Editing Breg (river)

{{Short description|Baden-Württemberg, Germany}}
{{infobox river
| name = Breg
| map = 
| map_size = 
| map_caption = 
| image = Bregquelle bei Furtwangen.jpg
| image_size = 
| image_caption = The source of the Breg is the geographical [[source of the Danube]] and is a protected monument
| subdivision_type1 = Country
| subdivision_name1 = [[Germany]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[States of Germany|State]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Baden-Württemberg]]
| subdivision_type3 = [[Districts of Germany|District]]
| subdivision_name3 = [[Schwarzwald-Baar-Kreis]]
| subdivision_type4 = Reference no.
| subdivision_name4 = DE:&nbsp;1111
| length = 46.153&nbsp;km <ref name="LUBW-GeNe-Länge" />
| width_avg = 
| depth_avg = 
| source1_location = [[St. Martin's Chapel, Furtwangen|St. Martin's Chapel]], 6&nbsp;km northwest of [[Furtwangen im Schwarzwald|Furtwangen]]
| source1_coordinates = {{Coord|48.0953361|8.1549111|type:river_region:DE-BW|format=dms|display=inline}}
| source1_elevation = {{Höhe|1078|DE-NN|link=true }}
| mouth_location = Confluence: with the [[Brigach]] to form the [[Danube]] east of [[Donaueschingen]]
| mouth_coordinates = {{Coord|47.9509944|8.5204778|type:river_region:DE-BW|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| mouth_elevation = ca.&nbsp;{{Höhe|672|DE-NN|link=true}}
| basin_population = 
| basin_landmarks = Small towns: [[Furtwangen im Schwarzwald|Furtwangen]], [[Vöhrenbach]], [[Bräunlingen]], [[Hüfingen]], [[Donaueschingen]]
| progression = {{RDanube}}
| basin_size = 291.488&nbsp;km² <ref name="LUBW-Agg05-Summe-EZG" />
| discharge1_location = at Donaueschingen gauge
| discharge1_min = 
| discharge1_avg = 5.95&nbsp;m³/s
| discharge1_max = 
| tributaries_right = 
| tributaries_left = 
| waterbodies = 
| ports = 
| bridges = 
}}
The '''Breg''' is a river, 46 kilometres long, in [[Baden-Württemberg]], [[Germany]], and the primary headstream of the [[Danube]].

== Description ==
The '' Breg '' is the longest and biggest headstream of the river [[Danube]]. It flows through the southeast part of the [[Middle Black Forest]] and the lowlands of the [[Baar region]].

The Breg rises at a height of {{Höhe|1078|DE-NN|link=true}}, six kilometres northwest of [[Furtwangen im Schwarzwald|Furtwangen]]. Its [[source (hydrology)|source]], which is near [[St. Martin's Chapel, Furtwangen|St. Martin's Chapel]] and is also called the [[source of the Danube]] or ''Donauquelle'', is protected as a [[natural monument]]. It is located about 100 metres south-east of the Rhine / Danube  [[drainage divide|watershed]] (the great [[European Watershed]]). Beyond that, but only about 900 metres away is the source of the [[Elz (Rhine)|Elz]], which flows in the same longitudinal [[valley]] but initially in the opposite direction, to the north, and later flows into the [[Rhine]].

[[File:Breg - Brigach - Danube.jpg|thumb|left|300 px|Confluence with the [[Brigach]] (rear right) to form the [[River Danube]] (foreground right)]]
In its upper section, known as the ''Katzensteig'', the Breg valley is clearly a result of glaciation, with a strikingly low gradient and landscape characterized by large [[Black Forest house]]s. Between the towns of Furtwangen and Vöhrenbach, the Breg flows eastwards through a broader and somewhat more densely populated valley, then in a generally southeasterly direction through a solitary forest valley, accompanied by a road and the route of the former [[South German Railway Company|Breg Valley Railway]], which is now a bicycle track. Shortly before Hammereisenbach-Bregenbach, the Breg is joined by the Linach just below the [[Linach Dam]] and, in the village, by the [[Hammerbach (Breg)|Hammerbach]], a short tributary, but the most important thanks to its two large headstreams. Near [[Bräunlingen]], the Breg meets the Röthenbach stream at the [[Brändbach Dam|Kirnbergsee]]. Here the Breg leaves the Black Forest and continues via [[Hüfingen]] to [[Donaueschingen]], through wide, open countryside on the plateau of the Baar.

After 46.2 kilometres, the Breg merges with the [[Brigach]] in [[Donaueschingen]] to form the Danube - ''"Brigach und Breg bringen die Donau zuweg"'' ("Brigach and Breg bring the Danube together") as the well known rhyme goes. Since the Breg is not only the longest, but also the most voluminous river of the Danube with a [[catchment area]] of 291.5&nbsp;km², its source is considered hydrographically as the source of the Danube (''Donauquelle'').

== Tributaries ==
:This list only shows the more important tributaries. For the full list see [[:de: Liste der Zuflüsse der Breg]]
* Schützenbach (left)
* [[Hintere Breg]] (right)
* Rohrbach (left)
* Langenbach (left)
* Linach (right)
* [[Hammerbach (Breg)|Hammerbach]] (right) with the upper reaches of the [[Eisenbach (Breg)|Eisenbach]] and [[Urach (Breg)|Urach]]
* Forbach (left)
* Kohldobelbächle (left)
* [[Reichenbächle (Breg)|Reichenbächle]] (right)
* Weiherbach (left)
* Landgraben (right)
* Röthenbach (right)

== References ==
<references>
    <ref name="LUBW-GeNe-Länge">Length based on the ''Gewässernetz  ([[Amtliches Digitales Wasserwirtschaftliches Gewässernetz|AWGN]])'' layer of the online map server of the LUBW.</ref>    
    <ref name="LUBW-Agg05-Summe-EZG">Catchment totalled from the ''Aggregierte Gebiete 05 (AWGN)'' layer of the online map server of the LUBW.</ref>
</references>

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Breg (Danube)|Breg}}
* {{GeoQuelle|DE-BW|LUBW|ref=nein}}
* [http://udo.lubw.baden-wuerttemberg.de/public/p/vV1 Catchment of the Breg] on the map services of the LUBW

{{Danube}}

[[Category:Rivers of Baden-Württemberg]]
[[Category:Danube]]
[[Category:Rivers of the Black Forest]]
[[Category:Rivers of Germany]]