Question

Which river is used for transportation of minerals found in Black forest mountains in Germany?
A.Ruhr
B.Rhine
C.Danube
D.Weser

Answer 1

Hint: The Black Forest is a large forested mountain range located in Baden-Württemberg in southwest Germany. The area is rich in mineral ores like lead, silver, fluorite, cobalt, copper, arsenic, gold, nickel and uranium. This is why mining in some form has been conducted in the area since the stone age. Kinzig Valley was one of the prominent mining areas in the forest over the centuries.

Complete answer: Option A: is incorrect. The river Ruhr is a tributary of the Rhine in Western Germany that originates in the Sauerland region of Germany and flows into the Rhine in Duisburg. It is only 219 km long and as it is upstream in the region, it is not navigable.
Option B: is correct. The river Rhine starts in the Swiss Alps in Graubünden, Switzerland and flows through Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, France and Netherlands before emptying into the North Sea. It is one of the longest rivers in central and western Europe other than the Danube and covers a distance of 1230 km. In its middle section, it crosses through Western Germany and this area is broadly referred to as Rhineland. Mineral deposits in the Black Forest like coal, lead, lignite, magnesium and uranium are transported from this area via the Rhine.
Option C: is incorrect. The river Danube is the second-longest river in Europe after the Volga and covers a distance of 2850 km. It originates in the Black Forest in Germany at the confluence of the rivers Breg and Brigach and flows through Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova and Ukraine before emptying into the Black Sea. As the upstream of the Danube is located in Germany, it is not navigable in that area.
Option D: is incorrect. The river Weser originates in north-west Germany at the confluence of the rivers Werra & Fulda and flows into the North Sea. It is 452 km long and makes up the longest river in Germany. Although it is navigable, it is not located in the Black Forest area.

Hence, The correct answer is Option B.

Note: Water transportation is an important mode of transportation that can be extensively used to carry heavy goods from one place to another. Not only is transportation by waterways cheap but it also reduces carbon footprint which is generated by excessive use of land and rail transportation.