Canoeing on the Rhone
Imagine that together with friends you have to prepare a real expedition.
It is a trip from the Rhone River's source to its outlet. In order to properly prepare your trip, you have to choose a means of transport. It might be a car or, far more interestingly, a bike. A canoe or a raft would be even more adventurous.
Let's go for the canoe! It would be wise to study the expedition area before deciding on a travel plan. Later you can produce a more detailed plan, but for now, a rough outline of any problems you could experience will suffice.
Let's start. How and with what resources? A view of the area recorded by a satellite would be an excellent place to start.
Here's one. Just open the image file, look at it and...zoom in!
The task consists in learning how to correctly read and interpret a satellite image using maps. A preliminary report should be generated with a description of the Rhone's various segments. A more detailed report may be produced later.
Once an overview has been obtained with smaller scale maps (like 1:200 000 or 1:100 000), you will need maps at 1:50 000 or even larger scale. Should you be unable to find those maps in your school, we suggest you browse the internet.
To classify landscape types, look on the web under the various location names. You will find tourist information and photos.
Your report should contain nice illustrations, which may primarily be satellite images. These should bear annotations with geographical names extracted from maps, as well as highlighted locations from which specific information has been retrieved, like, for example, pictures of the Rhone and of its surrounding landscape. A byproduct of the project might be a viewgraph presentation or a flyer showing attractive images.
 | | | Satellite image of the Alps |
A word on how to use the satellite images
Zoom in on the satellite image of the Alps to the pixel size of 1920 metres and 120 metres and download the scenes.
Now zoom in to 30 metres (maximum resolution) over a particular area, like the springs of the Rhone.
Compare the full resolution space image with the 1:50 000 scale map. | | Map of the Alps | |
Assess the height differences from the glacier to the Gletsch bottom valley.
How easy do you think it would be to use a canoe to cover this part of the river? Take the next stage down to Oberwald. Conclusions? What is your evaluation about the different parts of the Rhone, down to Lake Geneva? How long would it take you to paddle to Geneva, along the French border?
| | | Map of the Alps |
Compare your findings to those you would get if you followed the Swiss border of the lake. Do not forget to admire the beautiful landscape around you. How about stopping in Geneva for 1 or 2 days? Are you looking for a youth hostel? The Internet could provide answers to your questions! Keep searching along the French segment of the river.
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