The Black Forest

The Black Forest or Schwarzwald in is a wooded mountain range in Baden-Württemberg, southwestern Germany. The Danube River originates here. It starts as the confluence of the Brigach and Breg rivers. The town nearest to the confluence of the two sources of the Danube is Donaueschingen. Here the Danube begins its 2,857 journey through 10 countries to the Black Sea.

The Black Forest is bordered by the Rhine valley to the west and south. The Black Forest is part of the continental divide between the Atlantic Ocean drainage basin (drained by the Rhine) and the Black Sea drainage basin (drained by the Danube). The highest peak in the Black Forest is the Feldberg with an elevation of 1,493 metres.

The forest itself contains primarily pine and fir trees, and is a very mountainous region. It is an area of immense natural beauty and is a very popular tourist destination.