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The Danube begins at the confluence of the Brigach and Breg Rivers in the city of Donaueschingen located in the Black Forest, Baden-Württemberg. The German Danube catchment area covers an area of about 56,200 km²; its share of the total Danube catchment area is approx. 7%. The German Danube basin is bordered by the Rhine basin to the west and the Elbe River basin to the east.

Accidental pollution in the Danube River Basin can cause widespread damage to the environment, and endanger the health of local people and the state of local economies downstream. This was exemplified by the effects of the Baia Mare cyanide spill in Romania in 2000 or by the Hungarian redsludge accident at Ajka in 2010. The ICPDR is working to prevent accidental pollution and to improve response capability by compiling an inventory of all relevant "Accident Risk Spots".