Kocher 2809901 224205268 2008-07-07T20:13:56Z Olessi 220894 Quick-adding category "Geography of Baden-Württemberg" (using [[WP:HOTCAT|HotCat]]) {{otheruses}} {{Infobox River | river_name = Kocher | image_name = Oedheim_v_Kocherbruecke_20051113.jpg | caption = A dam on the Kocher in [[Oedheim]] | origin = [[Swabian Alb]] | mouth = [[Neckar]] | basin_countries = [[Germany]] | length = 182 km | elevation = 510 m | discharge = Schwarzer Kocher: 680 l/s <br /> Weißer Kocher: 400 l/s | watershed = 1,800 km² }} The '''Kocher''' is a 182 km long right [[tributary]] of the [[Neckar]] in the north-eastern part of [[Baden-Württemberg]], [[Germany]]. The name "Kocher" origins from its [[Celtic languages|Celtic]] name "cochan" and probably means winding, meandering river. The Kocher rises in the eastern foothills of the [[Swabian Alb]] from two [[karst spring]]s, the Schwarzer (black) Kocher and the Weißer (white) Kocher. The Schwarzer Kocher drains an area of approximately 1,800 km² mostly covered by forest. Its source [[Discharge (hydrology)|discharge]] varies between 50 l/s and 4,000 l/s with an average of 680 l/s. The Weißer Kocher has an average discharge of 400 l/s. ==Course== The Schwarzer Kocher rises south of [[Oberkochen]]. The second source, the Weißer Kocher rises west of [[Unterkochen]] from many small sources. The name Weißer Kocher comes from the white foam on the water when it quickly rushes over the stones. In contrast, the Schwarzer Kocher flows rather slowly and the covered ground gives the water a dark color. Both headwaters join in Unterkochen and flow north through the city of [[Aalen]] and [[Wasseralfingen]] until Hüttlingen, where the Kocher turns west in the direction of [[Abtsgmünd]]. Here the Lein river discharges into the Kocher. The Kocher then winds further north-west to Unterrot, where it receives the river Rot and continues to the cities [[Gaildorf]] and [[Schwäbisch Hall]]. Near Geislingen the Bühler river flows into the Kocher. In a wide curve the Kocher then turns west again, cutting into the plain of [[Hohenlohe (district)|Hohenlohe]] and flowing through [[Künzelsau]]. It continues further to [[Neuenstadt am Kocher]] where it receives the Brettach river. Near [[Bad Friedrichshall]] the Kocher flows into the Neckar, a few Kilometers upstream from the mouth of the river [[Jagst]], that flows more or less parallel north-east to the Kocher. [[Image:Schwäbisch Hall - Hänkersbrücke.jpg|thumb|left|The Hänkersbrücke spans the Kocher at [[Schwäbisch Hall]]]] ==Water quality and pollution== Many industrial sites in the upper Kocher valley and poor sewage plants led to heavy pollution of the Kocher. In 1984, the Kocher was declared the most polluted river in the administrative district of Stuttgart. After only a six years remediation project, the water quality significantly improved and today the Kocher is only moderately polluted. The mostly brown color of the Kocher comes from mud in the water and does not mean bad water quality. ==External links== *[http://www.ostalbkreis.de/sixcms/detail.php?_topnav=36&_sub1=31788&_sub2=37427&_sub3=46485&_sub4=46490&id=959 Der Kocher – Lebensader des Ostalbkreises (German)] ==References== * Lott, Berhard H. ''Der Kocher von der Quelle bis zur Mündung'' (German). Swiridoff Verlag, Künzelsau, 2002. ISBN 3-934350-80-1 {{coord|49|13|N|9|12|E|display=title|region:DE_type:river_source:GNS-enwiki}} [[Category:Rivers of Germany]] [[Category:Geography of Baden-Württemberg]] {{BadenWurttemberg-geo-stub}} [[de:Kocher (Fluss)]] [[eo:Kocher (rivero)]] [[fr:Kocher (rivière)]] [[la:Cochera]] [[ja:コッハー川]] [[nn:Kocher]] [[sv:Kocher]]