The Kocher () is a -long[including its source river Schwarzer Kocher] right tributary of the Neckar in the north-eastern part of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. The name "Kocher" originates from its Celtic languages name "cochan" and probably means winding, meandering river. Its total drainage area is .
Course
The Schwarzer Kocher rises south of
Oberkochen. The second source, the Weißer Kocher rises west of
Unterkochen village, located in district Ostalbkreis, municipality in Baden-Wuerttemberg state, 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 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.
Water quality and pollution
Many industrial sites in the upper Kocher valley and poor
led to heavy
water 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.
Tributaries
The following rivers are tributaries to the Kocher (from source to mouth):
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Left: Black Kocher (Schwarzer Kocher), Aal, Lein, Rot (Fichtenberger Rot), Bibers, Kupfer, Sall, Ohrn, Brettach
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Lott, Berhard H. Der Kocher von der Quelle bis zur Mündung (German). Swiridoff Verlag, Künzelsau, 2002.
External links
