The Black Forest is a large forested mountain range in south-west Germany, in the state of Baden-Württemberg, bounded by the Rhine valley to the west and south. It is the source of the Danube and Neckar rivers.
Its highest peak is the Feldberg with an elevation of 1,493 metres above sea level. Roughly oblong in shape, with a length of 160 kilometres and breadth of up to 50 km, it has an area of about 6,009 km².
Historically, the area was known for forestry and the mining of ore deposits, but tourism has now become the primary industry, accounting for around 300,000 jobs. There are several ruined military fortifications dating back to the 17th century.