Ruhr Metropolitan Region
Metropolregion Ruhr
map of the Ruhr metropolitan region within Germany
map of the Ruhr metropolitan region within Germany
Coordinates: 51°30′N 7°30′E / 51.500°N 7.500°E / 51.500; 7.500
Country Germany
State North Rhine-Westphalia
Largest CitiesDortmund
Essen
Duisburg
Bochum
Government
 • BodyRegionalverband Ruhr
Area
 • Metro
4,435 km2 (1,712 sq mi)
Highest elevation
441 m (1,447 ft)
Lowest elevation
13 m (43 ft)
Population
 • Metro
5,172,745
 • Metro density1,646/km2 (4,260/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
GRP2007
Nominal 136.3 billion[1]
Websitewww.metropoleruhr.de

The Ruhr Area (German: Ruhrgebiet) is an urban area in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Many of the cities in the Ruhrgebiet used to have a lot of heavy industry.

The Ruhr Area is bordered by the rivers Ruhr River to the south, Rhine River to the west, and Lippe to the north. Southwest it borders the Bergisches Land.

The area has about 5.3 million inhabitants, and is part of the larger Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan area of more than 12 million people.

The Ruhr Area consists of the cities of Duisburg, Oberhausen, Bottrop, Mülheim an der Ruhr, Essen, Gelsenkirchen, Bochum, Herne, Hamm, Hagen and Dortmund and the rural districts of Wesel, Recklinghausen, Unna and Ennepe-Ruhr

Culture

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The city of Essen in the Ruhr area was selected as European Capital of Culture for 2010 by the Council of the European Union.

Sources

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  1. metropoleruhr.de
  2. highest: Wengeberg in Breckerfeld, lowest: Xanten

References

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Further reading

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Other websites

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