Editing Waal (river)

{{Short description|River in the Netherlands}}
{{Infobox river
| name               = Waal
| native_name        = 
| native_name_lang   = 
| name_other         = 
| name_etymology     = 
<!---------------------- IMAGE & MAP -->
| image              = 
| image_size         = 
| image_caption      = 
| map                = Location Waal.PNG
| map_size           = 220
| map_caption        = Location of river Waal in dark blue.
| pushpin_map        = 
| pushpin_map_size   = 220
| pushpin_map_caption= 
<!---------------------- LOCATION -->
| subdivision_type1  = Country
| subdivision_name1  = [[Netherlands]]
| subdivision_type2  = State
| subdivision_name2  = [[Gelderland]]
| subdivision_type3  = Region
| subdivision_name3  = [[Betuwe]], [[Rijk van Nijmegen]], [[Land van Maas en Waal]], [[Land van Altena]]
| subdivision_type4  = 
| subdivision_name4  = 
| subdivision_type5  = Cities
| subdivision_name5  = [[Nijmegen]], [[Tiel]], [[Zaltbommel]], [[Gorinchem]]
<!---------------------- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS -->
| length             = {{convert|80|km|mi|abbr=on}} 
| width_min          = 
| width_avg          = 
| width_max          = 
| depth_min          = 
| depth_avg          = 
| depth_max          = 
| discharge1_location= 
| discharge1_min     = 
| discharge1_avg     = {{convert|1500|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}
| discharge1_max     = 
<!---------------------- BASIN FEATURES -->
| source1            = [[Rhine]]
| source1_location   = [[Millingen aan de Rijn]], [[Gelderland]], [[Netherlands]]
| source1_coordinates= 
| source1_elevation  = 
| mouth              = River [[Boven Merwede]]
| mouth_location     = [[Gorinchem]], Gelderland/South Holland, [[Netherlands]]
| mouth_coordinates  = 
| mouth_elevation    = 
| progression        = 
| river_system       = 
| basin_size         = 
| tributaries_left   = 
| tributaries_right  = [[Linge]]
| custom_label       = 
| custom_data        = 
| extra              = 
}}
[[File:View on the waal janvangoyen.jpg|thumb|265px|The Waal near [[Nijmegen]], 1641]]

The '''Waal''' ([[Dutch language|Dutch]] name, {{IPA|nl|ʋaːl|pron}}) is the main [[distributary]] branch of the river [[Rhine]] flowing approximately {{convert|80|km|mi|abbr=on}} through the [[Netherlands]]. It is the major waterway connecting the port of [[Rotterdam]] to [[Germany]]. Before it reaches Rotterdam, it joins with the [[Afgedamde Maas]] near [[Woudrichem]] to form the [[Boven Merwede]]. Along its length, [[Nijmegen]], [[Tiel]], [[Zaltbommel]] and [[Gorinchem]] are towns of importance with direct access to the river.

The river, which is the main channel in the [[Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta]] system, carries 65% of the total flow of the Rhine.

==History==
The name Waal, in [[Roman Empire|Roman]] times called ''Vacalis, Vahalis'' or ''Valis'', later ''Vahal'', is of [[Germanic languages|Germanic]] origin and is named after the many [[meander]]s in the river ({{langx|gmw|wôh|lit=crooked}}). It is, in turn, thought to have inspired early Dutch [[settler]]s of the [[Hudson Valley]] region in [[New York (state)|New York]] to name the [[Wallkill River]] after it (''Waalkil'' "Waal [[Stream|Creek]]").

The current river shows little signs of these great bends, since it has been the subject of numerous normalisation projects carried out between the 18th and 20th centuries to improve the river as an economically important shipping route. Some of the cut-off bends are still visible near the main river and are sometimes reconnected to it in times of high water levels.

===Bend in South Holland===
In the [[Middle Ages]], the name "Waal" continued after the confluence with the [[Meuse]]. The delta parts now known as Boven Merwede, [[Beneden Merwede]] and the upper section of the [[Noord (river)|Noord]] were also called Waal. Near [[Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht]], the mainstream continued west until it flowed into [[Oude Maas]] near [[Heerjansdam]]. This last stretch past Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht, which separated the [[island|river islands]] of [[IJsselmonde (island)|IJsselmonde]] and [[IJsselmonde (island)#Zwijndrechtse Waard|Zwijndrechtse Waard]], is still called Waal,<ref>{{cite book |editor-last=ter Laan |editor-first=K.|display-editors=etal|title=Van Goor's aardrijkskundig woordenboek van Nederland |year=1942 |publisher=Van Goor Zonen |location=[[The Hague|Den Haag]]|language=nl }}</ref> but is more commonly known as [[Waaltje]] (Dutch for ''Little Waal''). It has been dammed off at both ends, making the Zwijndrechtse Waard part of IJsselmonde.

==River crossings==
===Road bridges===
Showing nearest town:
*[[Waalbrug]], [[Nijmegen]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.vaarweginformatie.nl/frp/main/#/geo/detail/BRIDGE/25279 |title=Waalbrug |date=15 April 2024|lang=nl |website=vaarweginformatie.nl }}</ref>
*[[De Oversteek]], Nijmegen.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.vaarweginformatie.nl/frp/main/#/geo/detail/BRIDGE/8661453 |title=De Oversteek |date=15 April 2024|lang=nl |website=vaarweginformatie.nl }}</ref>
*{{ill|Tacitus Bridge|nl|Tacitusbrug}}, [[Ewijk]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.vaarweginformatie.nl/frp/main/#/geo/detail/BRIDGE/55481 |title=Tacitusbrug |date=15 April 2024|lang=nl |website=vaarweginformatie.nl }}</ref>
*{{ill|Prince Willem-Alexander Bridge|nl|Prins Willem-Alexanderbrug}}, [[Beneden-Leeuwen]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.vaarweginformatie.nl/frp/main/#/geo/detail/BRIDGE/20540 |title=Prins Willem-Alexanderbrug|date=15 April 2024|lang=nl |website=vaarweginformatie.nl }}</ref>
*{{ill|Martinus Nijhoff Bridge|nl|Martinus Nijhoffbrug}} replaced the {{ill|Bommel Bridge|nl|Bommelse Brug}}, [[Zaltbommel]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.vaarweginformatie.nl/frp/main/#/geo/detail/BRIDGE/28687 |title=Martinus Nijhoffbrug |date=15 April 2024|lang=nl |website=vaarweginformatie.nl }}</ref>
===Rail bridges===
Showing nearest station on the left and right bank:
*[[Nijmegen railway bridge]], between [[Nijmegen railway station|Nijmegen]] and [[Nijmegen Lent railway station| Lent]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.vaarweginformatie.nl/frp/main/#/geo/detail/BRIDGE/53618 |title=Spoorbrug Nijmegen|date=15 April 2024|lang=nl |website=vaarweginformatie.nl }}</ref>
*{{ill|Dr. W. Hupkes Bridge|nl|Dr. W. Hupkesbrug}}, between [[Zaltbommel railway station|Zaltbommel]] and [[Geldermalsen railway station|Geldermalsen]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.vaarweginformatie.nl/frp/main/#/geo/detail/BRIDGE/21116 |title=Spoorbrug Dr. Ir. W. Hupkes|date=15 April 2024|lang=nl |website=vaarweginformatie.nl }}</ref>

==Water quality==
The Waal has significant adverse water quality due to discharge of raw [[sewage]] by [[France]] and [[Germany]]. A number of pathogens have been monitored to occur in the river waters from such sewage.<ref>{{cite journal |last= Lodder|first= W J|author2=de Roda Husman |author3=A M |date=March 2005|title= Presence of Noroviruses and Other Enteric Viruses in Sewage and Surface Waters in The Netherlands<!--The capital T for The Netherlands is in the source of the article-->|journal= [[Applied and Environmental Microbiology]]|volume= 71|issue= 3|pages= 1453–1461|oclc= 205246645|doi= 10.1128/AEM.71.3.1453-1461.2005|pmid= 15746348|id= BL Shelfmark 1571.440000|publisher= [[American Society for Microbiology]]|pmc=1065170|bibcode= 2005ApEnM..71.1453L}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Commons category-inline|Waal}}

{{Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta}}

{{Coord|51.891749|N|5.520716|E|source:jawiki_region:NL_scale:100000|format=dms|display=title}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Waal (River)}}
[[Category:Distributaries of Europe]]
[[Category:Rivers of the Rhine–Meuse–Scheldt delta]]
[[Category:Rivers of Gelderland]]
[[Category:Rivers of North Brabant]]
[[Category:Rivers of South Holland]]
[[Category:Nijmegen]]
[[Category:Rivers of the Netherlands]]