Share

Text size

Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

The frozen Danube is now just a hard-to-believe memory for residents of ‎Bulgaria's Silistra

published on 3/9/25 7:05 AM

The frozen Danube (1985)

Photo: starasilistra.com

Four decades have passed since the longest freezing of the Danube River waters, which the residents of the Bulgarian towns along the Danube remember. In 1985, the river was covered in ice for two whole months - from January 16 to March 16. Then the ice near the town of Silistra had to be broken with explosions.

The section of the river in the Aydemir region was chosen as a suitable place and thus saved the western part of the city from flooding.

For this "bombardment" in Silistra, a special battery from the artillery division in the city of Shumen arrived. The explosions shattered the windows of the apartment blocks near the Danube Garden, as well as the nearby Natural Sciences and Mathematics High School. The damages were paid by the then Commission for Natural Disasters and Industrial Accidents.‎

Since 1985, it seems like we haven't seen a real winter in Northern Bulgaria, say the people of Silistra. To this day, they remember the years when the ice thickness reached 30 centimeters. Children played, and the older ones skated on modern skates on the icy section. ‎

Memories from the beginning of the 20th century in Silistra (1918-1940) also speak of the frozen Danube. Every time the great European river froze, the local rich people would jump on sledges and set off on the ice to cross to the other side and visit the so-called jurors in the opposite Romanian city of Calarasi. In good weather, they would reach as far as Bucharest.‎

Photos: Private archive, starasilistra.com

Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!

Radio Bulgaria Life Danube Danube river frozen Danube frozen river river Silistra

Gallery

More from category

Nikolay Kandilarov on the power of tea to bring people together

The unpredictable and unsettled weather this spring, with its sudden temperature changes, forced the residents of Sofia to opt for warm drinks, along with their unusually heavy clothing for the season. It was in this context that we came across Nikolay..

published on 6/7/25 8:40 AM

Children from "Abagar" Sunday School are actors in "The Spirit of the Masquerade Games"

The students of the Bulgarian "Abagar" Sunday School in Rome, Nettuno and Ladispoli will remember this year's May 31st not only because they were given their diplomas for completing the school year. The ceremony was also accompanied..

published on 6/6/25 1:10 PM

Pazardzhik hosts the 14th edition of Sunny Besapara Cheerleading Festival

540 cheerleaders will transform the town of Pazardzhik (Southern Bulgaria) into a true stage of grace, rhythm and color. Over the course of two days (June 6 and 7), talented children from 21 towns and cities across the country will demonstrate their..

published on 6/6/25 1:08 PM

1
2
3
4
5
6
..
10

WEATHER

Pick city: Sofía

Partly Cloudy
Min: 12 | Max: 30

BULGARIA IN PICTURES

Which world-famous Bulgarian artist designed QSL cards for Radio Bulgaria?

MOST VIEWED

Balkan developments

EU Ambassador to Skopje launches construction of new border crossing The construction of the EU-funded border crossing Markova Noga – Lemos..

published on 6/6/25 11:33 AM

Euro is coming: effects and drawbacks

The most significant step towards Bulgaria's membership in the eurozone has been made – this country has received official confirmation..

published on 6/5/25 4:57 PM

Pazardzhik hosts the 14th edition of Sunny Besapara Cheerleading Festival

540 cheerleaders will transform the town of Pazardzhik (Southern Bulgaria) into a true stage of grace, rhythm and color. Over the course of two days (June..

published on 6/6/25 1:08 PM

shopify analytics ecommerce
tracking