Danube Plain (Slovakia)
Coordinates: 48 ° 0 ′ 0 ″ N , 17 ° 45 ′ 0 ″ E
The Danube Plain ( Podunajská rovina in Slovak ) is the southwestern, rather flat part of the Danube lowlands in Slovakia . The border to the more mountainous, northeastern Danube hill country runs roughly along the line Bratislava - Senec - Sereď - Nové Zámky - Patince .
The Danube plain was largely shaped by the tributaries of the Danube (such as the Little Danube ) and the southern courses of the Waag , Nitra and Žitava rivers . As a result, it is criss-crossed by thick layers of gravel . These "Danube gravel" are in turn covered with loess and other fertile soil types.
The Danube river has created a unique continental river delta with many river meanders and dead water arms in the area. One of these areas, which lies between the Little Danube and the Danube, is the Schüttinsel . This island is an area with many swamp plains, naturally formed or artificially created lakes and a water protection area since 1978 . The drainage system in the south was (intentionally) permanently changed by the construction of the Gabčíkovo dam as a Danube outlet.
The area is rich in forest meadows, water and swamp fauna and flora; Large underground water reservoirs also contribute, especially the reservoirs on the Schüttinsel are among the largest in Europe. There are also warm springs at Komárno , Štúrovo and Patince .
Due to the southern exposure to the Little Hungarian Plain , the area has the warmest and driest climate in Slovakia, which in connection with the fertile soils makes it an ideal place for agriculture . Mainly wheat, sugar beet, corn, vegetables and tobacco are grown, besides there is also wine and fruit cultivation on a smaller scale.
The most important cities of the Danube Plain are the Slovak capital Bratislava (the plain begins at the foot of the Bratislava Castle in the middle of the city) as well as Galanta , Sereď , Dunajská Streda , Komárno and Nové Zámky .
There are also other small nature reserves in the area, such as Ostrov Kopáš near Bratislava or the former branches of the Danube Vlčianske mŕtve rameno and Čičovské mŕtve rameno . Protected wetlands are, for example, the unique Šúr area near Svätý Jur , in the area around Zlatná na Ostrove there is also a large refuge for great bustards .
There are also many opportunities for recreation in summer, for example in the Zlaté piesky lakes in the city of Bratislava, in the sunny lakes ( Slnečné jazerá ) near Senec or in the thermal baths of Dunajská Streda , Veľký Meder and Diakovce .