Danube Island

(Local Name: Donauinsel) Vienna has to thank the scheme for the regulation of the Danube for the creation of Danube Island, the popular recreation area, which lies between the relief channel, the New Danube, and the main river. The island extends over 700ha/1,730 acres and includes woodland areas of grass, stretches of water and several kilometers of bathing beaches. At high tide, when the New Danube functions as a flood protection and the locks are opened, there is a bathing ban for two weeks afterwards. By then the water has become clean enough to swim in again. A brochure giving details of each section of the Danube and its recreational facilities is available from the tourist information office.