this: the river

The Danube ( 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 eponymously named 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 (1.7%), and Ukraine (3.8%).Fact: date=March 2009

Name

The English language has, since the Norman conquest of England, used the French word Danube. In other languages, particularly those spoken in the locations which the river flows through:

• Bosnian and Croatian: Dunav
• (Dunav)
• Czech, Polish and Slovak: Dunaj
• , from earlier Danuvius
• Russian and Ukrainian: Дунай (Dunay)
• Ancient Greek: Ίστρος (Istros)
• Modern Greek: Δούναβης (Dounavis)
• Local or Tin'e - טינע
• Old Norse Duná
• Arabic and Farsi: دانوب

One theory ultimately derives all these variations to the Celtic word *dānu, meaning "to flow", and its exact equivalent is found in the Dutch name of the river Donwy. Other theories derive the name from an Iranic root 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 meaning "strong, swift", akin to Sanskrit is.iras "swift", Ancient Greek lang: ἱερός (hierós) "strong, sacred".

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, .

Tributaries

main: List of tributaries of the Danube 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):

Cities