A New Waterway Route on the Danube 22-05-1851, Petrovaradin (today part of Novi Sad, Serbia) 1 Sheet, manuscript and coloured drawing on paper, 49 × 32 cm Historical Archive of Vojvodina of Novi Sad (Serbia) RS 002 F. 373 190 Rivers have been used for transport since time immemorial. Long before the modern and efficient networks of highways and even before ancient roads, rivers were used as routes for trade and the movement of people and goods. The main rivers traversing Europe have been significant waterways since ancient times, including of course the Danube, the second longest river of Europe. Originating in Germany, the Danube crosses Central and Eastern Europe, flowing today through 10 countries before draining into the Black Sea. It was one of the most important trade routes in Europe, crossing a collection of important towns that included four capital cities (Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, and Belgrade).The Danube is 2,850 kmin length, and most of it (2,415 km) is navigable. ...