| Length | 2,780 Km |
| Basin size | 801,463 Km2 |
| Population | 81 million |
| Population density | 102 people/ Km2 |
| Key economic activity | Industry, navigation |
| Threats | New infrastructure for shipping, 8 proposed large dams, flood 'protection', pollution, invasive species |
Danube River
© Radu Suciu
5 months old Danube sturgeon, Isaccea, Romania..
Importance
The most multinational river basin in the world, the Danube basin is roughly twice the size of California. The river is a principle resource for industry, agriculture, transport and power generation. The Danube delta supports both fishing and tourism.
Location
The Danube river basin covers part or all of 19 riparian countries: Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Macedonia, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland and Ukraine.
Approximately 60 of its 300 tributaries are navigable including the Inn, Morava, Drava, Tisza, Sava and Prut. It is home to 47 cities18, and passes through 4 national capitals: Vienna (Austria), Bratislava (Slovakia), Budapest (Hungary), and Belgrade (Serbia).
Species
Historically, the Danube has been home to 7 fish species found nowhere else in the world, 10 diadramous fish including 5 sturgeon species, and altogether 103 fish species, which is more than half of all in Europe.
The basin has 88 freshwater mollusks (with 18 found only in this basin) over 18 amphibian species and 65 Ramsar wetlands of international importance. Today only 6.6% of the basin is protected. The Danube delta on the Black Sea is one of Europe's most ecologically important areas and is shared 80% by Romania and 20% by Ukraine.
For references please download the pdf of the report
The most multinational river basin in the world, the Danube basin is roughly twice the size of California. The river is a principle resource for industry, agriculture, transport and power generation. The Danube delta supports both fishing and tourism.
Location
The Danube river basin covers part or all of 19 riparian countries: Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Macedonia, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Montenegro, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland and Ukraine.
Approximately 60 of its 300 tributaries are navigable including the Inn, Morava, Drava, Tisza, Sava and Prut. It is home to 47 cities18, and passes through 4 national capitals: Vienna (Austria), Bratislava (Slovakia), Budapest (Hungary), and Belgrade (Serbia).
Species
Historically, the Danube has been home to 7 fish species found nowhere else in the world, 10 diadramous fish including 5 sturgeon species, and altogether 103 fish species, which is more than half of all in Europe.
The basin has 88 freshwater mollusks (with 18 found only in this basin) over 18 amphibian species and 65 Ramsar wetlands of international importance. Today only 6.6% of the basin is protected. The Danube delta on the Black Sea is one of Europe's most ecologically important areas and is shared 80% by Romania and 20% by Ukraine.
For references please download the pdf of the report