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Eifel is a low mountain range in western Germany. It occupies parts
of southwestern North Rhine-Westphalia and northwestern Rhineland-Palatinate.
The Eifel is bordered by
the Mosel River in the south and the Rhine in the east. In the north it
is limited by the hills of the High Fens (Hohes Venn), in the west by the
Ardennes of Belgium and Luxemburg.
There are several distinct
chains within the Eifel.
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The northernmost parts are called
Ahrgebirge and rise north of the Ahr River in the district of Ahrweiler.
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South of that river there is
the Hohe Eifel ("High Eifel"), with the Hohe Acht (747 m) being the highest
mountain of the Eifel.
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In the west, on the Belgian
border, the hills are known as Schneifel (originally Schnee-Eifel, = "Snowy
Eifel"), rising up to 698 m. Also in the west, by the Belgian and Luxembourg
border, the region is known as Islek (Aquilania).
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The southern half of the Eifel
is less high. It is cut by several rivers running north-south towards the
Mosel. The largest of these rivers is the Kyll, and the hills on either
side of this river are called the Kyllwald.
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In the south the Eifel is concluded
by the Voreifel above the Mosel.
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