1. Abstract
The diversion of the Danube River onto Slovak territory will changethe international boundary between the two countries. It willaffect Hungarian trade flows because duties may be charged bySlovakia to cross their territory on the New Danube River and theenvironmental impact of diverting the river is immense. The damwill result in the lowering of the water table, the destruction ofwoodlands and wetlands, and the contamination of water supplies. Not only would it harm all ecosystems that feed off the oldriver-bed, Hungarian critics charge water supplies to some ethnicHungarian Danube villages will be cut off, while others would beflooded. Slovakian officials dismiss the environmental reportsas alarmist and tout the energy creating benefits of the dam. Scientists studying the project say even when the dam is fullyoperational, it will only provide Slovakia with five percent of itsenergy needs.