Sludge in Hungary

That is quite akin to asking if Mardi Gras would be occurring in New Orleans right after Katrina...

Not at all. I don't think so. From what I hear - the spill is south of Budapest (100km or so I understand). I don't know if Nuremberg/Vienna/Budapest are upstream from the contamination site or downstream. (Last year I went UP the Rhine - when the entire time I thought I was going DOWN the Rhine. IMO< This is more akin to the BP Oil Spill

I think you are missing my point, but you can run, er... cruise with that.

Why don't you get an atlas and check yourself! Golly - how self-absorbed are you??? The Hungarians are dealing with an ecological disaster and you are worrying if it is going to effect your trip? Unbelievable....

Steve - thanks for your pleasant and helpful reply. I can't tell downstream from upstream on a map - I had the Rhine f-d up, so I don't trust my view of the Danube. Last spring plenty of travellers here on this site were just as concerned about their vacation plans when the volcano blew. That's quite a view you have up there on your high horse. If you were so offended by my post, Golly, you could have moved on.

I don't believe that the volcano was potentially poisoning people to the extent that the Hungarians face. I think this is an awkward question, and defending it makes it worse. EM

The Danube runs from west to east - from Vienna to Budapest, so everywhere except NW Hungary is downstream from Budapest. Most decent maps print the name of the river in the direction of the flow.

Likewise, you can often determine the direction of flow of a river on a map by looking for where it starts and where it ends. Where it connects to a larger river, or body of water like an ocean or lake, you can assume that is the direction of flow. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Danubemap.jpg

According to my map, the Danube doesn't go anywhere near Nuremberg. Just sayin...

It must be an old map...like at least 18 years old. As for the toxic sludge, why worry? The Hungarian government assures us there's no reason to worry...it's been diluted and can't cause any additional damage (umm...we're talking about heavy metals). Normal people, on the other hand, say it's one of the top ecological disasters in recent memory. I understand being concerned about an upcoming trip, but we probably need to remember that real people were killed, are missing, and have been hurt. The environment will be damaged for a long, long time.

Elaine, I believe it's too early to predict all the effects of this disaster. I'm sure the authorities in Hungary as well as the E.U. will do all they can to prevent contamination of the Danube. ¶ If the "sludge" was to reach the Danube, it would probably be somewhat diluted so you might not even notice it. ¶ In the same situation, I'd carry on with the cruise. If there's a problem, I'm sure the cruise company will notify you. Happy travels!

As of noon today in Hungary, the sludge has reached the main branch of the Danube.

Geography note to Karen: the Main-Danube canal (connecting the Main & Danube rivers) runs through Nuremberg and you can indeed cruise from Nuremberg to Budapest.

Oops - my cheap atlas map didn't show the canal.

My cheapo atlas map doesn't show river flow directions either - but THANKS for explaining how to determine flow direction. And when I made the original post,AS I STATED, I had only heard " limited radio reports" and had no idea that people had actually drowned in the sludge or the magnitude of the sludge pool. Eww. That defies my imagination.

"the Main-Danube canal (connecting the Main & Danube rivers) runs through Nuremberg and you can indeed cruise from Nuremberg to Budapest". The river that flows through Nürnberg, the Rednitz (?), flows eventually into the Danube via the Altmühl. You must be a youngster; National Geographic had a big article on the Kanal, years ago, when it was finished.

FWIW, news reports have said all day that the Danube is apparently absorbing the sludge just fine, so far...they are actively pouring plaster and vinegar into the waters affected before they reach the Danube in a (so far) successful effort to lower pH levels ("unlikely to cause further environmental damage")......Just the first days of this nightmare...

Vinegar takes care of toxic sludge? Really? Someone needs to send that hint to Heloise.

Yeah...it cleans hardwood floors, windows, and toxic heavy metals. I think they used it at Chernobyl.

I believe that the sludge has a high pH and so is basic or alkali. By adding vinegar, a mild acid, you lower the pH and thus have lower toxicity. It doesn't take away the heavy metals, but at least the sludge won't burn everything it touches. Pam

I'm in Budapest now, and the only thing the Danube is flooded with here is boats.

Sometimes the cruelty on this site is jarring. We hear bad things from the news all around the world every day; it's hard for ANY OF US to feel everyone's pain. If we did, we'd want to curl up and die. Give Elaine a break and YES, get off your freaking high horses! It's a terrible, unthinkable disaster in Hungary, and I personally can't imagine being in that situation, and my heart goes out to them. Doesn't mean my life does not go on.

Yes, I think the cruise ships will be running. I was in Europe last April during the volcanic activity. I spent most of my energy figuring out my own situation. I'm just not up to figuring out everything for the whole world..... Elaine, contact your cruise line, get their report, and act accordingly. The cruise line may have some sort of backup plan.....The sludge apparently is causing a disaster in some areas, but the effect is minimal on the Danube itself, so far.

In Wales, the finest tourist destination in the world, we have an expression: "You can lead your high horse to water, but....(turns paper over) (twice)..but the, uh, water, if it has heavy metals in it or something....(is asked to leave by library staff)