The Danube: Europe's Flowing Highway
High in the mountains of Germany's Black Forest, two small streams tumble together to form the beginning of a remarkable journey. This is the birthplace of the Danube River, the second-longest river in Europe. From this quiet origin, the Danube winds eastward for nearly 1,770 miles until it empties into the salty waters of the Black Sea. What makes the Danube truly unique is that it touches more countries than any other river on the planet.
As the Danube flows toward the sunrise, it travels through or borders ten different nations: Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, and Ukraine. Along this winding path, the river passes through sweeping farmland, rugged canyons, and bustling cities. In fact, four European national capitals—Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, and Belgrade—were built directly along its banks. For centuries, these cities relied on the river for fresh drinking water, natural defense, and transportation.
- barges:
- Large, flat-bottomed boats used to transport heavy freight on rivers and canals.
- canals:
- Human-made waterways built to allow boats and ships to travel inland.
- locks:
- Enclosed water gates used to raise or lower boats between stretches of water at different levels.
- habitats:
- Natural environments where specific plants and animals live and find what they need to survive.
- colonies:
- Large groups of animals or birds of the same kind that live and breed close together.
- treaties:
- Formal written agreements made between nations to work together or follow specific rules.
- cooperation:
- The act of working together toward a shared goal or purpose.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1Why is the Danube River considered unique compared to all other rivers in the world?
- 2How did historical European capitals benefit from being built directly along the banks of the Danube River?
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About this explanatory article passage for 5th Grade
“The Danube: Europe's Flowing Highway” is a explanatory article reading passage about The Danube River, written for 5th Grade. It takes about 3 minutes to read (384 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.