After the Volga River, the Danube is the second longest in length on the European continent , more specifically it has an extension of 2888 km. This waterway has an international dimension, as its waters cross a total of 10 European countries and its hydrographic basin is related to 19 countries. The countries that are crossed by this river are known as the Danube countries.
Data of interest
The river’s birthplace is found in the German Black Forest and its mouth in the Black Sea, in Romania. The river basin crosses a natural landscape of great ecological value and with great biodiversity (sturgeon, European eel and common pelicans are some of the endemic species of the Danube).
From an economic point of view, more than 80 million people need the resources of the river basin. Currently, only a small part of the basin is protected, for this reason, there are areas contaminated by industrial waste.
Its historical and cultural dimension
Between the territories of the Roman Empire and the Germanic territories of northern Europe were the “Germanic Limes”, a large area that served as a border. One of these limes (limit in German) was precisely formed by the river Danube and known as the Recia limes. The Danube border had a defensive function for the Romans, but it was also used as an area for cultural and commercial exchange . Danube
During World War II, episodes of great strategic importance took place on the banks of the river.
One such event was the “Battle of Budapest”, a crucial conflict for the end of the war, as the Nazis lost control of the city of Budapest after being defeated by the Soviet army.
The Viennese musician Johann Strauss composed the famous waltz “The Blue Danube” in 1866. From a literary point of view “The Danube” by Claudio Magris recounts in an autobiographical way a travel route in which the river basin has been traversed since its origins until its opening.
The European capitals bathed by its waters are: Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest and Belgrade. In this sense, tourists and travelers can enjoy the Danube tourist cycle route , an itinerary that runs through eight European countries.
