The Danube

Facts

Location

The source of the Danube is found in the Black Forest, in Germany. The Danube is nearly 3000 kilometres long. It passes through many famous towns and cities such as Vienna, Budapest and Belgrade. It is the second longest river in Europe. Its mouth is a delta in Romania, where it flows into the Black Sea.

The Danube is joined by many tributaries. The river is very wide and deep for much of its course, but is very shallow and swampy at its delta. This has made the Danube very difficult for ships to navigate.

Navigation and Transport

The Danube, like the Rhine, is an industrial river. Cargo ships transport iron ore, coal, steel, grain, and chemicals along the river because it is a natural waterway. Ocean- going ships can travel as far as Ulm in Romania. Smaller barges can easily navigate more of the Danube's course. A canal connects the Danube to the Rhine so that barges can travel from the Black Sea to the North Sea by waterways. Ships from Russia and Greece can travel into the heartland of Europe. Waterways are quicker than by road.

The Danube has not always been easy for ships to navigate, particularly at the Kazan gorge. Thirty years ago, the river was very narrow and shallow here. There were rapids, making it dangerous for ships to navigate. In 1971 the Danube was made deeper at the Kazan Gorge when a huge dam was built a few miles downstream. This dam is known as the Iron Gates. There are two locks either side of the dam for ships to pass through, because the water level behind the dam is 30 metres higher than downstream.

The Danube Delta

The Danube, like many other rivers, has a delta. Ships and barges can travel through the delta either to the Black Sea or into the heartland of Europe. They travel down one of three channels. The Selina channel is the most popular, as it is the straightest and therefore the quickest route.

Ships pass many lighthouses on their journey. These lighthouses mark the edge of the delta where it meets the sea. Now many of these lighthouses are found inland, because the river deposits a lot of sediment in the delta. This creates new land. The channels have to be dredged regularly so that sandbars do not form, damaging ships' propellers.

The Lipovan people also live in the delta regions of the Danube. There are no roads in the delta and these people travel about using small boats. The Lipovan harvest the reeds in the delta and use the mud to make houses.

Birds, insects and animals live in the delta. The delta is designated as a wildlife preserve. Wardens check the water for pollution by taking samples and testing them in a laboratory.

Tourism

Tourism is very important for the Danube. There are many hotels, restaurants and tourist facilities in cities such as Vienna. The scenery along the Danube is very beautiful, and some people take cruises along the river.

A hotel by the Danube