Peeking out from the Danube’s surface. What is that? It is the \u00cdns\u00e9g-szikla.
The \u00cdns\u00e9g-szikla is also known as \u00cdns\u00e9g-k\u0151 or \u00cdns\u00e9g-z\u00e1tony. This rock emerges from the riverbed at the foot of Gell\u00e9rt Hill. You can find it at the 1645.4-kilometer mark of the Danube. Locals jokingly call it the lowest mountain peak in Hungary.
Its height above sea level is 95.76 meters. The \u00cdns\u00e9g-szikla gets its name from appearing only during droughts. It becomes visible when the water level is very low.
The rock’s appearance is a sign of dry times. The name \u00cdns\u00e9g translates to scarcity or famine. So, when the rock shows itself it is a reminder of potential hardship.
The \u00cdns\u00e9g-szikla has been observed several times in recent years. These include September 2003, November 2011 and September 2015. Also, early August 2018 saw its reappearance. In late October 2018, the water level hit a record low of 33 cm.
The Szabads\u00e1g Bridge revealed war-era remains at that time. These remains had never been seen before.
Scientific analysis reveals the rock is natural sandstone. The Building Materials and Engineering Geology Department at BME conducted the tests.
Geographically the \u00cdns\u00e9g-szikla sits near the Raul Wallenberg embankment. It lies about 20-30 meters from the shore. This places it in Budapest’s 11th district. The rock emerges when the water level drops below 95 cm.
Interestingly, the name sometimes appears in plural form. This might suggest varying levels of visibility. At slightly lower water levels, several smaller rocks appear. Only at even lower levels does the connected structure become fully visible.
Some believe there are separate rock towers in this section of the river. These towers can appear individually. However, researchers suggest some are independent of the \u00cdns\u00e9g-szikla.
Until the late 19th century, larger rocks lined the base of Gell\u00e9rt Hill. These rocks acted as a continuation of the \u00cdns\u00e9g-szikla in the riverbed. During the construction of the Szent Gell\u00e9rt embankment in 1898-1899 these upper rocks were blasted away.
The Freedom Bridge’s Buda pillar rests partly on a similar rock formation.
In the early 2000s seismic surveys mapped the riverbed near the Freedom Bridge. These surveys were part of preparations for the M4 metro line. The results showed the \u00cdns\u00e9g-szikla extends further downstream.
The Danube’s flow erodes the riverbed deeply after passing the \u00cdns\u00e9g-szikla. During the metro tunnel construction rocks had to be placed on the riverbed. This prevented the tunnel roof from collapsing under pressure.
The \u00cdns\u00e9g-szikla’s reappearances have been noted in recent times. These include September 2003, November 2011 and September 2015. Also, from early August to November 2018 it was visible. In late October 2018, the water level reached a record low. The rock also emerged in August 2022 and October 2023.