The Danube Day was celebrated on the Tisa (PHOTOS)

Every year, in late June, the pan-European event – Day of the Danube – is celebrated in 14 countries of the Danube basin under the auspices of the International Commission for the Protection of this amazing, international river. This year the celebration took place in the village of Halabor (from Ukrainian side) and the village of Tiszakarad (Hungarian side) on the Tisa, in the mouth of the Tur river. On both banks, there were stages, exhibition tents, performers in festive outfits, rescuers and divers in full gear.

Passport control on both sides did not stop people from communicating, sharing ideas, dreams of building neighborliness without borders.

The temporary pontoon bridge symbolized the unity of the two brotherly countries.  

The participants crossed the Tisa in motor boats and kayaks. A firmly attached barge served as a meeting hall. There, officials pronounced their speeches. They emphasized that the Danube is the second longest river in Europe and the only one in the world, whose basin is divided between 19 countries thus uniting 81 million people.Its total length is 2960 km, and the length of Ukraine’s stretch is 170 km.

The quests attended the exhibition "Museum of the Danube" featuring the joint flood protection program of the Upper Tisa, operational equipment and so on. There were also cultural and entertainment events. They were filled with song and dance performances.    

The participants of the festive event were able to visit each other tents, enjoy meals, exchange contacts and share experiences on the Danube Day. At the end, the Transcarpathian Regional Council Chairman Mykhailo Rivis said:

– This holiday is a symbol of partnership and good neighborliness of the great family of peoples living on the banks of the great European river. It gives us another opportunity to assess what has been done, to plan cooperation in important areas, and to draw attention to the river, whose resources are used daily by millions of people in many countries, often causing it harm.