Hron

This article is about the river. For other uses, seeHron (disambiguation).

Hron
The Hron nearStarý Tekov
Current and watershed of the Hron River in Slovakia
Location
Country	Slovakia
Region	Banská Bystrica,Nitra
Physical characteristics
Source	Hron
• location	Kráľova hoľanearTelgárt
• elevation	980 m (3,220 ft)
Mouth	Danube
• location	Kamenica nad Hronom,Nitra Region
• elevation	112 m (367 ft)
Length	271 km (168 mi)
Basin size	5,465 km2(2,110 sq mi)
Discharge
• average	53.7 m3/s (1,900 cu ft/s)
• minimum	7.6 m3/s (270 cu ft/s)
• maximum	1,050 m3/s (37,000 cu ft/s)
Basin features
Progression	Danube→Black Sea
Tributaries
• left	Slatina
• right	Zákruty

TheHron(Slovak:Hron;German:Gran;Hungarian:Garam;Latin:Granus) is a 271-kilometre (168 mi) long left tributary of theDanubeand the second-longest river inSlovakia.It flows from its source in theLow TatraMountains (belowKráľova hoľa) through central and southern Slovakia, emptying into the Danube nearŠtúrovoandEsztergom.Major cities and towns on the Hron areBrezno,Banská Bystrica,Sliač,Zvolen,Žiar nad Hronom,Žarnovica,Nová Baňa,Tlmače,Levice,Želiezovce,and Štúrovo.

The river's basin covers 5,465 km²(2,110 sq mi),which is approximately 11 percent of Slovakia's territory.

Hron is a popular destination ofwater tourism.

Etymology

The name is probably of Germanic origin;*Granahua:gran– spruce,ahua– water.

History

The name of the river was mentioned for the first time in 170, whenRoman EmperorMarcus Aureliuswrote hisMeditationsat the Hron (Latin:Granus) river.The first recorded medieval name was Gron (1075).From the 17th century until the 1930s, the river was used for wood transport.