Red Main

Red Main
The Red Main east of Bayreuth
Location	Upper Franconia, Bavaria, Germany
Reference no.	DE: 2412
Basin features
Main source	the Red Main Spring in the Lindenhardt Forest, 10 kilometres south of Bayreuth near Hörlasreuth (Creußen) 581 m above sea level (NN) 49°51′23″N 11°31′59″E / 49.8565°N 11.533194°E / 49.8565; 11.533194Coordinates: 49°51′23″N 11°31′59″E / 49.8565°N 11.533194°E / 49.8565; 11.533194
River mouth	Confluence: south of Kulmbach, near Steinenhausen Castle with the White Main into the Main 298 m above sea level (NN) 50°05′13″N 11°23′56″E / 50.086889°N 11.398806°E / 50.086889; 11.398806
Progression	Main → Rhine → North Sea
River system	Rhine
Basin size	500.35 km² (near Unterzettlitz)
Landmarks	Large towns: Bayreuth
Physical characteristics
Length	55.14 km
Discharge	Average rate: 4.7 m³/s

The Red Main (German: Roter Main) is a river in southern Germany. It is the southern, left headstream of the River Main. It rises in the hills of Franconian Switzerland, near Haag and flows generally northwest through the towns Creußen, Bayreuth, Heinersreuth and Neudrossenfeld. It merges with the White Main near Kulmbach to form the Main. The Red Main is 55 kilometres (34 mi) long and descends a total of 283 metres (928 ft).

The waters of the Red Main flow through a region of clayey soils, which is why the river carries a lot of suspended solids, especially after rainfall, and acquires a red-brown colour. Hence the name Red Main.

The Red Main rises 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) south of Bayreuth near Hörlasreuth (Creußen) in the Lindenhardt Forest at a height of 581 m above sea level (NN). The source of the Red Main (Rotmainquelle) was impounded in stone in 1907, the water flows out of a small wooden pipe. Its source region lies in the Franconian Switzerland-Veldenstein Forest Nature Park. Geologically it belongs to the Brown Jura.

The Red Main flows initially in a southeasterly direction, before it swings northeast and passes through Creußen. From there it heads almost due north and then turns west beyond Eremitage. It passes through the town of Bayreuth from east to west. In the town centre it has been confined since the 1970s in a concrete channel and partially covered.