The two most important rivers originating from within the heart of Swiss Alps (like arteries) are Rhine and Rhône (contributing life-sustaining blood-like flow to major parts of Europe). They have been also an integral part of the local legends and myths since the Roman times. Though their sources are located in two different (so-called) cantons of Switzerland, within 50 miles of each other; curiously and sensibly, they quickly bid farewell to (and part ways from) each other, heading out in (totally) opposite directions. We have to realize that this region contains some of the densest parts of the entire Alps. In other words, escape routes there (for newborn rivers) are hard to come by...🙂...So, Rhine found a way northward to Lake Constance, then across multiple countries, and finally, far away in Netherlands, empties into the cold waters of North Sea. Rhône chose to fight its way out west through these Alps mountains to Lake Geneva, and then southward through France, eventually merging with the warm waters of the Mediterranean Sea.

Thanks to MSFS, I've now sufficiently raised my familiarity with these two rivers, without ever been in the vicinity of either river ...🙂... Here is a curious fact that may not be known to the non-natives (as I'm one). Even though Rhine and Rhône empty into the Seas, on diametrically opposite (North-South) edges of Europe, they are connected via a man-made system of canals (Rhône-Rhine Canal) in France, and hence are the means for connecting the North Sea to the Mediterranean Sea via waterways alone.

So, find these sets of images, below, from my tour across Europe today, with Rhine River as my guide:

1. (Shot #s 3-5) A short trip as I travel to the easternmost terminus of the Rhône-Rhine Canal, where in my images you would notice Rhine flowing on northward, and the Canal diverging away westward to eventually meet the Rhône River, at the westernmost point of the Rhône-Rhine Canal.
2. (Shot #s 6-14) A most enjoyable trip, I had, in Netherlands (my first time ever there in the SIM in 20+ years), from Amsterdam (EHAM), through Rotterdam (EHRD), following the Rhine River up north to the North Sea. However, I quickly got disoriented (pleasurably so...🙂...) in the land of Canals, Windmills, and Tulips. I saw plenty of the first two (see my images, including shots of the famous North Sea Canal that connects North Sea to the city of Amsterdam, and the farm of Windmills, shot #s 13-14, at Kinderdijk), but, alas, none of the Tulips (actually I didn't look for them...🙂...). Nonetheless, this virtual trip brought back the memories of a RW trip to the (namesake) city of "Holland"...nearer to me...🙂...in the state of Michigan, a beautiful city known for its Dutch heritage, and for its annual Tulip Time Festival (one week in May), which I'd once attended. There, I'd also seen an actual Dutch Windmill originally brought over from Netherlands back in 1965 (touted to be the only authentic "working" windmill in U.S.). That entire locale is enchanting enough that I wish I could visit it again.
3. (Shot #s 15-18) A trip from Friedrichshafen (EDNY) on the northern shore of Lake Constance, as I lift off past the famous Zeppelin Hangar...flying south over this famous lake (while musing a bit about Ferdinand von Zeppelin, whose first (rigid) airship Zeppelin (named after him) had flown over this same lake for the first time in 1900). Then, I (and my trusty Skyvan) entered the heart of Swiss Alps into the canton of Graubünden, the source headwaters of Rhine River. As the Skyvan climbed gradually to higher altitudes within the narrow valleys, the mountains, around my shoulders, got taller, and the hamlets and villages, below, got tinier (see my images) ...

In my last 2 images, I've finally returned with my Skyvan to Amsterdam (EHAM) airport (an airport I'd once transited through, decades ago, in a KLM MD-11, following an unforgettable Atlantic crossing, where the MD-11 might have just saved my life...a story...I'd recounted before). Anyway, here, recalling that I've been flying the "Skydiving" variant of this iniBuilds a/c, I'm next getting ready to take my bunch of (colorfully attired) brave souls (see the last image), for their tryst with adrenaline and excitement...Of course, I'm not taking them to the Swiss Alps...🙂 ... (though, don't know why but I feel a bit like that Junkers 52 pilot flying into the Alps, in the opening title sequence of "Where Eagles Dare"...🙂...). Anyway, I would take this bunch somewhere over the pretty countryside of Netherlands...away from those multitude of canals...if I can indeed find such a place...we'll see...

Thanks for viewing...!

Great set and livery! 😉 

14 hours ago, Alaska738 said:

Great set and livery! 😉 

Thanks, Will. So, at least someone else liked this livery…🙂…

14 hours ago, Alaska738 said:

Great set and livery! 😉 

Second that !

cheers 😉

Sorry, but no 😃😃

But the screenies are very nice. P_7878, despite the skin!

You certainly find the interesting places! Will forgive your choice of livery (this time). 🙂

16 hours ago, bernd1151 said:

Sorry, but no 😃😃

But the screenies are very nice. P_7878, despite the skin!

Thank you for the comment, bernd... And ...🙂... I don't blame you for your impressions about the skin...🙂....

 

15 hours ago, John F said:

You certainly find the interesting places! Will forgive your choice of livery (this time). 🙂

Thanks, John. Yes, Netherlands was certainly quite interesting...another place that would not have crossed my mind in the past SIMs to visit and explore due to lack of scenery...The Windmills here are a nice MSFS touch too...Cheers...!