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Why is the Rhine River navigable between Basel and Rheinfelden?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
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 River has been navigable between Basel and Rheinfelden since 1934 due to the construction of barrages (dams) along that stretch of the river. These structures were built to manage the river's swift course, which is otherwise interrupted by rapids in that region.1