Kocher
Encyclopedia
The Kocher is a 168 km long right tributary
of the Neckar
in the north-eastern part of Baden-Württemberg
, Germany
. The name "Kocher" originates from its 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
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.
. 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
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.
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the Neckar
Neckar
The Neckar is a long river, mainly flowing through the southwestern state of Baden-Württemberg, but also a short section through Hesse, in Germany. The Neckar is a major right tributary of the River Rhine...
in the north-eastern part of Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg is one of the 16 states of Germany. Baden-Württemberg is in the southwestern part of the country to the east of the Upper Rhine, and is the third largest in both area and population of Germany's sixteen states, with an area of and 10.7 million inhabitants...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. The name "Kocher" originates from its Celtic
Celtic languages
The Celtic languages are descended from Proto-Celtic, or "Common Celtic"; a branch of the greater Indo-European language family...
name "cochan" and probably means winding, meandering river. The Kocher rises in the eastern foothills of the Swabian Alb
Swabian Alb
The Swabian Alps or Swabian Jura is a low mountain range in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, extending 220 km from southwest to northeast and 40 to 70 km in width. It is named after the region of Swabia....
from two karst spring
Karst spring
A karst spring is a spring that is part of a karst system. That includes the underground drainage of a much larger area, which means that karst springs often have a very large discharge...
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
Discharge (hydrology)
In hydrology, discharge is the volume rate of water flow, including any suspended solids , dissolved chemical species and/or biologic material , which is transported through a given cross-sectional area...
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 OberkochenOberkochen
Oberkochen is a town in the Ostalbkreis, in Baden-Württemberg, Germany.-Economy:After WWII the allied troops moved parts of the Carl Zeiss Company in Jena to Oberkochen. Today the headquarter of the Carl Zeiss AG is located in 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
Aalen
Aalen is a city in the German state of Baden-Württemberg, about east of Stuttgart and north of Ulm. It is the seat of the Ostalbkreis district, and its largest city, as well as the largest city within the Ostwürttemberg region. In spatial planning, Aalen is designated a Mittelzentrum...
and Wasseralfingen until Hüttlingen, where the Kocher turns west in the direction of Abtsgmünd
Abtsgmünd
Abtsgmünd is a municipality in the German state of Baden-Württemberg, in Ostalbkreis district. Abtsgmünd has got two confluent streams, the Lein and the Kocher.Famous locals include Patrick Benedict Zimmer who was born in the town....
. 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
Gaildorf
Gaildorf is a town in the district of Schwäbisch Hall, in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is located on the river Kocher, 13 km south of Schwäbisch Hall.-People:* Stefan Everts* Hermann Frasch...
and Schwäbisch Hall
Schwäbisch Hall
Schwäbisch Hall is a town in the German state of Baden-Württemberg and capital of the district of Schwäbisch Hall. The town is located in the valley of the river Kocher in the north-eastern part of Baden-Württemberg....
. 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
Hohenlohe (district)
The Hohenlohekreis is a district in the north of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Neighboring districts are Neckar-Odenwald, Main-Tauber, Schwäbisch Hall and Heilbronn.Künzelsau is the administration centre of the district....
and flowing through Künzelsau
Künzelsau
Künzelsau[p] is a town in Baden-Württemberg, in south central Germany. It is the capital of the Hohenlohe district. It is located on the river Kocher, 19 km north of Schwäbisch Hall, and 37 km northeast of Heilbronn....
. It continues further to Neuenstadt am Kocher
Neuenstadt am Kocher
Neuenstadt, usually known as Neuenstadt am Kocher is a town in Baden-Württemberg in south-western Germany with 9,600 inhabitants...
where it receives the Brettach river. Near Bad Friedrichshall
Bad Friedrichshall
Bad Friedrichshall is a town in the district of Heilbronn in Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. It is situated at the confluence of the Jagst and the Kocher into the Neckar, 10 km north of Heilbronn...
the Kocher flows into the Neckar, a few Kilometers upstream from the mouth of the river Jagst
Jagst
The Jagst is a right tributary of the Neckar in northern Baden-Württemberg. It is 189 km long. Its source is in the hills east of Ellwangen, close to the Bavarian border. It winds through the towns Ellwangen, Crailsheim, Kirchberg an der Jagst, Langenburg, Krautheim, Möckmühl and Neudenau...
, that flows more or less parallel north-east to the Kocher.