Hron

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Hron
Rieka hron starytekov.jpg
The Hron near Starý Tekov
Current and watershed of the Hron River in Slovakia
Location
CountrySlovakia
RegionBanská Bystrica, Nitra
Physical characteristics
SourceHron
 ⁃ locationKráľova hoľa near Telgárt, Low Tatras, Banská Bystrica Region
 ⁃ elevation980 m (3,220 ft)
MouthDanube River
 ⁃ location
Kamenica nad Hronom, Nitra Region
 ⁃ elevation
112 m (367 ft)
Length298 km (185 mi)
Basin size5,453 km2 (2,105 sq mi)
Discharge 
 ⁃ average53.7 m3/s (1,900 cu ft/s)
 ⁃ minimum7.6 m3/s (270 cu ft/s)
 ⁃ maximum1,050 m3/s (37,000 cu ft/s)
Basin features
Tributaries 
 ⁃ leftSlatina
ProgressionDanubeBlack Sea

The Hron (Slovak: Hron, German: Gran, Hungarian: Garam, Latin: Granus) is a 298-kilometre (185 mi) long left tributary of the Danube and the second-longest river in Slovakia. It flows from its source in the Low Tatra Mountains (below Kráľova hoľa) through central and southern Slovakia, emptying into the Danube near Štúrovo and Esztergom. Major cities and towns on the Hron are Brezno, Banská Bystrica, Sliač, Zvolen, Žiar nad Hronom, Žarnovica, Nová Baňa, Tlmače, Levice, Želiezovce, and Štúrovo.

The river's basin covers approximately 11 percent of Slovakia's territory.

Etymology[edit]

The name is probably of Germanic origin; *Granahua: gran – spruce, ahua – water.[1]

History[edit]

The name of the river was mentioned for the first time in 170, when Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius wrote his Meditations at the Hron (Latin: Granus) river.[2] The first recorded medieval name was Gron (1075).[2] From the 17th century until the 1930s, the river was used for wood transport.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Krško, Jaromír (2008). Hydronymia povodia Hrona (in Slovak). Banská Bystrica: Univerzita Mateja Bela. p. 81. ISBN 978-80-8083-611-5.
  2. ^ a b Krško, Jaromír (June 2003). "Názvy potokov v Banskej Bystrici a okolí". Bystrický Permon. 1 (2): 8.

Coordinates: 47°49′N 18°45′E / 47.817°N 18.750°E / 47.817; 18.750