Guide Note:The Rhine Falls were formed fourteen to seventeen thousand years ago after the ice age. The falls are located in northern Switzerland near the German border. The falls, which are seventy feet high, and four hundred feet wide are the largest waterfalls in Europe. The water at the falls spills over the edge of the cliff at a rate of seven hundred fifty thousand liters per second. The water spray from the falls rises in a cloud of rainbows above the trees along the bank of the Rhine River, which makes for a beautiful sight. There is about fifty thousand people who visit the falls daily, just to look at its beauty. In 1994, three walking trails were established for hikers to see different views of the falls, ranging from a fifty minute walk to a twenty five minute walk, starting and ending at the falls. There is a medieval castle that sits on the hilltop above the falls called Schloss Laufen. Since 1941, this castle has been owned by the Kanton of Zurich. There are daily boat tours that are scheduled from June through August from both banks of the river, which tourists say is the best way to see the falls. There are bike tours available to see the falls, coming from Switzerland or Germany. Some routes will take tourists through rolling hills, farmlands, caves, and vineyards. For tourists coming from Germany by car, they must follow the roads marked with blue signs, and any other road they would have to pay a road tax to use. The biggest event at the falls, which is called Swiss National Day, is on August 1st yearly. Fireworks are set off over the falls to make for a spectacular sight to see for over a half an hour. The town of Neuhausen is the closest town to the falls, which has a number of restaurants, hotels, and shopping facilities. The medieval town of Schaffhausen, which has about thirty four thousand residents, is also used as a central route to the falls. From the railroad station in Zurick, a bus will take tourists through Schaffhausen to the falls, which only takes about ten minutes. The Rhine Falls are sometimes called Europe's Niagara, even though they are much smaller than Niagara Falls.
Fast Facts:
- A set of three falls
- Called Rheinfall in Switzerland
- A number of look out points available
- Tourism 365 days a year
- A train station is located at the castle
- Trains run from Easter till the middle of October
- Beautiful winter scenery
