Previous Year Question

The Ruhr Basin or Ruhr Region is situated in western Germany, mainly in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It derives its name from the Ruhr River and includes important urban-industrial centres such as Dortmund, Essen, Duisburg and Bochum.

During the 19th and 20th centuries, the Ruhr developed into one of Germany's most important coal, iron-steel and heavy-industry regions. Its coal deposits provided the foundation for the rapid growth of steel production, machinery, chemicals and other manufacturing industries.

Its industrial development was supported not only by raw materials but also by the Rhine and Ruhr rivers, canals and a dense railway network. These transport links facilitated relatively cheap movement of coal, iron ore and finished industrial products.

Over time, the importance of traditional coal mining declined and services, technology, education and cultural industries gained a larger role in the Ruhr economy. Nevertheless, in historical geography, the Ruhr remains well known as Germany's major coal-and-steel industrial region.