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Boehler, Emmel 
1.2 History 
Human presence along the river is documented well back to the early Iron Times (Hunsriick-Eifel Culture) but the Romans, who 
occupied the area for five centuries starting around 50 BC, were the first ones to use the river for transportation. They also built a 
road along the left side of the river and introduced the cultivation of grapes for wine production. 
During the Middle Ages, settlements were founded and expanded. Many impressive buildings, especially churches, were erected. In 
the late Middle Ages, when the area was fragmented among many sovereign states, more churches and most of the more than 40 
castles along this stretch of the river were built. 
In the 19 th Century, a romantic view of this part of the Rhine River developed. The area close to and containing the river was viewed 
as a typical German landscape. The ancient buildings were considered as cultural heritage monuments and many old castles and ruins 
were restored. The draw of tourists began at this time already. The hotels built during this period are still characteristic of the region. 
In the 20 th Century, 75 percent of the former wine-growing areas were laid fallow, resulting in the gradual progression from low- 
lying brush to forest land. Since major industrial activity did not significantly develop in this part of the Rhine Valley, settlements 
did not grow as fast as elsewhere. Thus, with few exceptions, the landscape is still characterised by the patterns developed in the past. 
Tourism is the main source of income - another reason to protect this cultural landscape and to control its further development. 
1.3 Ecology 
The climate (dry and warm) and the land cover (bush, wine terraces, groups of historical buildings) distinguish the Upper Middle 
Rhine Valley significantly from the surrounding landscapes. The flora and fauna are unique. They show a large diversity and include 
rare and even endemic species. More than 30 percent of the area is under ecological protection. 
2. INSCRIPTION ON THE WOLD HERITAGE LIST 
2.1 Nomination 
The Governments of Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate have asked UNESCO to inscribe the Upper Middle Rhine Valley on the 
UNESCO World Heritage List. The nomination has been registered at the World Heritage Center (N/C 1066) and will be examined 
by the World Heritage Committee at its 26 th session in Budapest in June 2002. 
2.2 Argumentation 
The proponents argue that the Upper Middle Rhine Valley is an outstanding example of a cultural landscape which has, throughout 
history, experienced steady and slow, yet ongoing, development. It comprises extraordinary evidence of art, history and the interac 
tions between man and nature. Its past is closely associated with the spiritual, and especially the artistic and literary, aspects of life in 
Europe. 
Located in the heart of the Continent, the Rhine Valley exemplarily reflects the history of the Occident, sometimes constituting a 
borderline, at other times a bridge, between cultures. Esteemed architectural monuments have survived here in a variety and density 
which cannot be found in any other European cultural landscape. The Romantic era in European history is closely associated with 
this part of the Rhine River. The impressive natural appearance and the remarkable ecosystem are also quoted to substantiate the 
inclusion on the World Heritage List (Proposal, 2001). 
3. REASONS FOR DIGITAL REPRESENTATIONS 
3.1 Improved Methods for Documentation 
Regarding the new category of cultural landscapes, the experts of the World Heritage Committee have expressed appreciation 
specifically for the subjective elements of landscape perception (de Jong 2000). Poetry and arts play an important role, especially 
when the associative aspect of a cultural landscape is concerned. A metric and scientific description of a landscape is needed, 
however, to explain a landscape’s development and to understand and manage its present and future conditions. This is especially 
true for the category of ‘continuing landscapes’. An extensive documentation of the heritage is needed for the design of the future 
development of large and complex landscapes like the Rhine Valley. The opportunities offered by new technologies to simulate the 
future of a cultural landscape are even more important. 
Since a textual description is too abstract to give a clear understanding of topographical features, maps have been used throughout 
history as an abstraction of the real world. The field of cartography has developed high standards but it cannot overcome certain 
limitations such as a fixed scale and a limitation to two dimensions which only allow a 2!/2D-representation, e.g. in the form of 
contour lines. Since space is restricted on a map sheet, the number of themes has to be limited to one. This limitation makes 
combining and simultaneously comparing several aspects to come to new conclusions (e.g. topography, soil, and vegetation to 
predict erosion) relatively difficult. Due to limited space and a fixed scale, only a selection of the information available can be 
shown, making it necessary to rely on additional sources (books, larger scale maps) if more detailed information is needed.