Erft

Erft

Lower reaches of the Erft near Bergheim
Location	North Rhine-Westphalia,  Germany
Reference no.	DE: 274
Length	106.6 km  (incl. Kuhbach)[1]
Source	Southeast of Engelgau as the Kuhbach Signed source of the Erft near Holzmülheim 50°29′14″N 6°35′14″E / 50.48722°N 6.58722°E / 50.48722; 6.58722Coordinates: 50°29′14″N 6°35′14″E / 50.48722°N 6.58722°E / 50.48722; 6.58722
Source height	527 m above sea level (NHN)
Mouth	Rhine near Neuss-Grimlinghausen 51°11′04″N 6°43′54″E / 51.18444°N 6.73167°E / 51.18444; 6.73167
Mouth height	31 m above sea level (NHN)
Descent	496 m
Basin	Rhine
Progression	Rhine → North Sea
Catchment	1,837.915 km² [1]
Discharge at Neubrück gauge[2]	Record low:     5.15 m³/s (in 16.07.2007) Average low:    10.4 m³/s Average mid:   16.4 m³/s Average high: 31.3 m³/s Record high:   46.6 m³/s (in 04.06.1984)
Right tributaries	Swist, Gillbach, Norfbach
Left tributaries	Veybach, Rotbach, Neffelbach
Cities	Neuss
Large towns	Euskirchen, Erftstadt, Bedburg, Bergheim, Grevenbroich, Kerpen
Small towns	Bad Münstereifel
Source of the Erft near Holzmülheim
The Erft near Grevenbroich

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 103 kilometres (64 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.

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.

References

Tributaries of the Rhine
Left (western)	Vorderrhein Aua Russein Schmuèr Alpine Rhine Vorderrhein Tamina Rietaach Alter Rhein Freibach Lake Constance Goldach High Rhine Thur Töss Glatt Aare Sissle Ergolz Birs Birsig Upper Rhine Ill Moder Sauer Lauter Spiegelbach Queich Speyerbach Rehbach Isenach Eckbach Eisbach Pfrimm Selz Middle Rhine Nahe Moselle Nette Brohlbach Ahr Lower Rhine Erft
Right (eastern)	Vorderrhein Rein da Tuma Rein da Curnera Rein da Medel Rein da Sumvitg Glogn Rabiusa Hinterrhein Ragn da Ferrera Albula/Alvra Alpine Rhine Hinterrhein Plessur Landquart Mülbach Ill Frutz Lake Constance Dornbirner Ach Bregenzer Ach Leiblach Schussen Rotach Brunnisaach Lipbach Seefelder Aach Stockacher Aach Radolfzeller Aach High Rhine Biber Wutach Alb Murg Wehra Upper Rhine Wiese Elz Kinzig Rench Acher Murg Alb Pfinz Saalbach Kraichbach Leimbach Neckar Weschnitz Modau Main Middle Rhine Wisper Lahn Wied Lower Rhine Sieg Wupper Düssel Ruhr Emscher Lippe IJssel Oude IJssel/Issel Berkel Schipbeek