzacher High Rhine Gorge
• 161 Dinkelberg
  • 161.00 Western Dinkelberg plateau
  • 161.01 Middle Dinkelberg
  • 161.02 Eastern Dinkelberg plateau
  • 161.03 Dinkelberg south slope
  • 161.10 Lower Wehratal

Both are sharply demarcated on all sides from the neighboring units. In the north, the Black Forest and the Alb-Wutach region border the High Rhine region, in the south the Aargau Table Jura and the Molasse Mountains of the Swiss Plateau.

climate

Due to their low altitude, both the High Rhine Valley (250 to 350 m) and the shell limestone plateau of the Dinkelberg (400 to 500 m) are climatically preferred over the neighboring units. From a climatic point of view, they connect the Upper Rhine lowlands in the west and the Lake Constance basin in the east. The relatively high annual mean temperature of 8 to 9 ° and the annual rainfall of around 900 to 1000 mm have the High Rhine area in common with the climate of the Upper Rhine and the Lake Constance area. The climatic conditions allow viticulture on the southern slopes and fruit tree cultures and intensive arable farming on the gravel plains of the valley floor. Relic sites of the warmth-loving steppe heather flora can be found everywhere on the south-facing slopes.

Individual evidence

1. ^ ^{A b} Emil Meynen , Josef Schmithüsen : Handbook of the natural spatial structure of Germany . Federal Institute for Regional Studies, Remagen / Bad Godesberg 1953–1962 (9 deliveries in 8 books, updated map 1: 1,000,000 with main units 1960).
2. ↑ Günther Reichelt: Geographical land survey: The natural spatial units on sheet 185 Freiburg i. Br .. Federal Institute for Regional Studies, Bad Godesberg 1964; 47 p. → online map (PDF, 3.7 MB)