Difference between revisions of "Ruhr"
(The name is now attached to the conurbation. Rivers do not develop into industrial districts - the land areas on their banks do.) |
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| − | The '''Ruhr''' is a | + | The '''Ruhr''' is a conurbation in the western [[German]] state of [[Nord Rhein-Westfalen]]. In the early 20th Century it developed into one of Germany's primary zones for heavy industrial production. Its industries include coal mining, iron and steel manufacture, and heavy engineering production. Major centres of the Ruhr include [[Bochum]], [[Dortmund]], [[Duisburg]], [[Essen]], and [[Gelsenkirchen]]. The conurbation has a population of 5.3 million. |
The conurbation takes its name from the River Ruhr, which roughly marks the southern boundary of the district (which extends westwards to the Rhine and northwards to the River Lippe). The name Ruhr is believed to derive from an [[Indo-European]] root word ''reu'', meaning 'to hollow out'. | The conurbation takes its name from the River Ruhr, which roughly marks the southern boundary of the district (which extends westwards to the Rhine and northwards to the River Lippe). The name Ruhr is believed to derive from an [[Indo-European]] root word ''reu'', meaning 'to hollow out'. | ||
Revision as of 15:17, May 2, 2008
The Ruhr is a conurbation in the western German state of Nord Rhein-Westfalen. In the early 20th Century it developed into one of Germany's primary zones for heavy industrial production. Its industries include coal mining, iron and steel manufacture, and heavy engineering production. Major centres of the Ruhr include Bochum, Dortmund, Duisburg, Essen, and Gelsenkirchen. The conurbation has a population of 5.3 million.
The conurbation takes its name from the River Ruhr, which roughly marks the southern boundary of the district (which extends westwards to the Rhine and northwards to the River Lippe). The name Ruhr is believed to derive from an Indo-European root word reu, meaning 'to hollow out'.
The Ruhr was very heavily bombed during the Second World War.