Duisburg

Duisburg, city in west central Germany, at the confluence of the Rhine and Ruhr rivers, in North Rhine-Westphalia (Nordrhein-Westfalen) near Düsseldorf. Europe's largest inland river port, the city is connected with Dortmund by the Rhine-Herne Canal and in turn with the North Sea by the Dortmund-Ems Canal. Duisburg is also a major center of chemicals, textiles, processed food, and glass products. A university (1972) is in the city.

Duisburg was known as Castrum Deutonis to the Romans and as Diuspargum under the kings of the Franks. In the 12th century it ranked as an imperial free city, and it joined the Hanseatic League in the 13th century. The 15th-century Church of Saint Salvator, containing the tomb of the geographer Gerardus Mercator, is a notable example of Gothic architecture. The modern city was formed in 1929, when the ancient Duisburg, together with several other towns, was merged with the suburb of Hamborn; until 1934 it was called Duisburg-Hamborn. Duisburg was severely damaged during World War II (1939-1945). Population (2005 estimate) 504,400.