Rivers rise here and drain to neighbouring countries. Part of the main European watershed cross the territory of Slovakia, which divides the sea-drainage area of the Baltic and Black Sea, and the second biggest river in Europe – the Danube also flows across the country.
The biggest river that flows to Slovakia from Germany and Austria is the Danube – one of its main symbols. It flows across the territory of Slovakia only on a short section at Bratislava (22.5 km), the remaining part of its Slovak flow (149.5 km) creates the state boundary with Austria and Hungary. The Danube has its biggest flow rate in the summer, when the glaciers melt in the Alps.
Most of the other rivers in Slovakia (the longest are Váh, Hron and Ipeľ) have the maximum of water in March. Mayn of them are popular with the watermen from the aspect of floating. You can most often see watermen on kayaks on the rivers Hron and Little Danube (Malý Dunaj), on rafts on Belá and Orava, and on floats on Dunajec.
In the summer natural lakes or artificial ponds, built on almost all the biggest Slovak rivers, are becoming more and more popular. However children rather swim in the thermal swimming-pools and south-western Slovakia is studded with such swimming pools.
Recently the huge power station Gabčíkovo on the Danube is becoming more and more popular, which became a favourite trip destination of Slovak and foreign visitors as well. At its beginning, not far from Bratislava, in the city part Čunovo, a unique artificial channel was built for water slalom, where children and adults can try riding a kayak or raft on the wild water.
source: Vydavateľstvo Dajama