Where the Danube Meets the Black Sea : Image of the Day acquired February 5, 2013 download large image (4 MB, JPEG, 3679x3679) acquired February 5, 2013 download GeoTIFF file (31 MB, TIFF) acquired February 5, 2013 download Google Earth file (KML) Editor’s Note: Today’s caption is the answer to Earth Observatory’s February Puzzler. The Danube River is the largest in the European Union, its watershed draining 801,463 square kilometers (309,447 square miles) of land across 19 countries. Where that great river reaches the Black Sea, a remarkable delta has formed—the “Everglades” of Europe. The Danube Delta is home to more than 300 species of bird and 45 species of freshwater fish. The Danube Delta has been home to human settlements since the end of the Stone Age (the Neolithic Period), and the ancient Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines all built trading ports and military outposts along this coast.

Today, the border between Romania and Ukraine cuts through the northern part of the delta. The area is a United Nations World Heritage Site, both for its natural and human history, and for the traditional maritime culture that persists in its marshes. All the while, the landscape has been shaped and re-shaped by nature and man. The image above was acquired on February 5, 2013, by the Advanced Land Imager (ALI) on NASA’s Earth Observing-1 (EO-1) satellite. The Danube Delta has a number of lobes formed over the past several thousand years, and this image is focused largely on the northernmost Chilia (or Kilia) lobe. It is the youngest section of the delta—somewhere between 300 to 400 years old—and lies mostly within Ukraine. Much of the land in the image above is officially considered part of the Danube Biosphere Reserve. (To see more about how the delta formed, click here. ) Near the center of the image, the small city of Vylkove is known as the “Ukranian Venice,” due to its canals.

To the lower left, the older Sulina lobe of the delta stretches to the south and further inland into Romania. White and brown curved lines reveal beach ridges and former shorelines, with the whiter ridges composed almost entirely of pure quartz sand in high dunes. To the east of the ridges, most of the landscape is flat marshland that is mostly brown in the barren days of winter. The Bystroye Canal through the center of the Chilia lobe has been the subject of heated debate over the past two decades. Over the centuries, damming and channeling of the Danube throughout Europe has reduced its water flow and sediment load to roughly 30 percent of what it once was, according to coastal geologist Liviu Giosan of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. In recent years, the Ukrainian government has dredged some delta channels (including Bystroye) and proposed extensive dredging of others in order to provide navigational channels for large ships. Proponents argue for the economic needs of water transportation routes. Opponents note that deeper, faster channels mean less mud and sand is deposited in the delta; in some places, more is carried away by swifter currents.

Both affect the sensitive ecosystems and the ability of the delta to restore itself and grow. In a 2012 report led by Giosan, scientists noted that the shape, water chemistry, and biology of Danube Delta was being altered long before the modern Industrial Era. Land use practices—particularly farming and forest clearing—added significant amounts of nutrients into the water and reduced salinity in the Black Sea, changing the dominant species of phytoplankton and sending a ripple of effects through the entire food web. Related Reading Accessed February 15, 2013. Der Spiegel Scientific Reports 2, 582. Danube River | river, Europe | Britannica.com Danube River Alternative Titles: Donau, Duna, Dunaj, Dunărea, Dunav, Dunay Related Topics István, Count Széchenyi Danube River, German Donau, Slovak Dunaj, Hungarian Duna, Serbo-Croatian and Bulgarian Dunav, Romanian Dunărea, Ukrainian Dunay , river , the second longest in Europe after the Volga .

It rises in the Black Forest mountains of western Germany and flows for some 1,770 miles (2,850 km) to its mouth on the Black Sea . Along its course it passes through 10 countries: Germany, Austria , Slovakia , Hungary , Croatia , Serbia , Bulgaria , Romania , Moldova , and Ukraine . The Danube River basin and its drainage network. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. Boats along the Danube River, Belgrade, Serbia. Jon Arnold/SuperStock The Danube River links the countries of the Balkan Peninsula to each other and to the rest of … Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. The Danube played a vital role in the settlement and political evolution of central and southeastern Europe. Its banks, lined with castles and fortresses, formed the boundary between great empires, and its waters served as a vital commercial highway between nations. The river’s majesty has long been celebrated in music. The famous waltz An der schönen, blauen Donau (1867; The Blue Danube ), by Johann Strauss the Younger , became the symbol of imperial Vienna.

In the 21st century the river has continued its role as an important trade artery. It has been harnessed for hydroelectric power, particularly along the upper courses, and the cities along its banks—including the national capitals of Vienna (Austria), Budapest (Hungary), and Belgrade (Serbia)—have depended upon it for their economic growth. Central Budapest, looking north along the Danube River, with the Parliament Building on the east … Jean S. Buldain/Berg & Assoc. Physical features Physiography The Danube’s vast drainage of some 315,000 square miles (817,000 square km) includes a variety of natural conditions that affect the origins and the regimes of its watercourses. They favour the formation of a branching, dense, deepwater river network that includes some 300 tributaries, more than 30 of which are navigable. The river basin expands unevenly along its length.

It covers about 18,000 square miles (47,000 square km) at the Inn confluence , 81,000 square miles (210,000 square km) after joining with the Drava , and 228,000 square miles (590,000 square km) below the confluences of its most affluent tributaries, the Sava and the Tisza . In the lower course the basin’s rate of growth decreases. More than half of the entire Danube basin is drained by its right-bank tributaries, which collect their waters from the Alps and other mountain areas and contribute up to two-thirds of the total river runoff or outfall. The confluence of the Sava (foreground) and Danube rivers from the Kalemegdan fortress, Belgrade, … Jean S. Buldain/Berg & Assoc. Opium Wars The river carries considerable quantities of solid particles, nearly all of which consist of quartz grains. The constant shift of deposits in different parts of the riverbed forms shoals.

In the stretches between Bratislava and Komárno and in the Sulina Channel, draglines are constantly at work to maintain the depth needed for navigation. The damming of the river has also changed the way in which sediments are transported and deposited. Water impounded by reservoirs generally loses its silt load, and the water flowing out of the dam—which is relatively silt-free—erodes banks farther downstream. The temperature of the river waters depends on the climate of the various parts of the basin. In the upper course, where the summer waters derive from the Alpine snow and glaciers, the water temperature is low. In the middle and lower reaches, summer temperatures vary between 71 and 75 °F (22 and 24 °C), while winter temperatures near the banks and on the surface drop below freezing. Upstream from Linz the Danube never freezes entirely, because the current is turbulent. The middle and lower courses, however, become icebound during severe winters. Between December and March, periods of ice drift combine with the spring thaw, causing floating ice blocks to accumulate at the river islands, jamming the river’s course, and often creating major floods.

The natural regime of river runoff changes constantly as a result of the introduction of stream-regulating equipment, including dams and dikes. The mineral content of the river is greater during the winter than the summer. The content of organic matter is relatively low, but pollution increases as the waters flow past industrial areas. The river’s chemistry also changes as city sewerage and agricultural runoff find their way into the river. The economy The Danube is of great economic importance to the 10 countries that border it—Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Austria, and Germany—all of which variously use the river for freight transport, the generation of hydroelectricity, industrial and residential water supplies, irrigation, and fishing . The movement of freight is the most important economic use of the Danube. Among the major ports are such cities as Izmayil , Ukraine; Galați and Brăila , Romania; Ruse , Bulgaria; Belgrade, Serbia; Budapest, Hungary; Bratislava, Slovakia; Vienna, Austria; and Regensburg, Germany. Since World War II , navigation has been improved by dredging and by the construction of a series of canals, and river traffic has increased considerably.

The most important canals—all elements in a continentwide scheme of connecting waterways—include the Danube–Black Sea Canal , which runs from Cernovadă, Romania, to the Black Sea and provides a more direct and easily navigable link, and the Main–Danube Canal , completed in 1992 to link the Danube to the Rhine and thus to the North Sea . Boats along the Danube River, Belgrade, Serbia. Jon Arnold/SuperStock The Danube has been tapped for power, mainly in its upper course. The process, however, has spread downstream. One of the largest hydroelectric projects—the Ðerdap (Djerdap) High Dam and the Iron Gate power station—was built jointly by Yugoslavia and Romania. Not only does the project produce hydroelectricity, but it also makes navigable what was once one of the most difficult stretches on the river. Industrial use of Danube waters is made at Vienna, Budapest, Belgrade, and Ruse. The main irrigated areas are along the river in Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, and Bulgaria.

The river has nearly become unfit for irrigation as well as for drinking water, however, because of the tremendous increase in pollutants; pollution has also diminished the once-rich fishing grounds, although some of the fish have moved to side lakes and swamps. History During the 7th century bce, Greek sailors reached the lower Danube and sailed upstream, conducting a brisk trade. They were familiar with the whole of the river’s lower course and named it the Ister. The Danube later served as the northern boundary of the vast Roman Empire and was called the Danuvius. A Roman fleet patrolled its waters, and the strongholds along its shores were the centres of settlements, among them Vindobona (later Vienna), Aquincum (later Budapest), Singidunum (later Belgrade), and Sexantaprista (later Ruse). During the Middle Ages the old fortresses continued to play an important role, and new castles such as Werfenstein, built by Charlemagne in the 9th century, were erected. When the Ottoman Empire spread from southeastern to central Europe in the 15th century, the Turks relied upon the string of fortresses along the Danube for defense.

The Habsburg dynasty recognized the navigational potential of the Danube. Maria Theresa , queen of Hungary and Bohemia from 1740 to 1780, founded a department to oversee river navigation, and in 1830 a riverboat made a first trip from Vienna to Budapest, possibly for trading purposes. That trip marked the end of the river’s importance as a line of defense and the beginning of its use as a channel of trade. Maria Theresa, portrait by W.H. Mote, 1861. The Print Collector/Heritage-Images Regulated navigation on the Danube has been the subject of a number of international agreements. In 1616 an Austro-Turkish treaty was signed in Belgrade under which the Austrians were granted the right to navigate the middle and lower Danube. In 1774, under the Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca , Russia was allowed to use the lower Danube.

The Anglo-Austrian and the Russo-Austrian conventions of 1838 and 1840, respectively, promoted free navigation along the entire river, a principle that was more precisely formulated in the Treaty of Paris of 1856, which also set up the first Danubian Commission with the aim of supervising the river as an international waterway. In 1921 and 1923, final approval of the Danube River Statute was granted by Austria, Germany, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Romania, Great Britain, Italy , Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and Greece. The international Danube Commission was thus established as an authoritative institution with wide powers, including its own flag, the right to levy taxes, and diplomatic immunity for its members. It controlled navigation from the town of Ulm to the Black Sea and kept navigational equipment in good repair. During World War II, free international navigation along the course of the river was interrupted by the hostilities, and a consensus concerning the resumption of navigation was not reached until the Danubian Convention of 1948.

The new convention provided for the Danubian countries alone to participate in a reconstituted Danube Commission; of those countries, only West Germany did not join the convention. Find a Danube river cruise Overview From the Black Forest of Germany to the Black Sea, the Danube is a vital lifeline that pulses through the heart of Central and Eastern Europe. The Danube is not only Europe's second longest river—more than twice the length of the Rhine and nearly three and a half times the length of the Rhône—but it flows through ten different countries and more than a dozen languages are spoken on its banks. Imagine the variety in food, architecture and history that goes with each of these languages and cultures. Enjoy an intriguing, panoramic view of two thousands years of European history as you travel along the lyrical "Blue Danube." Fast Facts Watch & Learn About the Danube River Geography The Danube River has been used as an important means of transportation for commerce and military operations for nearly 2,000 years because it is the only major European river that flows west to east. The Danube rises in Germany's Black Forest and flows through the heartland of Austria, first forming the border of Austria and Slovakia, and then Slovakia and Hungary.

Leaving Hungary, it runs through Croatia and Serbia to form the boundary between Serbia and Romania and then the Romania and Bulgaria border. The mighty Danube brushes the edge of Moldova and Ukraine before finally emptying into the Black Sea. The Upper Danube is home to four capital cities—Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, and Belgrade—more than any other river in the world. Downstream from Belgrade, the Danube enters the Iron Gates, a great natural corridor through the Carpathian Mountains and Balkan Mountains. It then spills into the plains of the ancient Roman province of Wallachia. Flooding has been a problem there since Roman times and still is. Due to the floods, no major cities have been developed on the Danube downstream of Belgrade. Bucharest, the capital of Romania, is 50 miles uphill from the Danube, well protected from rising water in the spring. History Over the centuries, the Danube has been one of the most significant cultural and historic boundaries in Europe. In the early Middle Ages (3rd Century A.D.), the full length of the river formed the northern border of the Roman Empire. It remained intact as late as 454 A.D.

when the Goths, Huns, Slavs, and other groups crossed the Danube in order to invade the crumbling Empire. The Roman legacy established the importance of the river as a medieval trade route, explaining why so many crucial trade and transportation centers can still be found along its shore today. The waters of the Danube also form a critical militaristic and spiritual lifeline. It was the major connection between Europe and the East, providing a pathway for crusaders to charge into Byzantium and the Holy Land. The trade corridor along the Danube gave rise to two major empires, the Austrian and Hungarian, which merged under Austria in the early 19th century. The Danube then served as a link between the industrial centers of Germany (Austrian Empire) and the agricultural areas of the Balkan Peninsula (Ottoman Empire). It also served as a critical cultural border. To this day, Romania (north of the river) and Bulgaria (south) reflect their respective and separate histories with Romania having a Romance language and Bulgaria demonstrating key historic affinities in architecture and religion with the Ottoman Turks. Both the commercial and military value of the Danube are still recognized today.

Many treaties have been signed to try to keep one country from having too much control over the river. Today the Danube is still a major transportation route, with more than 3,500 ships passing through its delta each year. Extensive navigation is made possible by various dredging of canals and channels often constructed with inter-country cooperation for the benefit of all the nations that border this essential waterway. Highlights As the Danube leaves the cover of German''s Black Forest, it trolls through the pristinely-preserved medieval town of Regensburg. This bustling university town boasts ancient treasures like the Porta Praetoria—the north gate to the ancient Roman fortress, Castra Regina, built in 179 A.D. During the holidays, Regensburg shines bright with its Christmas market lighting up the historic market square. Farther downstream, Passau, Germany, is a gem of a city located at the confluence of the rivers Inn, Ilz, and Danube. Cobblestone streets lead the way to St. Stephen's Cathedral, which houses the world's largest church organ with more than 17,000 pipes.

Continuing along, the village of Grein offers excellent photo opportunities, with its turreted houses lining the main square in the shadow of its idyllic castle perched high on a bluff. Situated in the rolling green hills of the Wachau Valley, Melk is home to the magnificent Benedictine Abbey, one of Europe's largest and most intriguing monasteries. Step out onto the monastic terrace to look out over the Danube and take in the mesmerizing view of the sweeping countryside. Float through the Wachau wine region to Dürnstein, known for the magnificent baroque Stiftskirche with its blue façade. Above town are the ruins of the castle where England's King Richard the Lionheart was imprisoned in 1192. Vienna, Austria's capital, is next. The "City of Music" inspired the creative genius of Mozart, Beethoven and Strauss. Once the center of the mighty Habsburg Empire, the city has much to offer—the lavish Hofburg Palace, the impressive Vienna Opera House, and the majestic Ring Boulevard, to name just a few.

Visitors can waltz their way down shop-lined streets, savor the sounds of an orchestral concert, or delight in a Sachertorte or Apfelstrudel in a neighborhood café. Sail on through the picturesque Austrian views before heading to the heart of Hungary. Spanning both banks of the Danube, Budapest is Eastern Europe's liveliest and most cosmopolitan metropolis. Seven bridges, including the famous Chain and Elisabeth Bridges, connect ancient Buda on the right bank with Pest on the left. The massive hilltop castle complex with Fisherman's Bastion and the Matthias Church is among the many sights of Budapest that impress and excite. South of Budapest, the quiet town of Kalocsa, Hungary, was founded by St. Stephen in 1009. The Archbishop's Palace and the Kalocsa Cathedral are must-see sights in this town that is most known for paprika and folklore art. The Danube winds away from Hungary and through the city of Novi Sad, Serbia. Steeped in history, the hilltop Petrovaradin Fort affords dramatic views of the Danube. On to Serbia's capital, Belgrade, situated at the confluence of the Danube and Sava Rivers.

Full of lively pedestrian areas and imposing cathedrals and fortresses, Belgrade is a riveting study in contrasts. The Danube flows away from Belgrade, through rustic hills lined with stunning Roman fortresses, and through the dramatic gorge of the Iron Gates. This narrow and formerly very dangerous passage divides Europe's Alps in the northwest from the Carpathians in the southeast and forms a natural border between Serbia and Romania. Downstream, Bulgaria's most ancient and breathtaking treasures can be found a short drive away from the Danube. Veliko Târnovo, situated on three hills surrounding the Yantra River, is a natural fortress with stone houses clinging to its steep slopes. The historic village of Arbanassi is nearby, featuring the well-known Etnographic Museum and intricately designed frescoes in its Church of the Nativity. Silestra is a key port city—essential to Bulgaria's thriving agricultural industry. A short distance away, the resort town of Varna sits on the shores of the Black Sea. Its storied past comes to life as you walk through Roman baths and marvel at the Gold of Varna, an archaeological wonder. Bucharest, Romania's lively capital, is only a short drive from the shores of the Danube.

Its wide boulevards and Arc de Triomphe have gained it the name "Paris of the East." Enjoy people-watching in the Royal Palace Square, the scene of riots in 1989 which led to the collapse of the communist dictatorship. The Royal Palace now houses the National Art Museum and is filled with priceless examples of Eastern European art. Cruiser Profile The Danube River is the epitome of "East meets West," or rather "West meets East." Travelers who want to be exposed to a wide range of new cultures and experiences will soak up the sites along this sprawling waterway. History-, art- and music-lovers will all find the objects of their desires along these waters. The Danube also boasts a unique mix of urban and rural sites. Explorers who appreciate dramatic natural scenes and also delight in the bustle of the world's great cities will see the best of both worlds as they cruise down this mighty European river. Did You Know? The Danube Delta was first declared a nature reserve in 1938 by the Council of Ministers and recognized as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1992.

The area is home to 12 habit types, 300 bird species and 45 freshwater fish species. The Danube is mentioned in the title of a famous waltz by Austrian composer Johann Strauss, "An der schönen, blauen Donau" (On the Beautiful Blue Danube), composed as Strauss was traveling down the Danube River. This piece is well known across the world and is also used widely as a lullaby. Another famous waltz about the Danube is "The Waves of the Danube" by the Romanian composer Ion Ivanovici (1845–1902), and the work took the audience by storm when performed at the 1889 Paris Exposition. The German tradition of landscape painting, the Danube school, was developed in the Danube valley in the 16th century. The Parliament House in Bucharest is the world's largest parliament building at a whopping 3.55 million square feet. The Blue Danube was the name of the first nuclear weapon of the British army.

Delta Research And Global Observation Network (DRAGON) Delta Research And Global Observation Network (DRAGON) Related Links Danube River The Danube River is the second largest river in Europe after the Volga River. The Danube River flows 1,780 mi (2,860 km) while the Danube River Basin covers an approximate total area of 310,800 mi2 (805,000 km2). The river rises in the Black Forest Mountains of Germany and flows eastward into the Black Sea. The Danube River is an important international waterway, flowing through or forming a part of the borders of ten countries and through major cities such as Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, and Belgrade. The river is navigable from the Black Sea to Ulm, Germany, and serves as an important transportation corridor by linking the Black Sea to Western Europe and to the port of Rotterdam via the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal. The Danube Delta plain, located in Romania and the Ukraine, predominately consists of marshes and freshwater lakes. The Danube Delta contains the largest continuous marshland in Europe and forms one of the continentâs most valuable habitats for waterfowl nesting.

The Danube Delta is still spreading seaward at a rate of 78 to 98 ft (24 to 30 m) annually. DANUBEPARKS - Network of Protected Areas DANUBEPARKS The Danube – the Lifeline of Europe The Danube is one of the world’s greatest rivers. It is the second longest river in Europe after the Volga and the longest river in the European Union. It measures 2,857 km in length and up to 1.5 km in width, with depths between 1 to 8 metres and drains 817,000 km². The scenic silver stream of the only eastbound river in Europe originates in Germany's Black Forest as the much smaller Brigach and Breg Rivers, which join at the town of Donaueschingen. The Danube then flows eastward, passing through several Central and Eastern European capitals before emptying into the Black Sea via the Danube Delta in Romania and Ukraine.

Considered Europe's lifeline, the basin includes the territories of 19 countries and is home to more than 83 million people with a wide range of cultures, languages and historical backgrounds, making it the single most international river, affecting more nations than any other river in the world. The river itself touches or crosses ten countries: Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, and Ukraine. The European Commission now recognises the Danube as the “most important non-oceanic body of water in Europe” and a “future central axis for the European Union”. People have been aware of the Danube's importance since the dawn of mankind. In Latin the Danube was known as Danubius, Danuvius, or Ister, and in Ancient Greek as Istros. The name Dānuvius is derived from the Indo-European word dānu, meaning “primeval cosmic river”. The Indo-European root dā meaning “to flow, rapid, violent, undisciplined” whereas the Ancient Greek word Istros simply means "strong” or “swift”.

The Waters of the Danube Basin The Upper Basin extends from the source of the Danube in Germany, where it remains a characteristic mountain river until Passau, to Bratislava in Slovakia. The Middle Basin is the largest of the three sub-regions, extending from Bratislava to the dams of the Iron Gate Gorge on the border between Serbia and Romania. The lowlands, plateaus and mountains of Romania and Bulgaria form the Lower Basin of the River Danube. Finally, the river divides into three main branches, forming the vast Danube Delta, which covers an area of about 6,750 km². Many tributaries flow into the Danube. The Inn is the third largest tributary by discharge, and the seventh longest. At the confluence in Passau, it contains more water than the mainstream of the Danube itself. The River Morava/March enters the Danube from the north. Its catchment area includes parts of the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Austria, the Carpathians and the Pannonian Plain. The Drava River is the Danube's fourth largest and fourth longest tributary, and connects the Alps with the Danube and the Black Sea.

The Tisza River is the longest tributary of the Danube (966 km), and the second largest by flow, after the Sava River. The Tisza River Basin is the largest sub-basin in the Danube River Basin. The Sava has the largest discharge of water to the Danube of any tributary and is the second largest by catchment area. The Sava is shared by Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro. The Siret flows from its source in Ukraine into Romania. The Siret River Basin is the third-largest catchment area of any Danube tributary, and is situated to the east of the Carpathians. The Prut River is the second longest (950 km) and the last major tributary of the Danube, with its confluence located just upstream of the Danube Delta. It begins in the forests of the Ukrainian Carpathians, and later forms the border between Romania and Moldova. Protecting a Valuable Resource Although the Danube is widely known as the “Blue Danube”, its water is far from being blue in most places.

In recent decades, many dams and locks were built that interrupt the natural flow of the river on its majestic journey to the Black Sea. On top of this, problems from pollution endanger its rich biodiversity and extensive land changes cause floods and droughts in many places. People all along the Danube rely on this river for their livelihood. Transport along the river not only provides jobs but provides a greener alternative to roads. And the river has linked together a variety of cultures in the region, influencing and inspiring people throughout history. Today this inspiration is bringing the many countries in the Danube region together to work hand in hand with expert organisations towards a better, bluer Danube for many future generations to come. © copyright 2017 National Park DonauAuen GmbH | IMPRINT The Danube Spills into the Black Sea : Image of the Day News & Notes acquired June 9, 2003 download large image (2 MB, JPEG, 2080x2080) This cloud-free Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS) view of the Black Sea on June 9, 2003, reveals the colorful interplay of currents on the lake’s surface.

The green crescent shaped pattern in the northwestern corner of the Black Sea is due to the nutrient-rich, sediment-laden discharge of the Danube River stimulating biological activity. The brighter, more turquoise patterns on the lake to the south and east are probably blooms of another type of phytoplankton. The Danube is Europe’s second longest river, and the only major river on the continent to flow from west to east. The Danube originates in Germany’s Black Forest and, from there, flows eastward roughly 1,770 miles (2,850 km) where it divides to form a large delta on the Romanian coast of the Black Sea. Through what countries does the Danube River flow? | Reference.com Through what countries does the Danube River flow? A: Quick Answer The Danube River flows through Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania and Ukraine. Its headwaters begin with the confluence of the Brigach and Breg rivers in the town of Donaueschingen in western Germany's mountainous Black Forest region and empties into the Black Sea at the Danube Delta in western Ukraine.

Full Answer The Danube River flows for a total of 1,770 miles, making it the European Union's longest river and the European continent's second longest river after the Volga. This river passes through many important cities, including four national capitals: Vienna, Austria; Bratislava, Slovakia; Budapest, Hungary; and Belgrade, Serbia. The Danube's drainage basin covers an area of 315,000 square miles and extends into several more countries: Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Montenegro, Switzerland, Italy, Poland, the Republic of Macedonia and Albania. The Danube was home to some of the earliest human cultures in Europe, and its long navigable length has made it an important highway for trade and war for thousands of years. It was a prize for which the Ottoman, Hungarian and Austrian Empires contended for hundreds of years. Today, it is still a major thoroughfare for trade, and it also provides drinking water for around 20 million people. People also use the Danube for fishing and for tours of the historical riches along its length.

European Rivers - Rivers of Europe, Map of Rivers in Europe, Major Rivers in Europe - Worldatlas.com print this map Hundreds of rivers and their tributaries cross the European continent. Here we highlight those over 600 miles in length, and a few others of note. DANUBE: Beginning in the Black Forest region of Germany, it flows across central Europe and the countries of Austria, Hungary, Croatia and Yugoslavia. It then forms the border between Romania and Bulgaria, turning north across Romania to eventually end in the Black Sea. It is (1,771 miles) (2,850 km) in length, and one of the most significant commercial waterways on the continent. DNIEPER: Rising in the southwestern part of the Russian Federation, it flows generally south through Belarus, then southeast through Ukraine, ending in the Black Sea. Overall it's (1,420 miles) (2,285 km) in length. DON: Beginning it the southwestern Russian Federation, to the south of Moscow, it flows southeasterly towards the Volga, then turns abruptly west, ending in the Sea of Azov.

Overall it's (1,224 miles) (1,969 km) in length. ELBE: Rising in the Czech Republic, the Elbe River then flows north through Germany, ending in the North Sea near Cuxhaven. It's (724 miles) (1,165 km) in length. LOIRE: Recognized as the longest river in France, the navigable Loire begins in the foothills of the Massif Central, then flows north and west across the heartland of France, finally ending in the Bay of Biscay. It's (634 miles) (1,020 km) in length. ODER: Rising in the rugged mountains of the eastern Czech Republic, it flows west and north through south-central Poland, eventually emptying into the Baltic Sea. It's (567 miles) (912 km) in length. PO: Italy's longest river begins in the upper reaches of the Alps, flowing west to east across northern Italy, ending in the Adriatic Sea. It's (405 miles) (652 km) in length.

RHINE: Forming in the mountains of southeastern Switzerland, this legendary river flows west, forming Switzerland's northeastern border with Germany, then runs directly north through western Germany forming part of that country's border with France, then finally dissecting the Netherlands and ending in the North Sea. Numerous tributaries and branches run in all directions, and in overall length is (820 miles) (1,319 km). RHONE: Begin high in the Swiss Alps, this fast moving river flows into the eastern end of Lake Geneva, then south through south-eastern France, emptying into the Mediterranean Sea. Small branches run in all directions, and in overall length, it's (300 miles) (485 km). SHANNON: Rising in northwestern Ireland, it flows south through a series of lakes, then turns west to eventually empty into the Atlantic Ocean. It's 230 miles (370 km) in length. TAGUS: The Tagus River rises in the central highlands of Spain, flowing southwest across Portugal, then south to Lisbon and the Atlantic Ocean. It's 626 miles (1,007 km) in length.

VOLGA: The Volga is the largest river in European Russia in terms of length, discharge, and watershed. It flows through central Russia, and is widely viewed as the national river of Russia. It's 3,692 km (2,294 mi) long Black Sea Geography Map courtesy of the Black Sea Web Project. The Black Sea lies between southeastern Europe and Asia Minor. Excluding its northern arm, the Sea of Azov, the Black Sea occupies about 168,500 square miles (436,400 square kilometers). It is connected to the Aegean Sea through the Bosporus, the Sea of Marmara, and the Dardanelles, and has been of critical importance to regional commerce throughout the ages. This major inland sea is bordered by six countries — Romania and Bulgaria to the west; Ukraine, Russia, and Georgia to the north and east; and Turkey to the south. Additionally, it is impacted by another 10 nations through the five major rivers that empty into the Black Sea, the largest of which is the Danube River. The Bordering Countries The following is a brief geographic overview of the nations that border the Black Sea.

Also see the History and Culture section to learn more about them. Bulgaria. This mostly mountainous nation, slightly larger than Tennessee, occupies 42,823 square miles (110,912 sq km) and is home to an estimated 7.6 million people. The capital city is Sofia. About 85% of the people are ethnic Bulgarians, and nearly 10% are Turkish. The Golden Sands Resort along Bulgaria's Black Sea coast. The Balkan Mountains cross the northwestern corner of Bulgaria to the Black Sea, sloping gradually to a plateau that ends at the Danube, the country's chief river. The southern side of the mountain range is bounded by narrow plains, such as the Thracian Plain, an important agricultural region. Forests cover about a third of Bulgaria, and the country has a wealth of minerals, mainly iron ore and coal. Bulgaria has mild summers and cold, snowy winters.

In addition to agriculture (primary products: vegetables, fruits, tobacco, livestock, wine, wheat, barley, sunflowers, sugar beets), Bulgaria has major industries for the production of electricity, gas and water, food and beverages, machinery and equipment, base metals, chemical products, refined petroleum, and nuclear fuel. A major emphasis on the development of heavy industry occurred in the country after World War II. Chief exports include clothing, footwear, iron and steel, machinery and equipment, and fuels. Varna , the country's largest city, is Bulgaria's principal port on the Black Sea. Romania. With a total land area of about 91,700 square miles (237,500 sq km), Romania is slightly larger than the state of Oregon. More than 89% of the country's 22.3 million people are ethnic Romanians. Hungarians are the largest minority (about 8%), living chiefly in Transylvania. Romania's capital and largest city is Bucharest. A forest-lined lake fringes the Black Sea coast at Neptun, Romania. Romania is shaped roughly like an oval.

The central Transylvanian Basin is separated from the lowlands of Moldavia on the east by the Carpathian Mountains and from the Walachian Plain on the south by the Transylvanian Alps. Wild boar, wolves, bears, and deer may be found in the mountainous regions. The lowlands serve as important agricultural areas. The country's most important river, the Danube, flows through a delta in the Dobruja region into the Black Sea. More than 43% of Romania is cultivated. The chief agricultural products include wheat, corn, sugar beets, sunflower seeds, potatoes, grapes, eggs, and sheep. The country's major industries include textiles and footwear, light machinery and auto assembly, mining, timber, construction materials, metallurgy, chemicals, food processing, and petroleum refining. Constanta is one of Romania's principal Black Sea ports. Monument to the scuttled ships of the Black Sea Fleet, Sevastopol. Ukraine. The second largest country in Europe, Ukraine is mostly a broad, flat plain.

At 233,090 square miles (603,700 sq km), Ukraine is slightly smaller than Texas and has an estimated population of 48.3 million. Over 73% are ethnic Ukrainians, while Russians represent the largest minority, at 22%. The capital and largest city is Kyiv (Kiev). Mountains are found only in the west (the Carpathians), and in the Crimean Peninsula in the extreme south. Deer, beaver, marten, vultures, and the steppe eagle are among the wildlife found in Ukraine. In the fertile soil of the central and southern regions, agriculture is a top industry, producing wheat, sugar beets, potatoes, beef, milk, vegetables, and sunflower seeds. Other industry is based on the country's rich mineral resources, including coal, iron ore, manganese, bauxite, and salt. Odessa and Sevastopol are Ukraine's largest ports on the Black Sea. Russia. At nearly 6.6 million square miles (17 million sq km), Russia is the largest country in the world in geographic size, occupying more than one-ninth of the world's total land area.

It is just slightly less than 1.8 times the size of the United States. Russia has a population of nearly 145 million. The majority live in European Russia, but sizable communities also live near mining and industrial centers. Russians are the predominant nationality at over 80%, with Tatars, Ukrainians, and Chuvash the largest minorities. Russia's three major geographic regions include European Russia, consisting of the territory west of the Ural Mountains; Siberia, stretching east of the Urals nearly to the Pacific Ocean; and far eastern Russia, including the extreme southeast and Pacific coast. Russia's capital and largest city is Moscow. European Russian is primarily a rocky, rolling plain with broad marshes. Its southern border includes the Caucasus Mountains, which extend between the Black and Caspian seas. While the winters may be cool along the Black Sea coast, this part of Russia has a much more temperate climate than Siberia, where temperatures average -59°F in January and have reached as cold as 90 degrees below zero. Novorossijsk is Russia's only deep-water port on the Black Sea. It is a major oil port.

Forests cover over two-fifths of Russia, amounting to nearly one-fourth of the world's forest area. The taiga, or boreal forest, in the north contains the world's largest coniferous forest, representing about half the Earth's softwood timber. Lowland areas have a natural vegetation of grasslands with scattered groves of trees. Russia's chief agricultural products include grain, sugar beets, sunflower seeds, vegetables, fruits, beef, and milk. The country has a complete range of mining and extractive industries producing coal, oil, gas, chemicals, and metals; all forms of machine building from rolling mills to high-performance aircraft and space vehicles; shipbuilding; road and rail transportation equipment; communications equipment; agricultural machinery, tractors, and construction equipment; electric power generating and transmitting equipment; medical and scientific instruments; consumer durables, textiles, food stuffs, and handicrafts. Novorossijsk is Russia's primary Black Sea port. The port of Batumi on Georgia's Black Sea Coast. Georgia. The Caucasus Mountains dominate this country, which is slightly smaller than South Carolina, with a total area of 26,900 square miles (69,700 sq km).

The main ridge of the Caucasus Mountains forms most of the northern boundary of Georgia, while the Lesser Caucasus Mountains occupy the southern regions. The Kolkhida Lowland opens to the Black Sea in the west. The uplands are dry, while the coastal climate along the Black Sea is very Mediterranean-like — warm and pleasant. The coastal climate and soils are conducive to growing tea, citrus fruit, hazelnuts, and grapes, which are important agricultural products. Other industries include the mining of manganese and copper, the production of steel, aircraft, appliances, machine tools, chemicals, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, wood products, and wine. Nearly 5 million people live in Georgia. Georgians form about 70% of the population, followed by numbers of Armenians, Russians, and Azeris. The capital and largest city is T'blisi. Batumi, Poti, and Sokhumi are the country's primary Black Sea ports. Turkey. The main area of Turkey, known as Anatolia, is in Asia while Turkish Thrace, representing about 3% of the nation's total area, is in Europe.

At nearly 301,000 square miles (780,000 sq km), Turkey is a little larger than Texas. Its capital is Ankara, and Istanbul is the largest city. Istanbul, Turkey, links Europe and Asia. Copyright R. A. Taylor, Images of the World. Turkey is mostly mountainous, with a narrow coastal plain and high central plateau (Anatolia). The country is located in several active seismic zones and is subject to frequent earthquakes.Thrace and the lands bordering the Sea of Marmara is a region of gently rolling hills rising in the east to Mount Ulu (Olympus) at 8,343 feet (2,543 meters). The Aegean and Mediterranean coastlands are narrow and hilly with little arable land, except for a plain in the east where cotton is grown. The steep slopes of the Black Sea coastline rise directly to the Pontic Mountains. The most mountainous area is the eastern highlands. This is where Mount Ararat is located, noted in the Bible as the place where Noah's ark came to rest. Over 67 million people live in Turkey.

About 69% live in urban areas compared to only 21 % in 1950. Turks form about 80% of the population, while Kurds constitute most of the remaining 20%. Turkey is one of the few countries of the world that is self-sufficient in providing basic foods. Nearly half the work force is engaged in farming. The chief crops include wheat, sugar beets, barley, tobacco, olives, cotton, citrus, tomatoes, melons, grapes, maize, livestock, and apples. Fishing also is important, with most of the catch coming from the Mediterranean and Black seas. In addition to rich agricultural resources, Turkey has significant deposits of lignite, coal, iron ore, and chromium. Its most important industry and largest export is textiles and clothing. Other major industries include food processing, automobiles, mining, steel, petroleum, construction, lumber, and paper. Turkey's principal port on the Black Sea is Istanbul . River Basin | ICPDR - International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River River Basin River Basin The Danube River Basin is Europe's second largest river basin, with a total area of 801,463 km².

It is the world's most international river basin as it includes the territories of 19 countries. The ecosystems of the Danube River Basin are highly valuable in environmental, economic, historical and social terms, but they are subject to increasing pressure and serious pollution from agriculture, industry and cities. The Danube River Basin is home to 83 million people with a wide range of cultures, languages and historical backgrounds. But the increasing human impacts , pressure and serious pollution from agriculture , industry and municipalities affect the water supply for communities, irrigation, hydropower generation and industry, as well as opportunities for transportation, tourism and fishing. The Danube River and many of its tributaries form the spawning grounds for many fish, but they receive variously treated wastewater from many sources, which ultimately ends up in the Black Sea , affecting a large area of its waters. In this way the River Danube is the single most important contributor to nutrient pollution in the Black Sea. The Danube River Basin can - based on its gradients - be divided into three sub-regions: the upper basin, the middle basin, and the lower basin (including the Danube Delta). The Upper Basin extends from the source of the Danube in Germany to Bratislava in Slovakia.

The Middle Basin is the largest of the three sub-regions, extending from Bratislava to the dams of the Iron Gate Gorge on the border between Serbia and Romania. The lowlands, plateaus and mountains of Romania and Bulgaria form the Lower Basin of the River Danube. Finally, the river divides into three main branches, forming the Danube Delta , which covers an area of about 6,750 km². Upper Basin The Upper Danube has a rapid current of between 8 and 9 km/hour, due to the pronounced gradient of the river bed. Its tributaries bring flow from the northern side of the Alps as wel as out of the southern side of the Central European Highlands. Depths vary from 1 to 8 metres. Middle Basin In its middle reaches, the Danube looks more like a flatbed river, with around half the speed of the Upper Danube, with low banks and a bed that reaches a width of more than 1.5 km. Only in two stretches - at Visegrad (Hungary) and at the Iron Gates - does the river flow through narrow, canyon-like gorges.

The Danube enters the Little Alföld Plain immediately after emerging from the Hungarian Gates Gorge near Bratislava. There the river slows down abruptly and loses its transporting capacity, leading to the deposition of enormous quantities of gravel and sand on the riverbed. This deposition has formed two large islands, one on the Slovakian side of the river and the other on the Hungarian side, which have a combined area of about 1,869 km², and are home to some 190,000 inhabitants in more than 100 settlements. The Danube then flows past Budapest and across the vast Great Alföld Plain until it reaches the Iron Gate Gorge. The riverbed is shallow and marshy, and low terraces stretch along both banks. Deposition has formed a large number of islands along these reaches, including Csepel Island near Budapest. In this stretch the Danube is joined by the waters of three major tributaries - the Drava, the Tisza and the Sava - which nearly triples its flow. Lower Basin Beyond the Iron Gates, the Lower Danube flows across a wide plain; the river becomes shallower and broader, with several major islands, and the current slows down considerably.

The tributaries that enter the main river along this section, including the Iskar, the Olt, the Yantra, the Siret and the Prut are comparatively small and account for only a modest increase in the total flow rate. The river finally divides into three main branches near Tulcea in Romania, some 80 km from the sea, forming a delta extending over an area of about 6,500 km². The Danube Delta The three main channels flowing through the delta are the Chilia, which carries 63 percent of the total flow; the Sulina, which accounts for 16 percent; and the Sfintu Gheorghe (St. Geroge), which carries the remainder. Only the 62-km canalised and dredged Sulina Channel is navigable. [ more ] Main Tributaries of the Danube (in descending order according to the locations of confluences) The Inn is the third largest of the Danube’s tributaries by discharge, and the seventh longest.

At the confluence in Passau, it contains more water than the mainstream of the Danube itself, but its catchment area of 26,130 km² is less than half as big as that of the mainstream so far. The main tributary of the Inn is the River Salzach. The River Morava/March enters the Danube from the north. Its catchment area of 26,658 km² includes parts of the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Austria, within a basin lying between the Bohemian Highlands, the Carpathians and the Pannonian Plain. This region is ecologically valuable, due to its diverse flora, fauna, habitats and landscapes. The Save/ Sava The Iskar is the largest Bulgarian tributary of the Danube, with a total length of 368 km and a catchment area of 8,684 km². Its headwaters lie up in the passes of the Rila Mountain: The mainstream flows through the outskirts of Sofia, and through the Balkan Mountains. The Siret River Basin is the third-largest catchment area of any Danube tributary, and is situated to the east of the Carpathians.

The Siret flows from its source in Ukraine into Romania, joined along the way by the waters of sub-tributaries (Suceava, Moldova, Bistrita, Trotus, Barlad and Buzau). The Prut River is the second longest (950 km) and the last major tributary of the Danube, with its confluence located just upstream of the Danube Delta. Its source is in the forests of the Ukrainian Carpathians. Later the Prut forms the border between Romania and Moldova.

Question: The Danube flows into which Sea?
Answer: Black Sea