The Danube is the longest river in the European Union and Europe’s second-longest after the Volga. Over the past centuries, Vienna was severely hit by flooding of the Danube. Drawing the experience from several studies on flood control, the water resources department decided on a project which constructed an approximately 21 km-long flood bypass canal – the “New Danube” to direct the water during the floods and used the excavated material to create a flood free island –Danube Island – between the new waterway and the existing river bed. Today, Danube Island is known to most visitors to Vienna as a recreation area with bars, restaurants and nightclubs, a wealth of sports opportunities from rollerblading, cycling and swimming to canoeing and a beautiful beach.

The island has become a tourist destination for many people. The new subway line also increased the attractiveness of the area. The once neglected districts on ‘the other side’ of Danube became a major development area for new housing projects. During the peak periods especially weekends, over 300,000 people visit the New Danube to enjoy the serene environment. Stagnant wetlands have been transformed into a functioning ecosystem within national park created by the project by strongly enhancing it’s once river controlled dynamics. New wells were built on the island for the Vienna Water works to supply drinking water.