Concept in Definition ABC

After the Volga River, the Danube is the second longest in the continent European and specifically has an area of ​​2888 km. This waterway has an international dimension, since its waters cross a total of 10 European nations and its basin hydrographic is related to 19 countries. The countries that are crossed by this river are known as Danubian countries.

Data of interest

The source of the river is in the German Black Forest and its mouth in the Black Sea in Romania. The river basin crosses a natural area of ​​great ecological value and with a great biodiversity (Sturgeons, European eels or 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. At present only a small part of the basin is protected and for this reason in the Danube there are areas contaminated by industrial discharges.

Its historical and cultural dimension

Between the territories of Roman empire

and the Germanic territories of northern Europe were the "Limes Germanicus", a large area that served as a border. One of those limes was precisely the one formed by the Danube River and is known as the Recia limes. The Danube border had a defensive function for the Romans, but it was also used as a zone of exchange commercial and cultural.

During World War II on the banks of the river there were episodes of great strategic importance

One of them was the "Siege of Budapest", a battle that was crucial to the end of the war, because in she the Nazis lost control of the city of Budapest after being defeated by the army Soviet.

The Viennese musician Johann Strauss composed the famous waltz "The Beautiful Blue Danube" in 1866. From the literary perspective the novel "The Danube" by Claudio Magris recounts in an autobiographical way a traveling route in which the riverbed is traversed from its origins to its mouth.

The European capitals bathed by its waters are Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest and Belgrade. In this sense, tourists and travelers can enjoy the Danube cycle tourism route, an itinerary that runs through eight European nations.

Photos: Fotolia - fusolino / anderarrieta

Danube themes