# Geul

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For the [Manx](/source/Isle_of_Man) festival, Feailley Geul, see [Yule](/source/Yule).

The **Geul** (ˈɣøːl, ˈɣøːl; German: *Göhl* ˈɡøːl; French: *Gueule* ɡœl) is a river in [Belgium](/source/Belgium) and in the [Netherlands](/source/Netherlands), where it is a right-bank tributary to the river [Meuse](/source/Meuse).

## Geography

The source of the Geul is at about 300 metres (980 ft) above sea level in northeastern Belgium near the German border, south of the German town of [Aachen](/source/Aachen). From there, after flowing some 20 kilometres (12 mi) in a northwestern direction, it leaves Belgium and enters the Netherlands at Cottessen in the [Vaals](/source/Vaals) municipality. After a further 38 kilometres (24 mi) in a west-northwestern direction through the southernmost part of [Limburg](/source/Limburg_(Netherlands)), which in its turn is the most southern province of the Netherlands, it flows into the Meuse, north of the city of [Maastricht](/source/Maastricht).

A tributary of the Geul is the [Gulp](/source/Gulp_(river)).

Places through which the Geul passes are among others [Kelmis](/source/Kelmis) (Belgium), [Valkenburg aan de Geul](/source/Valkenburg_aan_de_Geul), including [Schin op Geul](/source/Schin_op_Geul), and [Meerssen](/source/Meerssen) (Netherlands).

## Pollution

The water of the Geul is polluted seriously with heavy metals [zinc](/source/Zinc) and [lead](/source/Lead) and as a result also is a serious source of heavy metal inflow into the Meuse.

This pollution is a result of former zinc and lead mining activities near the Belgian towns of [Kelmis](/source/Kelmis) (La Calamine) and [Plombières](/source/Plombi%C3%A8res) (formerly named Bleiberg).

The last one of these mines have closed early in the 20th century. One of the reasons for giving up mining activities in Plombières was the occasional flooding of the mine by the Geul, as the bedrock (mainly [Carboniferous](/source/Carboniferous) [limestone](/source/Limestone)) contains many [faults](/source/Fault_(geology)) and fissures.

Although mine factory buildings have been demolished, old railway dikes still are abundantly present in the area. They provide ideal hiking routes, that are known for the presence of so-called "zinc flora" (zinc-tolerant plants, such as [yellow calamine violet](/source/Yellow_calamine_violet) and *[Viola calaminaria](/source/Viola_calaminaria)*).

## Significant events

During the [2021 European floods](/source/2021_European_floods), the banks of the river flooded, including in some of the major population centers such as [Valkenburg aan de Geul](/source/Valkenburg_aan_de_Geul).[1]

## See also

- [Oehl](/source/Oehl)

## References

1. [De beelden van de wateroverlast in Zuid-Limburg](https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2021/07/15/angstvallig-de-waterbuffer-in-de-gaten-houden-de-wateroverlast-in-zuid-limburg-in-beeld-a4051089)

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