River Erft

Erft
Lower reaches of the Erft near Bergheim
Country	Germany
State	North Rhine-Westphalia
Reference no.	DE: 274
Physical characteristics
Main source	Southeast of Engelgau as the Kuhbach Signed source of the Erft near Holzmülheim 527 m above sea level (NHN) 50°29′14″N 6°35′14″E / 50.48722°N 6.58722°E / 50.48722; 6.58722Coordinates: 50°29′14″N 6°35′14″E / 50.48722°N 6.58722°E / 50.48722; 6.58722
River mouth	Rhine near Neuss-Grimlinghausen 31 m above sea level (NHN) 51°11′04″N 6°43′54″E / 51.18444°N 6.73167°E / 51.18444; 6.73167
Length	106.6 km (66.2 mi) (incl. Kuhbach)
Discharge	Location: at Neubrück gauge Minimum rate: Record low: 5.15 m3/s (182 cu ft/s) (in 16.07.2007) Average low: 10.4 m3/s (370 cu ft/s) Average rate: 16.4 m3/s (580 cu ft/s) Maximum rate: Average high: 31.3 m3/s (1,110 cu ft/s) Record high: 46.6 m3/s (1,650 cu ft/s) (in 04.06.1984)
Basin features
Progression	Rhine→ North Sea
Basin size	1,837.915 km2 (709.623 sq mi)
Landmarks	Cities: Neuss Large towns: Euskirchen, Erftstadt, Bedburg, Bergheim, Grevenbroich, Kerpen Small towns: Bad Münstereifel
Tributaries	Left: Veybach, Rotbach, Neffelbach Right: Swist, Gillbach, Norfbach

The Erft (pronounced [ʔɛɐ̯ft]) is a river in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It flows through the foothills of the Eifel, and joins the Lower Rhine (left tributary). Its origin is near Nettersheim, and its mouth in Neuss-Grimlinghausen south of the . The river is 103 kilometres (64 mi) long, which is significantly shorter than it was originally. Due to the open-pit mining of lignite in the Hambacher Loch, the flow of the river had to be changed.

The Erft gave its name to the town of Erftstadt, through which it flows, as well as to the Rhein-Erft district. It also flows through the towns of Bad Münstereifel, Euskirchen, Bergheim, Bedburg and Grevenbroich.

Source of the Erft near Holzmülheim

The Erft near Grevenbroich