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Why is the Rhine Falls entirely within Switzerland?

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Physical map of Western and Central Europe highlighting the drainage basins and networks of the Rhine, Rhone, and Seine rivers. The map shows river courses, major tributaries, canals, elevation changes with color shading, international boundaries, and key cities such as Paris, Lyon, Basel, and Rotterdam. A locator inset in the upper left corner places the main map within Europe.
Rhine River

The Rhine Falls are located entirely within Switzerland because the international frontier between Switzerland and Germany deviates from the course of the Rhine River in the area below Stein am Rhein. While the river generally defines the Swiss-German border along the section known as the Hochrhein (High Rhine), this specific deviation ensures that the falls remain within Swiss territory.1