![]() The "disappeared" water flows south through numerous cracks and small fissures, and 12 kilometers later reappears in Aachtopf at an altitude of about 475 meters. When it doesn't disappear completely, a part of its water continues to seep into the sinkhole and the rest continues its course, crossing half of Europe until it empties into the Black Sea in Romania. The annual average of days when the river completely disappears is around 155 days, mainly in the summer months. Since then, "disappearances" have been recorded ranging from just 29 days a year to 309 (the latter in 1921). ![]() The first time the complete disappearance of the Danube was documented was in 1874. There, the river water filters through the caverns of the karst system below, flowing through them in a southerly direction. The place where this happens is appropriately called Donauversickerung (which in German means Danube sinkhole) and is near the town of Immendingen at an altitude of about 673 meters. This is because in its upper course, just 23 or 24 kilometers after its source, the Danube disappears. Although the Danube never enters the lake, a part of its water does. It is Lake Constance that connects the waters of both rivers. The dry bed of the Danube in the sinkhole near Immendingen. From the lake, it exits from its eastern end, flowing south of the Danube for about 120 kilometers until it reaches the Swiss city of Basel, where it turns 90 degrees to head north. The Danube flows eastward, while the Rhine flows northwest, passing through Switzerland and entering Lake Constance from its southeast end. In contrast, the sources of the Rhine are located in the heart of the Swiss Alps. The Danube (Donau in German) originates not far from the city of Donaueschingen in the German Black Forest, at the confluence of two small rivers. Two of its main rivers, the Rhine and the Danube, despite not having their sources relatively close to each other, meet in a famous example of natural escapism that has fascinated poets and geographers alike for centuries. Often, these activities are best-practice initiatives for the management of Natura 2000 sites.The European river system is complex and extensive. National Parks, Biosphere Reserves, and other Danube Protected Areas play a leading role in the conservation and restoration of habitats and species. On top of this, problems from pollution endanger its rich biodiversity and extensive land changes cause floods and droughts in many 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. Only The Great Barrier Reef in Australia and Galapagos Island have greater biodiversity.Īlthough the Danube is widely known as the “Blue Danube”, its water is far from being blue in most places. With over 5,500 flora & fauna species, spreading on over 5,050 km2 of marshes, canals, reed islets, and lakes, Danube Delta is the third place in the world regarding biodiversity. When the River transforms into the Danube Delta it becomes one of the world's largest wetlands, featuring 30 different types of ecosystem. Over 2.000 plant and 5.000 animal species live in or by the waters of the Danube. The European Commission recognizes the Danube as the “most important non-oceanic body of water in Europe” and a “future central axis for the European Union”.ĭue to its large area and very diverse habitats, the Danube River is one of the most important natural treasures of Europe and a backbone for biodiversity conservation. So, transport along the river not only provides jobs but provides a greener alternative to roads. It crosses 10 countries: Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, and Ukraine. It is the single most international river in the world, affecting more nations than any other river. The Danube 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. 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. It originates in Germany's Black Forest as the much smaller Brigach and Breg rivers join in the town of Donaueschingen. The Danube is the only eastbound river in Europe. Its basin area covers more than 800,000 km2 or 10% of Europe's surface. With 2,857 km in length, the Danube is the second-longest river in Europe (after the Volga river) and the longest river in the European Union. The Danube river is bringing the many countries in the Danube region together to work hand in hand with expert organizations towards a better, bluer Danube for many future generations to come.
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