Where does the Rhine River begin and where does it end?

The Rhine River originates in the Swiss Alps of east-central Switzerland from two headstreams. The Vorderrhein emerges from Lake Toma, while the Hinterrhein rises near the Swiss-Italian border; these join at Reichenau to form the main river.21

The river flows north and west through Switzerland, along the borders of Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, and France, before entering the Netherlands. It ultimately ends at the North Sea, into which it drains through a delta region. While the river historically flowed directly into the sea, modern navigation and flood control are managed via the New Waterway Canal and various sluices and branches.21