How is the Rhine used today in terms of commerce and environment?
Posted on Oct 20, 2025 / Travel
Today the Rhine is one of Europe’s busiest inland waterways, carrying tons of goods like coal, chemicals, raw materials and containers from deep inland out to sea. Its navigability, especially from Basel northwards, has made cities along it industrial hubs. But with that intense use came serious environmental challenges — pollution, flooding risk and habitat loss became big issues in the 20th century. Since then there have been massive clean-up efforts, international treaties and nature restoration projects to bring the river back to health. So it stands as a working artery of commerce **and** a symbol of environmental recovery and cooperation. It’s kind of a live example of how nature and industry can clash and then (hopefully) make peace.
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