 The Hron is the second largest river in Slovakia and is the left tributary of the Danube River. It flows into the Danube at 367 feet in elevation. The source of the Hron River is in the Low Tatras (Male Tatri) at 3,125 feet in elevation.
The Danube River in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia
Photo courtesy of Eva
Kristofik
This is a former gold and silver mining town near the Hron River. Reservoirs were built for mining purposes. The mines in the town closed down and the reservoirs are now used mostly for recreational purposes. One is used only for drinking water. There are lakes, both natural and man-made around the town.
Photo courtesy of J.
Serrecchia |
The Danube River is an important waterway in Europe. It flows through the countries of Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro, Bulgaria, Ukraine, and Romania. It also flows through some important cities. They are Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, and Belgrade. It is a river that is very important for commercial transportation.
The Danube River flows through many countries before it reaches the Black Sea.
(Source of image is Wikipedia, public domain)
The Danube River is the longest marshland in Europe and many species of plants and animals live in its water. There are thousands of miles of reedbeds along the Danube River and many different species of water lilies. Over 45 species of fish can be found in the rivers of the Danube delta, but the delta is beginning to sink. This causes flooding. Soil and minerals are moved around during flooding and deposited in different areas.
In 1997, The Trade and Environmental Database reported that five major rivers in 17 countries pour pollution into the Danube River. The pollution is things like raw sewage, pesticides, chemicals from farmer's fields, and oil from ships. Nitrogen and phosphorus make algae grow and there is so much of it that the marine life does not have enough oxygen. This means the marine life is dying out. There are many projects that are focusing on improving the water condition of the Danube River.
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The Danube River (Dunaj Rieka or Rieka Dunaj) drains into the Black Sea in Romania. The Black Sea drains into the Mediterranean Sea which drains into the Atlantic Ocean.
All of the earth's oceans and marine or salt waters join together to form the World Ocean.
Everything we do helps or hurts the world's oceans since the smaller watersheds are a part of a larger watershed. Everyone is connected to an ocean in some way.
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The Danube River is the main tributary of the Black Sea |
The ecosystem of the Black Sea is unique. Industry on the coast of the Black Sea has polluted the water. The biodiversity of the sea is in danger. Salt water from the Mediterranean Sea is in the deepest part of the sea and fresh river water is on top. The water does not mix together, even by the wind. The oxygen levels are very low and a chemical called hydrogen sulfide is present. Organic pesticides, heavy metals, and spills from oil vessels and ports have also caused the sea to be polluted. The area has been over fished.
The water quality is being monitored and pollution seems to be decreasing. The use of fertilizers has been reduced and the
treatment of waste water has improved.
The Black Sea Protection Commission is responsible for the management of the Black Sea.
People are trying to improve the condition of the Black Sea.
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The Atlantic Ocean is huge! It is the second largest ocean. The countries around it are Europe and Africa on the east and North and South America on the west. It goes from the Arctic to the
Antarctic. It is divided into north and south by the equator. Since it is covers so much area the water in the Atlantic can be very cold or very warm.
The Atlantic Ocean receives water from about half the world's land area. Many of the great rivers of the world drain into the Atlantic.
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Drawings and background by Sarah
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