Rhine River Case Study

1) Describe the factors that make the Rhine River the "Industrial Heartland". What area would be the industrial heartland of North America?

The factors which make the Rhine River the " Industrial Heartland" is that it encompassed the major empires. It enabled trade and economic growth. It linked European countries together and it was the most efficient way to transport people, goods and ideas. It also enabled industrialization to occur more effectively because of the physical body of the water.

The industrial heartland of North America would be the rust belt, which is the region around the North-Eastern United States, the great lakes, and Midwest states. It is surrounded by water causing it to be a suitable area for trade and for the growth of the economy. It is a good link between the lakes, the states and also Canada.Industrialization is allowed to happen because of the large body of water, the water also allows for an efficient way to transport people, goods and ideas like the Rhine River.

2) Analyze the impact that human activity has had on the Rhine River basin.

Humans have had a large impact on the Rhine River basin. 

i) Much of the Rhine`s riverside marsh and floodplain which was used to hold back flood water has been replaced by farmland or buildings. 

ii) Urbanisation in the Rhine area has been a negative impact as it helps flooding to happen because the concrete and tarmac send more water to the river.

iii) Humans use the upper Rhine for generating hydroelectric power. 

iv) The rivers been involved in a straightening process due to improved navigation for shipping this means the distance has been reduced by 50 km whereas before it was 1320km, that's why the water moves downstream more quickly. 

3) Suggest solutions to the environmental problems of the Rhine River basin and explain why these solutions may be difficult to implement. 

I) Promoting water efficiency strategies to help decrease the amount of water wasted.

II) Protecting water from pollution by promoting solutions such as green infrastructure.

III) Help prepare cities, counties, and states for water related challenges.

IV) Ensure waterways have enough water to support vibrant aqautic ecosystems.

These environmental solutions may be difficult to implement because the Rhine River is so large and goes through many countries such as France, Austria, Liechtenstein, Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland. It's really difficult for it to be implemented in each area of those countries where the river runs through.