Danube

: For other uses of "Danube", see Danube (disambiguation).

Economics of the Danube

Drinking Water

Along its path, the Danube is a source of drinking water for about ten million people. In Baden-Württemberg, Germany, almost thirty percent (As of 2004) of the water for the area between Stuttgart, Bad Mergentheim, Aalen and the Alb-Donau-Kreis comes from purified water of the Danube. Other cities like Ulm and Passau also use some water from the Danube.

Related Topics:
Baden-Württemberg - Germany - As of 2004 - Stuttgart - Bad Mergentheim - Aalen - Alb-Donau-Kreis - Ulm - Passau

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In Austria and Hungary, most water comes from ground and spring sources, and only in rare cases is water from the Danube used. Most states find also to difficult to clean the water because of extensive pollution; only parts of Romania where the water is cleaner still use a lot of drinking water from the Danube.

Related Topics:
Austria - Hungary - Romania

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Hydropower

Five states on the Danube, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Serbia, and Romania receive a substantial amount of their energy from dams on the Danube. One of the largest dams is the Iron Gate at the border between Serbia and Romania.

Related Topics:
Germany - Austria - Slovakia - Serbia - Romania - Iron Gate

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After World War I an international commission was established to regulate and ensure free movement and transit of shipping belonging to riperians and some other nationalities, mainly French, Dutch and English. There was freedom of navigation and transit shipping moved without any custom formalities. The International Danube Commission had its first seat in Bratislava, but moved to Vienna in 1927, where it remained until the Anschluss in 1938, when it took up residence in Belgrade. It was revived in a slightly differen form after World War II, but soon became totally dependent on the Communist riperians. The Commission was also responsible for the safety of shipping and improved many navigational aids. Much work was also done to ease movement through the Iron Gates.

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Fishing

The importance of fishing on the Danube, which used to be critical in the Middle Ages, has declined dramatically. Although some fishermen are still active at certain points on the river, the Danube Delta still has an important industry.

Related Topics:
Middle Ages - Danube Delta

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