Editing Rhine (section)

===Alpine Rhine===
{{main|Alpine Rhine}}
[[File:Rhein bei Balzers - Blick auf Gonzen.JPG|thumb|The Rhine between [[Sargans]] in Switzerland (left) and [[Balzers]] in [[Liechtenstein]] (right) with the [[Gonzen]] ({{convert|1829|m|abbr=on}}, left), the [[Girrenspitz]] ({{convert|2099|m|abbr=on}}) in the back, and the Maziferchopf ({{convert|855|m|abbr=on}}) to the right]]
{{see also|Rheintal (disambiguation){{!}}Rheintal}}

Next to [[Reichenau, Switzerland|Reichenau]] in [[Tamins]] the [[Vorderrhein|Anterior Rhine]] and the [[Hinterrhein (river)|Posterior Rhine]] join and form the Alpine Rhine. The river makes a distinctive turn to the north near [[Chur]]. This section is nearly 86&nbsp;km long, and descends from a height of 599 meters to 396 meters. It flows through a wide glacial Alpine valley known as the Rhine Valley ({{langx|de|Rheintal}}). Near [[Sargan]] a natural dam, only a few meters high, prevents it from flowing into the open [[Sztal]] valley and then through [[Lake Walen]] and [[Lake Zurich]] into the [[Aare]]. The Alpine Rhine begins in the westernmost part of the Swiss canton of [[Graubünden]], and later forms the border between Switzerland to the west and Liechtenstein and later Austria to the east.

As an effect of human work, it empties into [[Lake Constance]] on Austrian territory and not on the [[Austria–Switzerland border|border]] that follows its old natural river bed called ''[[Alter Rhein]]'' ({{lit|Old Rhine}}).

The [[Rhine delta (Lake Constance)|mouth of the Rhine]] into Lake Constance forms an [[inland delta]]. The delta is delimited in the west by the ''Alter Rhein'' and in the east by the modern canalized section of the Alpine Rhine ({{lang|de|Fußacher Durchstich}}). Most of the delta is a [[nature reserve]] and [[bird sanctuary]]. It includes the Austrian towns of [[Gaißau]], [[Höchst, Austria|Höchst]] and [[Fußach]]. The natural Rhine originally branched into at least two arms and formed small islands by precipitating sediments. In the local [[Alemannic German|Alemannic]] dialect, the singular is pronounced "Isel" and this is also the local pronunciation of ''Esel'' ("[[Donkey]]"). Many local fields have an official name containing this element.

[[File:Aerial image of the mouth of the Rhine into Lake Constance.jpg|thumb|right|Aerial image of the mouth of the Rhine into [[Lake Constance]]]]
A [[Rhine Regulation|regulation of the Rhine]] was called for, with an upper canal near [[Diepoldsau]] and a lower canal at Fußach, in order to counteract the constant flooding and strong [[sedimentation]] in the western Rhine Delta. The [[Dornbirner Ach]] had to be diverted, too, and it now flows parallel to the canalized Rhine into the lake. Its water has a darker color than the Rhine; the latter's lighter suspended load comes from higher up the mountains. It is expected that the continuous input of sediment into the lake will silt up the lake. This has already happened to the former Lake [[Tuggenersee]].

The cut-off Old Rhine at first formed a [[swamp]] landscape. Later an artificial ditch of about two km was dug. It was made navigable to the Swiss town of [[Rheineck SG|Rheineck]].