Danube

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Danube
Donau, Dunaj, Dunav, Duna, Дунав (Dunav), Dunărea, Дунáй (Dunay), Tuna

Countries Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Moldova, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Ukraine
Cities Ulm, Ingolstadt, Regensburg, Passau, Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, Mohács, Vukovar, Novi Sad, Belgrade, Smederevo, Vidin
Primary source Breg
 - location Martinskapelle, Black Forest, Germany
 - elevation 1,078 m (3,537 ft)
 - length 43 km (27 mi)
 - coordinates 08°09′18″E / 48.09556°N 8.155°E / 48.09556; 8.155
Secondary source Brigach
 - location St. Georgen, Black Forest, Germany
 - elevation 940 m (3,084 ft)
 - length 49 km (30 mi)
 - coordinates 08°16′51″E / 48.10667°N 8.28083°E / 48.10667; 8.28083
Source confluence
 - location Donaueschingen
 - coordinates 08°31′13″E / 47.95083°N 8.52028°E / 47.95083; 8.52028
Mouth Danube Delta
 - coordinates 29°45′41″E / 45.2175°N 29.76139°E / 45.2175; 29.76139
Length 2,860 km (1,777 mi)
Basin 817,000 km² (315,445 sq mi)
Discharge for before delta
 - average 6,500 m³/s (229,545 cu ft/s)

The Danube (pronounced /ˈdænjuːb/ DAN-ewb in English) is the longest river in the European Union and Europe's second longest river after the Volga.

The river originates in the Black Forest in Germany as the much smaller Brigach and Breg rivers which join at the German town Donaueschingen, after which it is known as the Danube and flows eastwards for a distance of some 2850 km (1771 miles), passing through four Central and Eastern European capitals, before emptying into the Black Sea via the Danube Delta in Romania and Ukraine.

Known to history as one of the long-standing frontiers of the Roman Empire, the river flows through—or forms a part of the borders of—ten countries: Germany (7.5%), Austria (10.3%), Slovakia (5.8%), Hungary (11.7%), Croatia (4.5%), Serbia (10.3%), Romania (28.9%), Bulgaria (5.2%), Moldova (0.017%), and Ukraine (3.8%).^{[citation needed]}

Name

The English language has, since the Norman conquest of England, used the French word Danube. In the languages of the countries through which the river flows, it is:

• Bulgarian: Дунав (transliterated: Dunav)
• Croatian: Dunav
• German: Donau
• Hungarian: Duna
• Romanian: Dunăre, Dunărea
• Romani: Dunaja
• Serbian: Дунав/ Dunav
• Slovak: Dunaj
• Ukrainian: Дунай (transliterated: Dunay)
• Local Yiddish: Duner – דונער or Tin'e – טינע
• Turkish: Tuna

In ancient languages:

• Latin: Danubius, Danuvius, Ister
• Ancient Greek: Ίστρος (Istros)
• Dacian/Thracian: Donaris / Donaris (upper Danube) and Istros (lower Danube)

One theory ultimately derives all these variations to the Celtic word *dānu, meaning "to flow/wift, rapid, violent,undisciplined"[1] Other theories derive the name from an Indic root (cf. Danu (Asura) that has contributed the names of all other major rivers emptying into the Black Sea, such as the Don, Donets, Dnieper and Dniestr). Ancient Greek Istros was a borrowing from Thracian/Dacian meaning "strong, swift", akin to Sanskrit is.iras "swift", Ancient Greek ἱερός (hierós) "strong, sacred".[2]

Geography

Drainage basin

In addition to the Danubian countries, the drainage basin includes parts of nine more countries: Italy (0.15%), Poland (0.09%), Switzerland (0.32%), the Czech Republic (2.5%), Slovenia (2.2%), Bosnia and Herzegovina (4.8%), the Republic of Macedonia, and Albania (0.03%). The highest point of the drainage basin is the summit of Piz Bernina at the Italy–Switzerland border, 4,049 metres (13,284 ft).

Tributaries

The Danube's watershed extends into many other countries. Many Danubian tributaries are important rivers in their own right, navigable by barges and other shallow-draught boats. From its source to its outlet into the Black Sea, its main tributaries are (in order):

1. Iller (entering at Ulm)
2. Lech
3. Naab (entering at Regensburg)
4. Regen (entering at Regensburg)
5. Isar
6. Inn (entering at Passau)
7. Enns
8. Morava (entering near Devín Castle)
9. Leitha
10. Váh (entering at Komárno)
11. Hron
12. Ipeľ
13. Sió
14. Dráva
15. Vuka

15. Tisa
16. Sava (entering at Belgrade)
17. Timiş (entering at Pancevo)
18. Great Morava
19. Caraş
20. Jiu (entering at Bechet)
21. Iskar
22. Olt (entering at Turnu Măgurele)
23. Osam
24. Yantra
25. Vedea
26. Argeş (entering at Olteniţa)
27. Ialomiţa
28. Siret (entering near Galaţi)
29. Prut (entering near Galaţi)

Cities