Orography conditions in the Hron basin area can be described as very rugged, which is reflected in the runoff conditions of the basin. In the spring stretches of the streams, with steep mountain hill gradients, heavy rains cause a fast runoff to valleys and massive flood waves threatening lower-situated areas by floods. The lowest altitude in the basin - in the river mouth of Ipel to Danube is 102 m, and the highest point in the territory is the 2,043 m high mountain Dumbier. Characteristics of river network
There is a dense network of natural flows in the Hron basin, embracing a range of numerous creeks, mountain brooks, streams, lowland streams and rivulets.
River Hron
River network of the partial Hron basin has an area of 5,464.6 km2. Along its centre-line, the lengthwise profile of the Hron as the main (Danube tributary) is 297.4 km. A sum total of all the streams and rivers is 5,288.5 km, which represents water-network density of 0.96 km per km2.
River Ipel
248.15 km long Ipel is a border-line tributary of Danube, thereof the border stretch with Hungary is 151.5 km. River network of the Ipel basin drains 5,15106 km2 of the area, including 3,648.6 km2 in Slovakia. The basin has a rectangle shape, with sides 110 km long and 70 km wide.
River Slana
River Slana, in its upper and central part of the basin area in Slovakia, covers 3,195.5 km2, and its length from the spring to the state border is 94.3 km.
Total precipitation and runoff conditions on main rivers in the Hron basin (see table)
Construction of reservoirs and dams – historical sequence and main objectives
Dating back to the Middle Ages, water-management construction in the territory of Hron basin has the oldest historical record in Slovakia. The first known information on a reservoir in the Banska Stiavnica vicinity is from 1510. Records from the 16th and 17th centuries document already several reservoirs built in the surroundings of the towns of Banska Stiavnica, Banska Hodrusa and Bansky Studenec.
Despite rich history in water reservoir and dam construction in this basin, the present rate of runoff regulation by reservoirs in the river Hron basin is the lowest, compared with the three other basins.
In the mid-sixties construction of public supply capacities was launched: Hrinova reservoir (1965) and Klenovec on the river Klenovecka Rimava (1973). With a volume of V = 24.5 mil. m3, the Malinec reservoir on the river Ipel ranks as the largest one.
In 1974 a system of Ruzina-Mytna water works was built, transferring waters from the river basin of Krivansky potok to the river basin of Budinsky potok, to provide water for irrigation and industrial use. At the end of the eighties, the Teply Vrch reservoir on river Blh was commissioned, to be put to use mainly as an irrigation supply.
The latest water work in the basin is the Kozmalovce water work on the river Hron, commissioned in 1988. It is used as a water source for the Mochovce nuclear Power Plant, and also for irrigation along the lower section of the river Hron. Flow volumes of the river Hron into the Kozmalovce profile, which is an intake point both for the Nuclear Power Plant and for irrigation, will be regulated on a compensation basis by the Slatinka reservoir on the river Slatina.
Information & Contact:
Water Management Company,
Radnicne namestie 8,
969 39 Banska Stiavnica,
tel.: 00421 (45) 4142971
Research Institute of Water Management,
Nabr. arm. gen. L. Svobodu 5,
811 02 Bratislava,
tel.: 00421 (2) 59343111,
fax: 00421 (2) 54415743
