A Guardian investigation along 100 miles of the Danube found record-low water levels that have exposed Budapest's legendary 'Rock of Starvation' and triggered an energy crisis in Hungary, forcing the shutdown of all but one Danube-cooled nuclear reactor for the first time in 44 years.
Key facts
- The Danube's water levels have hit record lows, exposing the 'Rock of Starvation' (Ínség-szikla) beneath Gellért Hill in Budapest.
- The rock has surfaced almost entirely, along with the sandy riverbed, astonishing geologists and government scientists.
- Hungary has shut down all but one of its Danube-cooled nuclear reactors for the first time in 44 years.
- The Guardian travelled 100 miles along the river, the EU's longest.
- Some residents are struggling to secure drinking water.
For centuries, a rock beneath Gellért Hill in Budapest served as a warning to the people of the Hungarian capital. When it began to emerge from the Danube, it signalled that the river had fallen so low that floating mills could no longer operate, crops were probably failing, and hunger would almost certainly follow. Over time it became known as Ínség-szikla — the Rock of Starvation.
According to the Guardian, which travelled 100 miles along the EU’s longest river, that warning has resurfaced in dramatic fashion. Amid record-low water levels on the Danube, the rock has not only emerged from the water but surfaced almost in its entirety, along with the sandy riverbed on which it rests.
The Guardian reports that the sight has astonished geologists and government scientists sent to examine the boulder, which over time had become little more than a legend in Budapest.
The consequences described by the Guardian extend well beyond a historic curiosity. Hungary is now facing what the outlet describes as an unprecedented energy crisis, one that has forced the country to shut down all but one of its Danube-cooled nuclear reactors for the first time in 44 years.
The drought has also affected daily life along the river, according to the Guardian, with some residents struggling to secure drinking water. The report ties the low water levels to the broader impact of drought on crops and the communities that depend on the Danube.
Why it matters
The Danube is the European Union's longest river and a lifeline for drinking water, agriculture and energy across multiple countries. When its levels fall low enough to expose a historic famine marker and force nuclear reactors offline, it signals the growing strain that drought is placing on essential infrastructure and communities.
Frequently asked questions
What is the 'Rock of Starvation'?
It is a boulder beneath Gellért Hill in Budapest, known in Hungarian as Ínség-szikla. Historically, when it emerged from the Danube it warned that the river had fallen so low that mills could not operate and crops were failing, meaning hunger would likely follow.
How has the drought affected Hungary's energy supply?
According to the Guardian, record-low water levels have forced Hungary to shut down all but one of its Danube-cooled nuclear reactors for the first time in 44 years.
How low are the Danube's water levels?
The Guardian reports the river has reached record-low levels, exposing the Rock of Starvation almost in its entirety along with the sandy riverbed beneath it.