Danube

The Danube is the <a href="/facts/List_of_rivers_of_Europe/qvPkenTo">second-longest river</a> in Europe, after the <a href="/facts/Volga/0fD28VMM">Volga</a> in Russia. It flows through Central and Southeastern Europe, from the <a href="/facts/Black_Forest/bbXsJTp4">Black Forest</a> south into the <a href="/facts/Black_Sea/M0rLKvge">Black Sea</a>. A large and historically important river, it was once a frontier of the <a href="/facts/Roman_Empire/l4E1aUuV">Roman Empire</a>. In the 21st century, it connects ten European countries, running through their territories or marking a border. Originating in Germany, the Danube flows southeast for 2,850 km (1,770 mi), passing through or bordering Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova, and Ukraine. Among the many <a href="/facts/List_of_cities_and_towns_on_the_river_Danube/aaxLBR3S">cities on the river</a> are four national capitals: <a href="/facts/Vienna/NSpIURsA">Vienna</a>, <a href="/facts/Bratislava/mr28JyEg">Bratislava</a>, <a href="/facts/Budapest/VdcUAkxm">Budapest</a>, and <a href="/facts/Belgrade/Xeaz5zIy">Belgrade</a>. Its drainage basin amounts to 817,000 km2 (315,000 sq mi) and extends into nine more countries.
The Danube's longest headstream, the <a href="/facts/Breg_(river)/gKWerhCA">Breg</a>, rises in <a href="/facts/Furtwangen_im_Schwarzwald/DBL7vqBI">Furtwangen im Schwarzwald</a>, while the river carries its name from its source confluence in the <a href="/facts/Donaueschingen_Palace/SRbgPWrl">palace park</a> in <a href="/facts/Donaueschingen/vw1uIbPF">Donaueschingen</a> onwards. Since ancient times, the Danube has been a traditional trade route in Europe. Today, 2,415 km (1,501 mi) of its total length are navigable. The Danube is linked to the <a href="/facts/North_Sea/htGJNmsb">North Sea</a> via the <a href="/facts/Rhine%25E2%2580%2593Main%25E2%2580%2593Danube_Canal/Ye7gKF4e">Rhine–Main–Danube Canal</a>, connecting the Danube at <a href="/facts/Kelheim/dtaMygPK">Kelheim</a> with the <a href="/facts/Main_(river)/h4rVdFPJ">Main</a> at <a href="/facts/Bamberg/A87RIFs9">Bamberg</a>. The river is also an important source of <a href="/facts/Hydropower/Adx1E5ha">hydropower</a> and drinking water.
The Danube river basin is home to such fish species as <a href="/facts/Northern_pike/bsFor2k0">pike</a>, <a href="/facts/Zander/RF2wTCWX">zander</a>, <a href="/facts/Huchen/KJC7ppBW">huchen</a>, <a href="/facts/Wels_catfish/RqXPGAak">Wels catfish</a>, <a href="/facts/Burbot/IBLbfXqA">burbot</a> and <a href="/facts/Tench/cyUfLuCv">tench</a>. It is also home to numerous diverse <a href="/facts/Carp/8VFzFsYk">carp</a> and <a href="/facts/Sturgeon/CsMSIjHj">sturgeon</a>, as well as <a href="/facts/Salmon/7kUsoqVN">salmon</a> and <a href="/facts/Trout/ptMf8sS2">trout</a>. A few species of <a href="/facts/Euryhaline/V39UNHdL">euryhaline</a> fish, such as European <a href="/facts/European_seabass/eSSUbfdQ">seabass</a>, <a href="/facts/Mullet_(fish)/zjEod6Yx">mullet</a>, and <a href="/facts/European_eel/6g70zav6">eel</a>, inhabit the <a href="/facts/Danube_Delta/lfVQy0sk">Danube Delta</a> and the lower portion of the river.

Danube open-in-new

Danube