TheSzigetköz (literally "island alley";German:Kleine Schüttinsel,lit. 'Little Schütt Island';Slovak:Malý Žitný ostrov,lit. 'Little Rye Island') is a flatalluvial region in northwesternHungary, situated between theDanube River's main branch and its Mosoni-Duna branch, part of theLittle Hungarian Plain. It is the largest island or inland delta in Hungary, with an area of 375 square kilometres (145 square miles).[1]
The Szigetköz stretches about 50 km in length from nearDévény (Devin) at the Slovak border to the city ofGyőr, with an average width of 6–8 km. The terrain is a mosaic of rivers, side-channels, and small islands created by the Danube'ssediment deposition over millennia. The region lies in the northern part of the Little Hungarian Plain (Kisalföld) and is essentially the Hungarian continuation of the Danube's vast alluvial fan (theCsallóköz/Rye Island lies to the north in Slovakia).[2]
The name "Szigetköz" means "between the islands", reflecting the landscape's fragmented network of waterways and land. Historically, periodic floods from the Danube built up gravel andsandbars which were stabilized by vegetation, forming a myriad of islands andoxbow lakes.[2] Prior to modernriver engineering, the area was crisscrossed by branches of the Danube, supporting extensivewetlands andriparian forests. Even today, the Szigetköz contains richflora andfauna: hardwood groves ofoak,willow, andpoplar line the riverbanks, and the backwaters provide habitat for waterfowl, fish, and amphibians. It is recognized as a significant semi-naturalfloodplain ecosystem, among the largest of its kind in Central Europe. Parts of the region are protected as the Szigetköz Landscape Protection Area. TheFertő-Hanság National Park also oversees some Szigetköz wetland restoration, especially after ecological changes caused by river regulation.[3]
Environmentally, Szigetköz has faced challenges due to the Gabčíkovo–Nagymaros dam project on the Danube. In 1992, the diversion of the Danube’s main flow on the Slovak side significantly reduced water levels in the Szigetköz side channels. This led to drying of wetlands and drop in groundwater, threatening the local ecology.[4] In response, Hungary undertook measures to replenish water to the side arms and monitor environmental impacts. Research over the decades since indicates that while some wetlands have shrunk, mitigation efforts (such as a partial Danube diversion into Szigetköz side channels and habitat rehabilitation) have helped stabilize conditions to a degree.[4]
| West-Hungarian Borderland |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Little Hungarian Plain | ||
| Transdanubia | ||
| Transdanubian Mountains | ||
| Transdanubian Hills | ||
| North Hungarian Mountains | ||
| Great Hungarian Plain | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
