Danube

The Danube is a very important river in Europe. It is the second-longest river after the Volga in Russia. The Danube flows through many countries, starting in the Black Forest of Germany and ending in the Black Sea at the Danube Delta in Romania. It has been a key part of history, once forming a border for the Roman Empire.

Today, the Danube connects ten European countries. It passes through or marks the border between many nations, including Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova, and Ukraine. Famous cities along the river include four capital cities: Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, and Belgrade. The river has been a major trade route for thousands of years and still is today.

The Danube is also important for nature. Many types of fish live in its waters, such as pike, zander, huchen, wels catfish, burbot, tench, carp, sturgeon, salmon, and trout. Some fish, like seabass, mullet, and eel, live especially in the delta and lower parts of the river. The Danube provides water for drinking and helps create energy through hydropower.

Names and etymology

The Danube River has many names depending on where you are from and when in history you lived. Today we call it the Danube, but in ancient times the Greeks called it the Istros. Many languages have their own special names for the river, often based on older words that mean "swift" or "flow".

The name "Danube" comes from very old European roots. It likely started with the Celtic word for a river, Danu or Don. Many other European rivers have similar names, showing they share this ancient root. For example, the Donets, Dnieper, and Dniestr all have names related to this word. The Danube has been an important river for thousands of years, and many cultures have given it their own unique name.

Geography

The Danube is a very important river in Europe. It starts in the town of Donaueschingen in the Black Forest of Germany, where two smaller rivers, the Brigach and the Breg, meet. From there, it flows southeast for about 2,730 kilometers (1,700 miles). Along its path, it passes through four capital cities: Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, and Belgrade. Finally, the Danube ends at the Black Sea in a big area called the Danube Delta in Romania and Ukraine.

This river used to mark the edge of the old Roman Empire. It flows through or touches the borders of 10 countries and helps many more countries with water. The area where the river collects water, called the drainage basin, reaches into nine more countries. The highest point in this area is the top of Piz Bernina, which is very tall at 4,049 meters (13,284 feet). The river’s path is split into three main parts: the Upper Basin, the Middle Basin (also called the Pannonian or Carpathian Basin), and the Lower Basin, which leads to where the river meets the sea.

Discharge

Discharge chronology

The Danube River carries a lot of water, and scientists have measured how much water flows through it over time. This helps us understand how the river changes with seasons and weather patterns. The measurements show that the amount of water can vary a lot, depending on rain and snowmelt in the areas where the river begins.

Tributaries

Main article: List of tributaries of the Danube

The Danube River flows through many countries and has several important smaller rivers that join it along the way. These smaller rivers can sometimes be used by small boats. Here are some key points along the Danube’s path:

• The Danube begins at its source in Donaueschingen, where two small rivers, the Breg and the Brigach, meet.
• The Danube passes through beautiful places like Budapest in Hungary.
• Finally, the Danube reaches its end at the Danube Delta in Ukraine, before flowing into the Black Sea.

Cities and towns

Main article: List of cities and towns on the river Danube

The Danube River flows through many cities, including four national capitals, more than any other river in the world. It begins in Germany and passes through several countries before reaching the Black Sea.

• Germany
  • Donaueschingen in the State of Baden-Württemberg – rivers Brigach and Breg join to form the Danube
  • Möhringen an der Donau in Baden-Württemberg
  • Tuttlingen in Baden-Württemberg
  • Sigmaringen in Baden-Württemberg
  • Riedlingen in Baden-Württemberg
  • Munderkingen in Baden-Württemberg
  • Ehingen in Baden-Württemberg
  • Erbach, Baden-Württemberg in Baden-Württemberg
  • Ulm in Baden-Württemberg
  • Neu-Ulm in Bavaria
  • Günzburg in Bavaria
  • Dillingen an der Donau in Bavaria
  • Donauwörth in Bavaria
  • Neuburg an der Donau in Bavaria
  • Ingolstadt in Bavaria
  • Kelheim in Bavaria
  • Regensburg in Bavaria
  • Straubing in Bavaria
  • Deggendorf in Bavaria
  • Passau in Bavaria

• Austria

  • Linz, capital of Upper Austria
  • Krems in Lower Austria
  • Tulln in Lower Austria
  • Vienna – capital of Austria and the most populous city on the Danube

• Slovakia

  • Bratislava – capital of Slovakia
  • Komárno
  • Štúrovo

• Hungary

  • Mosonmagyaróvár
  • Győr
  • Komárom
  • Esztergom
  • Visegrád – This section of the river is also called Danube Bend.
  • Vác
  • Szentendre
  • Göd
  • Dunakeszi
  • Budapest – capital of Hungary
  • Szigetszentmiklós
  • Százhalombatta
  • Ráckeve
  • Adony
  • Dunaújváros
  • Dunaföldvár
  • Paks
  • Kalocsa
  • Baja
  • Mohács

• Croatia

  • Vukovar
  • Ilok

• Serbia

  • Apatin
  • Bačka Palanka
  • Čerević
  • Futog
  • Veternik
  • Novi Sad – regional capital of Vojvodina
  • Sremski Karlovci
  • Zemun
  • Belgrade – capital of Serbia
  • Pančevo
  • Smederevo
  • Kovin
  • Veliko Gradište
  • Golubac
  • Donji Milanovac
  • Kladovo

• Bulgaria

  • Vidin
  • Lom
  • Kozloduy
  • Oryahovo
  • Nikopol
  • Belene
  • Svishtov
  • Ruse
  • Tutrakan
  • Silistra

• Romania

  • Moldova Nouă
  • Orșova
  • Drobeta-Turnu Severin
  • Calafat
  • Bechet
  • Dăbuleni
  • Corabia
  • Turnu Măgurele
  • Zimnicea
  • Giurgiu
  • Oltenița
  • Călărași
  • Fetești
  • Cernavodă
  • Hârșova
  • Brăila – limit of the maritime sector of the Danube
  • Galați – largest port on the Danube
  • Isaccea
  • Tulcea
  • Sulina

• Moldova

  • Giurgiulești

• Ukraine

  • Reni
  • Izmail
  • Kiliia
  • Vylkove

Panorama of the Danube in Vienna

The Danube Bend is a curve of the Danube in Hungary, near the city of Visegrád.

Panorama of the Danube in Budapest with the Hungarian Parliament (left)

Budapest at night

Panorama of the Danube in Novi Sad from Petrovaradin Fortress, Serbia

The confluence of the Sava into the Danube at Belgrade. Pictured from Belgrade Fortress, Serbia

Panoramic image of the rivers Danube and Sava from Kalemegdan, Belgrade Serbia

The Danube entering the Iron Gate at the Carpathian Mountains. Romania on the left side, Golubac Fortress and Serbia on the right side.

Islands

Further information: List of islands in the Danube

Here are some islands found along the Danube River:

• Ada Kaleh Island
• Ostrovul Mare, Gogoșu
• Balta Ialomiței
• Belene Island
• Csepel Island
• Čakljanac Island
• Donauinsel
• Forkontumac Island
• Great Brăila Island
• Great War Island
• Island of Mohács
• Koh Chang Island, Sremski Karlovci
• Kozloduy Island
• Margaret Island
• Ostrovo (Kostolac)
• Ostrovul Ciocănești
• Ostrovul Mare, Islaz
• Paradajz Island
• Ribarsko Ostrvo [sr], Novi Sad
• Island of Šarengrad
• Szigetköz
• Island of Szentendre
• Vardim Island
• Island of Vukovar
• Žitný ostrov

Sectioning

The Danube River can be divided into four main parts. The upper section runs from its source to a place called Devín Gate, on the border of Austria and Slovakia. Here, the Danube acts like a mountain river until it reaches Passau.

The middle section continues from Devín Gate to the Iron Gate, on the border of Serbia and Romania. In this part, the riverbed gets wider. The lower section goes from the Iron Gate to Pătlăgeanca, and the delta section stretches from Pătlăgeanca to Sulina, where the Danube flows into the Black Sea and splits into three main channels.

Modern navigation

The Danube River can be used by big ships from the Black Sea up to Brăila in Romania. Smaller boats can travel even further, reaching places like Kelheim in Germany. Many of the rivers that flow into the Danube can also be used for transportation.

Since 1992, the Danube has been connected to a major waterway that links Rotterdam on the North Sea to Sulina on the Black Sea. This makes it easier to move goods across a long distance. In 1994, the Danube was chosen as one of the important travel routes in Europe that needed more improvements. By 1987, about 100 million tons of goods were moved on the river. In 1999, some bridges were damaged during a conflict, but they were fixed by 2005.

The Danube passes through a narrow valley called the Iron Gate, where two big power stations were built. In 2006, the river flowed very strongly there. There are also special canals built to help ships travel more easily, like one that shortens the trip to the Black Sea.

Many people enjoy taking cruises on the Danube, especially between Passau in Germany and Budapest in Hungary.

Piracy

Between 2010 and 2012, some shipping companies, especially from Ukraine, said their boats were often targeted on parts of the Danube in Serbia and Romania. These events might not be true acts of piracy under international rules but were more like theft along the river.

Some reports also suggest that crew members sometimes stole and sold their own goods, then claimed pirates were to blame. These incidents were more about small thefts rather than real piracy.

Danube Delta

The Danube Delta is the largest river delta in the European Union. Most of it is in Romania, with a smaller part in Ukraine. It covers about 4,152 square kilometers, with an additional area when including nearby lagoons.

This delta is very special because it is well-preserved and was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991. It is home to many types of fish and birds, including some that are in danger because of changes to the land.

International cooperation

Ecology and environment

Main article: International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River

The International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River is a group of 14 countries and the European Union. It started in 1998 to help protect the Danube River and its water. The group works together to make sure the river’s water is used wisely and kept clean. They follow rules from the Danube River Protection Convention, the EU Water Framework Directive, and the Danube Strategy.

Navigation

The Danube Commission helps keep the Danube River open and easy to travel on by boat. It began in 1948 with seven countries that touch the river. Now, many countries take part, meeting twice a year. The group also brings together experts to discuss important plans. The idea for this group started long ago, at meetings in Paris in 1856 and 1921, to make sure everyone could use the river freely.

Geology

The Danube River is very old, even older than the Rhine River. In the past, water that now flows into the Rhine used to flow into the Danube instead. Over time, the landscape changed, and the Rhine began to take more water away from the Danube.

In some places, the Danube’s water disappears underground and flows to the Rhine. Scientists think that one day, the upper part of the Danube might disappear completely because of this.

History

The Danube basin was home to some of the earliest human cultures. Important ancient cultures, like the Linear Pottery cultures, lived along the river thousands of years ago.

The river played a big role in history. Famous leaders such as Darius the Great and Alexander the Great crossed it. Later, the Romans used the Danube as a border for their empire, building forts and moving troops along it.

During later years, many groups, including the Ottoman Empire, fought over control of the Danube. The river was important for trade and defense for centuries. In the 19th and 20th centuries, people built dams to help control the river’s flow.

Economics

Drinking water

The Danube River provides drinking water for around 20 million people. In parts of Germany, like Baden-Württemberg, nearly 30 percent of the drinking water comes from the Danube. Other cities, such as Ulm and Passau, also use some water from the river.

In countries like Austria and Hungary, most drinking water comes from ground sources, and using Danube water is rare. Cleaning the water can be difficult due to pollution, though some areas in Romania still use it regularly.

Navigation and transport

In the past, the Danube was an important route for ships, though ice could damage vessels. Today, it is a key travel path in Europe, linking places like the Port of Rotterdam with the Black Sea through canals. The river can handle large ships, and many locks help boats move along it. Some plans for new locks exist but face environmental concerns.

Fishing

Fishing on the Danube was once very important but has decreased due to pollution, changes to the river, and big dams. Some fishing still happens, especially in the Danube Delta. The river once had many sturgeon fish, but dams and other issues have reduced their numbers.

Tourism

The Danube is famous for its beautiful spots, such as the Wachau Valley and the Danube Delta. Many people enjoy cruises along the river, with popular routes between cities like Vienna and Budapest. The area also attracts visitors for cycling, hiking, and exploring historic sites.

Danube Bike Trail

The Danube Bike Trail is a popular cycling path that follows the river from its start to where it meets the Black Sea. It passes through Germany, Austria, and other countries, making it one of Europe’s favorite bike routes.

Sultans Trail

The Sultans Trail is a hiking path that runs along the Danube between Vienna and Smederevo in Serbia, continuing to Istanbul. It includes sections through Budapest and other scenic areas.

Donausteig

In 2010, a new hiking trail called Donausteig opened from Passau to Grein. It stretches 450 kilometers and takes travelers through beautiful landscapes and towns along the river.

The Route of Emperors and Kings

This touristic route runs from Regensburg to Budapest, visiting cities like Passau, Linz, and Vienna. It highlights historic sites, castles, and old towns, remembering the river’s role in history when emperors and important travelers used it for journeys.

Important national parks

The Danube River flows through many countries and has several important natural areas along its path. Some of these places help protect the plants, animals, and scenery near the river.

These protected areas include:

• Naturpark Obere Donau (Germany)
• Donauauen zwischen Neuburg und Ingolstadt (Germany) – map
• Nationalpark Donau Auen (Austria) – map – map (Hungary) – map (Hungary) – map (Croatia) – map – map National Park (Serbia)
• Koviljsko-petrovaradinski rit Nature Reserve (Serbia)
• Great War Island Nature Reserve (Serbia)
• Đerdap National park (Serbia)
• Iron Gates Natural Park (Romania)
• Persina Nature Park (Bulgaria) – map – map (Bulgaria) – map Natural Park (Romania)
• Balta Mică a Brăilei Natural Park (Romania)
• Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve (Romania) – map

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Golubac Fortress in Đerdap National park, Serbia

In folklore and literature

The Danube River has inspired many famous musicians and writers. One well-known piece is The Blue Danube Waltz by Austrian composer Johann Strauss, which is loved around the world and often used as a lullaby. Another famous waltz is The Waves of the Danube by Romanian composer Iosif Ivanovici, also called the Anniversary Waltz.

The Danube also appears in important songs and stories. It is featured in the Bulgarian National Anthem and in folklore songs from Lithuania. Famous writers like Claudio Magris and Jules Verne have written books about adventures along the Danube.