Danube Day 2008 in Slovakia

It's "Ships Ahoi" for this year's Danube Day in Slovakia with boating adventures, scientific excursions and white-water rafting. A day of water fun will take place in Čunovo and Gabčíkovo and special events are also planned in Komarno and Liptovsky Mikulas. .

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Gabčíkovo and Čunovo: Water Fun Day (29 June 2008)

The day begins with transport to the festivities by boat, ensuring the festivities start off on a high for Bratislava residents. Taking in the beautiful scenery along the way, children and adults will learn about Danube history and wildlife and the actions being taken to look after the river and its inhabitants. Arriving at Gabčíkovo, there'll be a chance to hear about the workings of the Dam and carry out exercises on the hydrological equipment.

For those seeking adventure, there's free entry to the Čunovo Wild Water Facility and for land-lovers, entry to the Gabčíkovo Information Centre. With a spectacular diving display and performances by the River Police and Red Cross; presentations by the Hydro-meteorological Institute and the chance to get your hands dirty in a river clean-up operation, there's something for everyone. Slovak children will also create ‘Danube Greetings', messages of international solidarity, to send out to everyone celebrating Danube Day.

Danube Art Master schools competition (ongoing)

The event will also see the culmination of the search for Slovakia's young Danube Art Master of 2008. Organised by Daphne, Institute of Applied Ecology, the competition is part of a basin-wide project. Pupils are invited to let their creativity run wild and make a piece of art inspired by their river. The talented winners will be crowned at the Gabčíkovo celebration.

Danube Photo Competition (until 15 September 2008)

Enter the basin-wide Danube Photographic Competition, organised by the International Friends of Nature, and your work could be exhibited at the UN Headquarters in Vienna and toured across the Danube countries.

Greet the Danube ship blast (29 June 2008; 14:00)

The sound of ship horns will reverberate across the Danube Basin at 14:00 on Danube Day, as Danube workers pay a very special tribute to their river. The annual Greet the Danube horn blast will see ships along the Danube rivers from Germany to Ukraine simultaneously sound their horns in a river salute.

Other events in Slovakia

Additional events will take place in Komarno and Liptovsky Mikulas.

Further information

Download the fact sheet below for more details about the events and organisers.
Danube Day in Slovakia fact sheet 43.64 KB

For the latest news, please contact:
Jana Babiakova of the Ministry of Environment. Tel: +421 2 5956 2561; email: jana.babiakova [at] enviro [dot] gov [dot] sk. See also: www.enviro.gov.sk and www.danubeday.sk (available soon).

Ministry of Environment: www.enviro.gov.sk
Danube Day in Slovakia: www.danubeday.sk (available soon).
Daphne Institute of Applied Ecology: www.daphne.sk