The Old Danube (German: Alte Donau) is an oxbow lake of the Danube in Vienna, Austria. Situated northeast of the New Danube, it is a remnant of the river's former course, now separated from the main stream and the New Danube.
Old Danube | |
---|---|
![]() The U1 crossing the Old Danube | |
Location | Vienna |
Coordinates | 48°13′56″N16°25′40″E / 48.23222°N 16.42778°E |
Max. length | 5.2 km (3.2 mi) |
Max. width | 300 m (980 ft) |
Surface area | 1.6 km2 (0.62 sq mi) |
Average depth | 2.3 m (7 ft 7 in) |
Max. depth | 6.8 m (22 ft) |
Water volume | 3,700,000 m3 (130,000,000 cu ft) |
Website | wien |
The Danube in Vienna formerly branched into numerous arms and channels, forming a wide, untamed floodplain. The main stream frequently changed its course after floods, making the construction of permanent bridges impossible, as they were often destroyed during the frequent ice jams. In the early 18th century, after several devastating floods, the present-day Old Danube became the main branch of the Danube. [1]
During the Danube regulation project (1870–1875), which aimed to provide flood protection, the Old Danube was separated from the newly excavated main stream. Since then, it has remained an inland water body with an area of approximately 1.6 km2 (0.62 sq mi) and an average depth of 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) (maximum depth: 6.8 m (22 ft)). The Old Danube no longer receives direct inflow from the Danube and is primarily fed by groundwater. Historically, ship mills operated in the area of today's Old Danube. Additionally, the first Danube steamboat in Austria, the Franz I, was built on its banks, and the seaplanes of the Lohner-Werke were tested on its waters. [2] [3]
The Old Danube is home to a diverse ecosystem, with over 20 species of fish inhabiting its waters, including wels catfish, pike and zander. Above the surface live a variety of animal species, some of which are protected. These include waterbirds, such as the cormorant, and the protected European beaver. [4]
Conservation efforts to reintroduce endangered plant species have greatly improved the ecological diversity of the Old Danube. The banks are now characterized by the presence of yellow irises, flowering rushes, roundhead bulrushes and pond lilies. The reedbeds support approximately 45 plant species. [5]
Today, the Old Danube is a popular leisure and bathing area close to the city center, easily accessible via Vienna’s subway system. Several well-known public bathing areas are located along its banks, including the famous Gänsehäufel. Another notable bathing site is the Bundesbad Alte Donau, which covers an area of approximately 61,000 m2 (660,000 sq ft). Originally opened in 1919 as a military swimming school, it was made accessible to the public in the 1950s.
The eastern side of the lake features multiple public piers, platforms, rowing clubs and a few restaurants. The beaches are freely accessible; however, due to the lack of amenities like changing cabins, these facilities are primarily utilized by locals.
Visitors can rent rowing boats, sailing boats, pedalos, electric boats and surfboards. It is a good area for beginner sailors, although the surrounding high-rise buildings, such as those in Donau City and UNO-City, can create unpredictable winds.
Several rowing clubs and associations use the Old Danube for training, and in summer, events like rowing regattas, such as the Vienna Nightrow, take place on the lake. [6]
In winter, the Old Danube can sometimes be used for ice skating, though caution is advised. The ice thickness is not officially monitored, and warm groundwater inflows can cause the ice to weaken or melt from below, even during prolonged cold weather.
A series of articles on regulation of the Danube in chronological order:
Vienna is the capital, most populous city, and one of nine federal states of Austria. It is Austria's primate city, with just over two million inhabitants. Its larger metropolitan area has a population of nearly 2.9 million, representing nearly one-third of the country's population. Vienna is the cultural, economic, and political center of the country, the fifth-largest city by population in the European Union, and the most-populous of the cities on the Danube river.
Landstraße is the 3rd municipal district of Vienna, Austria. It is near the center of Vienna and was established in the 19th century. Landstraße is a heavily populated urban area with many workers and residential homes. It has 89,834 inhabitants in an area of 7.42 km2 (2.86 sq mi). It has existed since about 1200 AD. In 1192, the English king Richard the Lionheart was captured in the Erdberg neighbourhood, after the unsuccessful Third Crusade.
The Donauinsel is a long, narrow artificial island in central Vienna, Austria, lying between the Danube and the New Danube. The island is 21.1 km (13.1 mi) in length, but is only 70–210 m (230–689 ft) wide. It was constructed from 1972 to 1988 primarily as a measure for flood protection.
Döbling is the 19th district in the city of Vienna, Austria. It is located in the north of Vienna, north of the districts Alsergrund and Währing. Döbling has some heavily populated urban areas with many residential buildings, and borders the Vienna Woods. It includes some of the most expensive residential areas such as Grinzing, Sievering, and Neustift am Walde, and is home to many Heurigen taverns. There are some large Gemeindebauten, including Vienna's most famous, the Karl-Marx-Hof.
Donaustadt is the 22nd district of Vienna, Austria . Donaustadt is the eastern district of Vienna.
Brigittenau is the 20th district of Vienna. It is located north of the central districts, north of Leopoldstadt on the same island area between the Danube and the Danube Canal. Brigittenau is a heavily populated urban area with many residential buildings.
Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus is the 15th municipal District of Vienna, Austria. It is in central Vienna, west of Innere Stadt.
Donau-Auen National Park covers 93 square kilometres in Vienna and Lower Austria and is one of the largest remaining floodplains of the Danube in Middle Europe.
Kahlenbergerdorf was an independent municipality until 1892 and is today a part of Döbling, the 19th district of Vienna. It is also one of the 89 Katastralgemeinden.
The Donaukanal is a former arm of the river Danube, now regulated as a water channel, within the city of Vienna, Austria. It is 17.3 kilometres (10.7 mi) long and, unlike the Danube itself, it borders Vienna's city centre, Innere Stadt, where the Wien River (Wienfluss) flows into it.
The Reichsbrücke is a major bridge in Vienna, linking Mexikoplatz in Leopoldstadt with the Donauinsel in Donaustadt across the Danube. The bridge is used by 50,000 vehicles per day and carries six lanes of traffic, U-Bahn tracks, two footpaths, two cyclepaths and two utility tunnels.
Donau City, or Vienna DC, is a new part of Vienna's 22nd District Donaustadt, next to both the Reichsbrücke and the left bank of the Danube's 21.1 km new channel, Neue Donau.
A ship mill, more commonly known as a boat mill, is a type of watermill. The milling and grinding technology and the drive (waterwheel) are built on a floating platform on this type of mill. Its first recorded use dates back to mid-6th century AD Italy.
The Vienna Danube regulation refers to extensive flood-control engineering along the Danube river in Vienna, Austria during the last 150 years. The first major dams or levees were built during 1870-75. Another major project was constructed during 1972-88, which created the New Danube and Danube Island (Donauinsel). Prior to regulation, the Danube in Vienna had been an 8-kilometre (5 mi) wide wetlands, as a patchwork of numerous streams meandering through the area.
The Danube is the second-longest river in Europe, after the Volga in Russia. It flows through Central and Southeastern Europe, from the Black Forest south into the Black Sea. A large and historically important river, it was once a frontier of the Roman Empire. In the 21st century, it connects ten European countries, running through their territories or marking a border. Originating in Germany, the Danube flows southeast for 2,850 km (1,770 mi), passing through or bordering Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Moldova, and Ukraine. Among the many cities on the river are four national capitals: Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, and Belgrade. Its drainage basin amounts to 817,000 km2 (315,000 sq mi) and extends into nine more countries.
For a long time, it was not necessary to build a Harbour in Vienna, because the existing natural landing points were sufficient for the level of trade on the Danube. It was only when steamships began to arrive in great numbers that a harbour offering safe berths became essential. Even then however, goods were for the most part loaded and unloaded at an unenclosed river harbour that was established at the end of the 19th century.
Icebreaker Eisvogel is an icebreaker employed by the Port of Vienna, Austria. Eisvogel clears ice in all three of Vienna's harbors. She is employed when the ice becomes a few centimetres in thickness. In 1985 she cleared ice that was 60 centimetres (24 in) thick.
The New Danube is side channel of the Danube in Vienna, Austria, situated parallel to the east of the main river. It was built as part of the flood protections of the city.
Hochhaus Neue Donau also known as the Seidler Tower is a mixed-use high-rise building in the Donau City district of Vienna, Austria. Built between 1999 and 2001, the tower stands at 120 m (390 ft) tall with 34 floors and is the current 11th tallest building in Austria.