Show mighty danube artery I 1 from heart of europe slicing its way between high i mountain chains cutting through uploads uplands meandering mean derng through lowlands the mighty danube river flows like a great artery from the heart of europe in its 1750 mile course from the clack black forest to the black sea this river says the national geographic society Is second in length to the volga among Eu ropes rivers but exceeds it in volume fed by over tributaries tributa ries some of which are themselves mighty rivers iv the danube drains an area larger than new guinea among the worlds dozen longest rivers it is near its source a creek so narrow a man may take it in his stride but by mid course it Is over yards wide it broadens to a majestic three miles near the mouth every year more than tons of silt are swept downstream building Eu ropes largest growing delta situated near r the point where belmany Gei Gel many france and switzerland meet the danules Dan source is so near neak the headwaters ot of the rhine that rainfall in this region Is said to have an equal chance of 0 reaching either the north or black seas some 1100 miles apart its waters contrary to the he popular watz waltz are never blue but chalky or chocolate and are navigable for 1600 miles navigation Is difficult for or high water may vary 30 feet in a short distance and rocks and sandbars keep river cap thins taina alerted ocean going freight ers era steam miles upstream ships of 1500 tons reach passau on an he be old austro german frontier and smaller craft carrying IW tons can proceed to ulm about miles below the source |