Danube River represents a critical axis of ecological and economic importance for the
countries along its course. From this perspective, this paper aims to assess the most
significant characteristics of the river and of its main tributaries, as well as its impact on
the environmental sustainability and socio-economic development. Navigation and the
economic contribution of the Danube River are the key issues of this work, emphasizing
its importance as an international transport artery that facilitates trade and tourism, and
develops the energy industry through hydropower plants. The study includes an analysis of
the volume of goods transported from 2019 to 2023, as well as an analysis of the goods traffic
in the busiest port on the Danube. Furthermore, climate change affects the hydrological
regime of the Danube, as well as the ecosystems, economy, and energy security of the
riparian countries. Main impacts include changes in the hydrological regime, increased
frequency of droughts and floods, reduced water quality, deterioration of biodiversity,
and disruption of the economic activities dependent on the river, such as navigation,
agriculture, and hydropower production. Thus, hydrological risks and challenges are
investigated, focusing on the extreme events of the last two decades and the awareness of
their repercussions. In this context, the national and international institutions responsible
for monitoring and managing the Danube are presented, and their role in promoting a
sustainable river policy is explored. Methods and technologies are shown to be essential
tools for monitoring and prediction studies. The Danube includes an extensive network of
hydrometric stations that help to prevent and manage the most significant risks. Finally, a
SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis of the development of
the hydrological studies was conducted, highlighting the potential of the river.