Interesting Facts About the Danube River
The Danube River is a true natural wonder. It is the second longest river in Europe (after the Volga), with a length of 2960 km. It flows through 19 countries and has been known since ancient times. Here are some interesting facts about this river: it's fascinating!
Danube: Historical Background
The river was first mentioned in the works of the ancient Greek historian Herodotus in the 5th century BC. In his second book of "Histories," he writes that the Ister (the ancient Greek name for the Danube) originates in Celtic lands and crosses all of Europe in the middle. According to Herodotus, the river "emptied into the Euxine Sea by seven mouths."
The name "Danube" was given to the river by the ancient Celts who lived on its banks in the first century BC. In Celtic, "Danuvius" means "fast water."
Interestingly, the first stone bridge across the Danube was built by the Roman emperor Trajan in 105 BC.
Geographical Location of the Danube
The source of the river is located in the Black Forest mountains (Germany). It is formed by the confluence of several mountain streams at an altitude of nearly 700 meters above sea level. Changing direction several times, the Danube flows through Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, and 10 other countries. In Ukraine, the Danube flows through the Odessa region.
The river has numerous branches, some of which diverge from the main channel by more than 10 kilometers. The total catchment area of the Danube is over 800 thousand square kilometers.
The Most Unexpected Facts About the Danube
● Today, the Danube is the only river whose waters are entirely neutral. Any trading and passenger ships can navigate it, regardless of their country of origin.
● The Danube almost never freezes. The exception is extremely cold winters. But even then, the river is covered with ice for only 1.5 months.
● The Danube has over 120 tributaries. The tributaries are unevenly distributed, but most of them are found near the Carpathians and the Alps.
● The largest tributary of the Danube in Ukraine is the Tisza. Its total length is 966 kilometers, of which 201 km are in Ukraine.
● The river is fed in several ways: by rainwater, melting snow, Carpathian and Alpine glaciers, and groundwater.
● Several hydroelectric power stations have been built on the Danube. For example, the Djerdap I HPP is one of the largest in Europe.
● In terms of flora and fauna diversity, the Danube ranks third in Europe. The animal and plant life in its waters is very unique and diverse, with over 100 species of fish and more than 280 species of birds.
● The Danube is the last river in Europe where natural spawning grounds still exist.
● In southwestern Ukraine, the Danube forms a vast delta. This wetland is one of the largest in Europe. One of the strips of the delta is part of the Danube Biosphere Reserve of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.
The Danube in Oral Folklore and Literary Works
Lastly, the Danube holds a significant place in art. In Ukrainian folk songs, this river is often a barrier between two lovers, and ancient mythology referred to the Danube as the border between two worlds. Later, the Danube was mentioned in the works of Nechuy-Levytsky and many other writers.
