Geography of Bratislava

Bratislava, the capital city of Slovakia, is situated in Central Europe and it is located in the extreme south-west within Slovakia. The city borders Austria in the west and Hungary in the south making it the only national capital in the world to border two foreign countries. The state border with the Czech Republic is only 62 kilometres (38.5 mi) distant.[1] Bratislava lies on the foothills of the Little Carpathians mountains and the city straddles both banks of the Danube River. The city has a total area of 367.58 square kilometres (141.9 mi²), making it the second largest city in Slovakia by area (after the township of Vysoké Tatry). Geomorphologically the city covers the southern tip of the Záhorie Lowland, the entire range of the Devín Carpathians, small westernmost part of the Pezinok Carpahians and the northern tip of the Danubian Lowland.

Location of Bratislava within the Bratislava Region and within Slovakia
Bratislava's highest point, Devínska Kobyla, part of the Little Carpathians mountain range

The Danube crosses the city from the west to the south-east. The Middle Danube basin begins at Devín Gate in western Bratislava. Other rivers nearby are the Morava River, which forms the north-western border of the city and flows into the Danube at Devín, the Little Danube, and the Vydrica, which flows into the Danube at the borough of Karlova Ves. Some parts of Bratislava, particularly Devín and Devínska Nová Ves, are vulnerable to floods.[2] New flood protection is being built on both banks.[3]

The Carpathian mountain range begins in city territory with the Little Carpathians (Malé Karpaty). The area includes Bratislava Forest Park, which is popular with many Bratislavans and is part of the Little Carpathians Protected Landscape Area. The city's lowest point is at the Danube's surface, at 126 metres (413.4 ft) above mean sea level, and the highest point is Devínska Kobyla at 514 metres (1686.3 ft). The average altitude is 140 metres (459.3 ft).[4] The Záhorie and Danubian Lowlands are partly situated in the city.

The nearest towns and villages are: to the north Stupava, Borinka and Svätý Jur; to the east Ivanka pri Dunaji and Most pri Bratislave; to the south-east Rovinka, Dunajská Lužná and Šamorín; to the south Rajka (HU); and to the west Kittsee (AT), Hainburg an der Donau (AT) and Marchegg (AT).

Distances from selected European cities

Bratislava is situated: 62 km from Vienna; 196 km from Budapest; 324 km from Prague; 532 km from Warsaw; 569 km from Belgrade; 769 km from Zürich; 1005 km from Kyiv; 1266 km from Paris; 1273 km from Amsterdam; 1314 km from Rome; 1473 km from Istanbul; 1602 km from London; 1735 km from Stockholm; 1886 km from Athens; 2104 km from Moscow and 2261 km from Madrid.

Climate

Bratislava lies in the north temperate zone and has a continental climate with four distinct seasons. It is often windy with a marked variation between hot summers and cold, humid winters. Recently, the transitions from winter to summer and summer to winter have been rapid, with short autumn and spring periods and the weather is occasionally extreme, quickly changing its state.[5] Snow occurs less frequently now than previously.[5]

Climate data for Bratislava
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 2
(36)		 4
(40)		 10
(51)		 15
(60)		 20
(65)		 23
(75)		 26
(79)		 26
(79)		 21
(71)		 15
(59)		 7
(45)		 3
(38)		 15
(58)
Average low °C (°F) −3
(26)		 −2
(28)		 1
(35)		 4
(40)		 9
(49)		 12
(55)		 14
(58)		 13
(57)		 10
(51)		 5
(42)		 1
(34)		 −1
(30)		 5
(42)
Average precipitation cm (inches) 3
(1.4)		 4
(1.6)		 3
(1.5)		 3
(1.4)		 5
(2.2)		 7
(2.8)		 6
(2.5)		 6
(2.4)		 3
(1.5)		 4
(1.6)		 5
(2.1)		 5
(2)		 58
(23)
Source: Weatherbase[6]
  • Annual sunshine: 1976.4 hours (5.4 hours/day)
  • Average annual temperature: 10 °C (50 °F)

Rivers and lakes in Bratislava

Twenty water streams originate in the area of Bratislava. Four rivers flow through the area of the city: Danube, Morava river, Little Danube and partially Malina.

In addition, 18 streams (Slovak: potok) and 9 canals (Slovak: kanál) or canalized streams flow through the city. The following is their list in alphabetical order:

  • Antošov canal
  • Banský stream
  • Bystrický stream
  • Bystrička
  • Čierny stream
  • Dúbravský stream
  • Horná Sihoť
  • Chorvátske rameno
  • Jarovské rameno
  • Karloveské rameno
  • Mošonské rameno
  • Rusovské rameno
  • Dymolez
  • Chotárny stream
  • Kratina
  • Lamačský stream
  • Marianský stream
  • Mástsky stream
  • Mokrý potok (also called Mokrý jarok)
  • Na Pántoch
  • Pieskový stream
  • Račiansky stream (also called Račiansky canal)
  • Rakyta
  • Rusovský canal
  • Stará Mláka
  • Struha
  • Šúrsky canal
  • Uhliarka
  • Vajnorský canal
  • Vajnorský stream
  • Vápenický stream
  • Veľkolúcky stream
  • Vydrica

Panorama of the city
Panorama of the Old Town from Bratislava Castle

See also

References
  1. Autoatlas - Slovenská republika (Map) (6th ed.). Vojenský kartografický ústav a.s. 2006. ISBN 80-8042-378-4. Archived from the original on 2006-01-18. Retrieved 2007-06-10.
  2. "Defences hold fast in Bratislava". Nick Thorpe, BBC. August 16, 2002. Retrieved April 27, 2007.
  3. "Začne sa budovať protipovodňový systém mesta (Construction starts for city's flood protection)" (in Slovak). Juraj Handzo, Bratislavské Noviny. January 24, 2007. Retrieved April 28, 2007.
  4. "Basic Information - Position". City of Bratislava. February 14, 2005. Archived from the original on July 31, 2007. Retrieved May 1, 2007.
  5. "Bratislava Weather". City of Bratislava. February 14, 2005. Archived from the original on April 18, 2013. Retrieved April 25, 2007.
  6. "Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Bratislava, Slovakia". Weatherbase. Retrieved 2007. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
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