Geography of Gelsenkirchen
Gelsenkirchen, Germany, an industrial city in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Situated five miles (8 km) northeast of Essen, it is one of the Ruhr district's great coal-mining and steelmaking centers. Steel products, glass, chemicals, and clothing are also made here. The Rhine-Herne Canal, an important part of the Ruhr's canal network, opens the city to the Rhine River and North Sea trade. The city's growth began in 1853 with the opening of its first coal mine.
Population: 294,700.