The Rhine River is one of Europe's most significant waterways, traversing the continent from its mountainous origins to the sea. For millennia, this river system has shaped the region's geography and history, functioning as both a natural boundary and a pathway for cultural exchange.. Hydrologically, the source of the Danube is the source of the Breg as the larger of the two formative streams (with its spring at a higher altitude and - at the confluence - not only being 5 km longer but also having a higher amount of water discharge) which rises near Furtwangen.
The river's source is the Rhône Glacier, at the eastern edge of the Swiss canton of Valais. The glacier is part of the Saint-Gotthard Massif, which gives rise to three other major rivers: the Reuss, Rhine and Ticino. The Rhône is, with the Po and the Nile, one of the three Mediterranean rivers with the largest water discharge. [2]. Hike to a small alpine lake near Andermatt that is the source of the Rhine river, the first stage of the long distance "Vier Quellen Weg."