The Danube River

Europe · rivers · geography · history

Connects Ten Countries. The Danube flows 2,850 kilometers (1,770 miles) from the Black Forest in Germany all the way to the Black Sea in Romania, passing through or bordering Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova, and Ukraine.

Four Capital Cities. Four national capitals sit right on the Danube's banks: Vienna (Austria), Bratislava (Slovakia), Budapest (Hungary), and Belgrade (Serbia), making it one of the world's most important rivers for major cities.

Ancient Roman Frontier. In Roman times, the Danube marked the northern boundary of the massive Roman Empire, acting as a natural barrier that helped protect the empire from groups living to the north.

Huge Drainage Basin. The Danube drains water from an enormous area of 817,000 square kilometers that spreads across nine additional countries beyond those it flows through, making it a vital water source for millions of people.

Second-Longest River. Only the Volga River in Russia is longer than the Danube among European rivers, making the Danube one of the continent's most impressive natural features.