Budapest - Danube

The Danube (Hungarian "Duna") flows through Budapest from north to south; within the city boundaries its widest part (640m (2100ft)) is in the north of the city just below the junction of the two arms which enclose the island of Szentendre (Szentendrei-sziget). The river is at its narrowest (283m (930ft)) below Gellért Hill; here it is about 9m (30ft) deep.

Boat trips

During the warm months of the year these depart daily from the landing-stages at Vigadó tér (on the Pest bank) and Bem József tér (on the Buda bank).

Flooding

Until the late 19th C rises in the water level caused major problems in the districts near the Danube. At such times the width of the river could exceed 1000m (3300ft); in the lower lying parts of the city considerable damage could result. In the second half of the last century, measures to regulate the flow of the water were urgently put in hand. Waterway

With the expansion of industry in Budapest and in locations further upstream, the Danube became of increasing importance for the movement of goods and the capacity of the port installations of the island of Csepel (Csepel-sziget) was considerably increased. Along the Danube Corso on the Pest bank landing stages for national and international passenger ships were built and these were heavily used.

The Danube is at present spanned by two railroad bridges (the New Pest Bridge and the South Rail bridge) and by six road bridges (Árpád Bridge, Margaret Bridge, Chain Bridge, Elisabeth Bridge, Freedom Bridge and Petõfi Bridge).