The Danube is the second longest river in Europe (after the Volga), stretching over 2,860 kilometres and flowing through or along the borders of ten countries – from Germany to Ukraine. It is the only European river that flows from west to east, rises in the German Black Forest and flows into the Black Sea. In Croatia, the Danube stretches for 138 kilometres and largely forms a natural border with Serbia.
More than 80 million people live around the Danube, and more than 300 of its tributaries – including the Drava, the Sava, the Tisza and the Prut – form a catchment area of 817,000 square kilometres. Due to its size, the Danube is navigable for large ships and connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Black Sea via the Bavarian Canal, making it one of the most important waterways in Europe.
In Croatia, Danube Day is celebrated with a series of events, especially in towns on the banks of the Danube such as Vukovar and Ilok, where citizens gather for educational, cultural and entertainment activities to promote the preservation of the river and its role in community life.
At the international level, the celebrations are coordinated by the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR), in which 14 countries and the European Union are represented. The ICPDR manages numerous projects and initiatives dealing with the sustainable management of the Danube basin’s water resources.
The Danube is not only a source of drinking water, food, energy and transport, but also a region of great biodiversity. Its delta, which is largely located in Romania and partly in Ukraine, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In Croatia, the Danube and Drava rivers form a unique inland delta – the Kopački Rit, one of the most important wetland ecosystems in Europe.
In addition to its natural beauty, the Danube also has a rich history. Hundreds of sunken warships from the Second World War are hidden in its depths, some of which resurface when the water level drops.
Danube Day is not only a celebration, but also a call to responsibility, because when we preserve the rivers, we secure the future of life in their catchment areas.
