Thematic Maps of the Danube River Basin - ICPDR

32 Danube Pollution Reduction Programme
3.4. Slovakia
The Slovak part of the Danube Basin is divided into four Sub-river Basin Areas with ten Sub-
Basins, representing nearly 96% (49,014 km²) of the total area of the Slovak Republic.
The Slovak part of the River Basin has borders with Austria, Czechia, Poland, Ukraine and
Hungary.
5. Morava - Danube Sub-river Basin Area (SK)
This Sub-river Basin Area consists of the Morava, Danube and the Small Danube River sub-basins.
With its 3,395 km², this is the smallest Sub-river Basin Area of the Slovak Republic.
The two main rivers are the Danube and the Morava. The relief of the Morava mainly consists of
lowlands and valleys; it includes some of the largest floodplain meadws in Central Europe.
The region around the Small Danube (former side-arm) is most fertile, agricultural land. The
Danube part includes large floodplain forests which, since 1992, are affected by the Gabcikovo
hydropower complex.
Without counting the capital Bratislava (451,000inhabitants), the density of 125 inhabitants/km² is
still the highest in the country. With one medium and one „low priority“ industrial hot spots, the
region lies in the average of the Slovak Republic.
The area has borders with the Czech Republic, Poland and Austria.
6. Váh Sub-river Basin Area (SK)
The Váh Sub-river Basin Area is created by the two sub-basins of the Váh and Nitra rivers and is
situated in the northeast of the country.
The Váh River is situated in a mountainous area, characterised by a very low population density.
The sub-basin represents one quarter of the total territory of Slovakia (biggest Sub-river Basin Area
of Slovakia) and with its discharge of 152 m³/sec it is Slovakia’s biggest river. Although the
population rate is quite low in this region we find five municipal and two industrial hot spots.
Industrial activities are represented with chemical, heavy and food-processing industries. This area
has the highest rate of employment in the industrial sector.
The Nitra River rises on the Southern slopes of Malá Fatra mountains (Small Carpathians) and
confluences with the Vah River just before running into the Danube.
The area has borders with the Czech Republic and Poland.
7. Hron Sub-river Basin Area (SK)
This area is in the Southern part of central Slovakia and includes the Hron, Ipel and Slaná subbasins.
The Hron River itself rises in the Slovenské Rudohorie mountains at an elevation of 934 meters and
flows into the Danube River at 102 metres. The Hron Sub-river Basin Area is much more
industrialised (mainly heavy industries) than the rivers Ipel and Slaná (32% urbanised) where
agricultural production prevails.
The Ipel river is affected by food industries. Three industrial Hot Spots („low priority“) can be
found along the Hron. The area has only borders with Hungary.