Dunacsún – Mosonmagyaróvár – Halászi – Vének
If we’re in the Szigetköz, sailing on boat on Mosoni-Duna can become an experience of a lifetime.The dazzling and changing banks, natural treasures and urban areas of the river are captivating.
The Mosoni-Duna leaves the main Danube basin above Dunacsún in Slovakia and flows back into the river at Vének, after 125 kilometres, mostly in our country. The area between it and the Danube is called the Szigetköz. Its flora and fauna are magical, and when sailing along the Mosoni-Duna, you’re almost certain to spot a kingfisher, beaver or grey heron around a bend. In most places, the river is bordered by towering native woodland. We can even moor up at the beaches and restaurants of Mosonmagyaróvár or Halászi, so we can extend our cruise to a full day of swimming in the river and enjoying a fish soup.
In the late 1980s, the issues of the Mosoni-Duna and Szigetköz received national attention, and environmentalists launched a nationwide protest against the construction of the Bős-Nagymaros dams. The movement led by the Danube Circle (Duna Kör) tried to draw attention to the expected environmental impacts through a series of marches, demonstrations, petitions and referendum initiatives, and eventually the government stopped the construction of the Hungarian section of the dams. Nevertheless, in October 1992, Czechoslovakia diverted the Danube into a service canal at Dunacsún, significantly reducing the original main riverbed flow. This had a detrimental effect on the water supply of the whole Szigetköz.
We can sail the Mosoni-Duna on our own, without a licence, up to 20 HP. If we choose to go cruising, we should visit the Mosoni-Duna Boatmen’s Association (Mosoni-Duna Hajós Egyesület), which brings together boatmen from the area.
Written by: Péter Ondré
Photo: Luca Pomaranski
This article was published in the book “Ízek, kincsek a varázslatos Szigetközből”.
