Volme

Volme
Volme in Hagen (2004)
Country	Germany
Basin features
Main source	Southeastern Ruhr Area 480 m (1,570 ft)
River mouth	Ruhr 91 m (299 ft) 51°23′33″N 7°26′27″E / 51.39250°N 7.44083°E / 51.39250; 7.44083Coordinates: 51°23′33″N 7°26′27″E / 51.39250°N 7.44083°E / 51.39250; 7.44083
Basin size	428 km2 (165 sq mi)
Tributaries	Left: Ennepe
Physical characteristics
Length	50.5 km (31.4 mi)

The Volme is a river in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, a left tributary of the Ruhr. It is 50.5 km long, of which about 21 km lie within the city limits of Hagen. Its largest tributary is the Ennepe.

The Volme rises at 480 m above sea level in the southeastern part of the Ruhr region, southeast of the town Meinerzhagen. It flows through the municipalities of Meinerzhagen, Kierspe, Halver (Oberbrügge), Lüdenscheid (Brügge), Schalksmühle and Hagen and empties into the Ruhr at 91 m above sea level. In the city of Hagen, the Volme is predominantly canalised, and since 2004 has been under restoration.

Tributaries of the Volme are, from the mouth upstream:

In the pre-industrial age, numerous mills, smithies and foundries arose along the Volme, from which the iron industry developed during the 19th and the 20th centuries. The Hagen–Dieringhausen railway runs through the valley.