Ruhrs

Ruhrs is a term sometimes used in English-language writing to refer collectively to the Ruhr river and the Ruhr region in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is not, however, a formal geographical name; the river is simply called the Ruhr and the urban area is known as the Ruhrgebiet or Ruhr region. In ordinary usage, Ruhrs may appear in historical or descriptive contexts, but most sources distinguish between the river and the metropolitan area.

The Ruhr river runs through western Germany as a right-bank tributary of the Rhine. It rises in the Sauerland and flows generally westward, passing through several major cities including Essen, Bochum, Dortmund, Mülheim an der Ruhr, and Duisburg before joining the Rhine. The river basin historically served as a focal point for coal mining and heavy industry, with canals and infrastructure built to support navigation, energy, and manufacturing activities. Today, the Ruhr continues to be an important waterway and a defining feature of the regional landscape, while the surrounding area has undergone extensive redevelopment and environmental rehabilitation.

The Ruhr region, or Ruhrgebiet, is a densely populated urban and industrial area that emerged as one of Europe’s largest coal- and steel-producing regions during the 19th and 20th centuries. After industrial restructuring in the late 20th century, it diversified into services, technology, education, and culture. The region remains economically diverse and culturally significant, with numerous museums, universities, and heritage sites reflecting its industrial past.