Low Danube River Turns Riverbed Near Bulgarian City Into Walking Path

Jerusalem, 16 August, 2026 (TPS-IL) -- Ruse, Bulgaria (BTA) – Due to the low level of the Danube River, the dried-up arm near Lyulyaka Island near Ruse in northeastern Bulgaria has become a place for walking. This was seen by a BTA reporter.

We meet 55-year-old Nikolay Bogdanov, who said he doesn’t remember the Danube River being this low before.

“I grew up along the Danube and I have never seen such a drop in water. I learned to swim here. Looking at it now, I get goosebumps. It’s sad. The place has turned into an alley. In time, we might even go on foot with the Romanians to visit – let’s not just wait at the Danube Bridge. It’s an attraction at the moment. But I hope that the time will come when there will be water in the river again – after all, this is one of the emblems of Ruse,” Bogdanov said.

Nearby, a mother was explaining to her children that they were walking along the riverbed, other Ruse residents had come to walk their pets, and still others to have a picnic.

The level of the Danube River near Ruse has stagnated for the past 24 hours – minus 123 cm compared to the conditional zero level. This was announced by the Executive Agency for Research and Maintenance of the Danube River.

The water gauges report stagnation near Vidin and Novo Selo. Near Silistra and Svishtov there is a decrease of one centimeter, and near Oryahovo the level has increased by one centimeter.

According to information from the River Supervision Directorate in Ruse at the Maritime Administration Executive Agency, the self-propelled vessel stuck in the river’s fairway (navigation path) in the area of ​​Batin Island was freed from the sands with the help of another ship.

The hydrological situation remains complicated. All restrictions on vessel navigation are in effect for the entire stretch of the river.