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

The way to a Bulgarian’s heart is through… pickles

Everyone knows that as soon as temperatures start going down it is pickle-making season. Making preserves at home is a time-honoured and widespread tradition in this country, and, in this season, practically every family in Bulgaria sets about making..

published on 11/8/25 11:05 AM

Responsibility, Unity and Security – German impulses for the future of Europe

Under the motto "Responsibility, Unity and Security" on November 5 and 6, 2025, a German-Bulgarian seminar for journalists and public figures was held in the Hyatt Regency Sofia Hotel. The organizers were the European Academy in..

published on 11/7/25 4:05 PM

Balkan developments

The European Commission praise s Montenegro’s progress toward EU membership North Macedonia needs decisive action and reforms to begin negotiations with the EU, according to the European Commission’s annual report on the progress of..

published on 11/7/25 12:32 PM

1
2
3
4
5
6
..
10

WEATHER

Pick city: Sofía

Rain
Min: 7 | Max: 14

BULGARIA IN PICTURES

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

MOST VIEWED

Responsibility, Unity and Security – German impulses for the future of Europe

Under the motto "Responsibility, Unity and Security" on November 5 and 6, 2025, a German-Bulgarian seminar for journalists and public..

published on 11/7/25 4:05 PM

Bulgaria Participates in a COST Action on the Study of Values in Turbulent Times

On 27 October, the first meeting of Action CA-24150 “Values in Turbulent Times: Navigating Social Change and Challenges (VISTA)” took place in Brussels...

published on 11/6/25 3:13 PM

Balkan developments

The European Commission praise s Montenegro’s progress toward EU membership North Macedonia needs decisive action and reforms to begin..

published on 11/7/25 12:32 PM

shopify analytics ecommerce
tracking