Ruhr Valley
Proper noun * A major industrial and coal mining region: The Ruhr Valley is a densely populated metropolitan area in western Germany, historically defined by its heavy industry, coal mining, and steel production, located along the Ruhr River.
The term "Ruhr Valley" is used to refer to the region as a specific geographic, economic, and historical entity. * The Ruhr Valley was the industrial heartland of Germany for over a century. * Many cities in the Ruhr Valley, like Essen and Dortmund, grew rapidly during the industrial revolution.
- "The Ruhr": Often used synonymously with "Ruhr Valley" or "Ruhr region" to refer to the same area.
- The economy of the Ruhr has diversified since the decline of coal mining.
- Ruhrgebiet (n): The German name for the Ruhr region.
- Ruhr River (n): The river from which the region takes its name.
- Industrial region: A general term for an area dominated by manufacturing.
- Coal basin: A geological area containing coal deposits, often mined.
While "Ruhr Valley" literally describes the valley of the Ruhr River, its primary meaning refers to the larger contiguous urban and industrial area that developed there. It is a classic example of a region named after a geographic feature that became synonymous with its industry.
- a major industrial and coal mining region in the valley of the Ruhr river in northwestern Germany