Gabcikovo Dam

Hydroelectric dam on the River Danube, at the point where it crosses the frontier between Hungary and the Slovak Republic. A treaty agreeing to its construction was signed by Hungary and Czechoslovakia in 1977, but work was suspended in 1989 after Hungary withdrew its support for a scheme to divert water from the river. Czechoslovakia resumed work 1991, despite warnings from scientists and environmentalists that the scheme would destroy valuable wetlands in the Danube valley.

A dramatic reduction in river flow resulted from Czechoslovakia's first attempts to divert water November 1992, prompting the setting-up of an investigative committee, under the auspices of the European Community, and involving both parties concerned, to reassess the project.