Žitný ostrov
Danube island in Slovakia
Žitný ostrov (lit. 'Rye Island'), also called Veľký Žitný ostrov (lit. 'Great Rye Island'; German: Große Schüttinsel, lit. 'Great Schütt Island', Hungarian: Csallóköz) to differentiate it from Malý Žitný ostrov (lit. 'Small Rye Island'; German: Kleine Schüttinsel, lit. 'Little Schütt Island'; Hungarian: Szigetköz), is a river island in southwestern Slovakia, extending from Bratislava to Komárno. It lies between the Danube, its tributary Little Danube and Váh. The island is a major part of the Danubian Flat. It is the biggest river island in Europe, with an area of 1,900 km2 (730 sq mi), measuring 84 km (52 mi) in length and 15 to 30 km (9 to 19 mi) in width.
The main towns on the island are Komárno, Dunajská Streda and Šamorín. Three boroughs of Bratislava, Podunajské Biskupice (whole), Vrakuňa and Ružinov (partial), are also located on the island. The Slovnaft refinery is also located on the island. The island is the biggest drinking water reservoir in Slovakia, and one of the biggest in Europe as well. Because of its warm climate, good soils and water reservoirs it is an important agricultural region, with the best conditions for crop production. It is the most fertile region in Slovakia, causing the majority of the island to be deforested.
Begin with the source’s own compact description: “Žitný ostrov” is danube island in Slovakia. The dossier treats that line as a proposition to test through Žitný, ostrov and Danube, not as a finished interpretation.
Why this record matters
The phrase “danube island in Slovakia” supplies a clear boundary for inquiry. It also exposes the unanswered questions: who defined that boundary, when it became stable and which sources sit outside it.
Place names and jurisdictional language are key evidence: both can reveal earlier catalogue descriptions and overlooked record series. The source revision retrieved here is dated Apr 30, 2026. The linked authority identifier is Q870387. VIAF identifies the subject as 2941156619121328780005. Authority coordinates are 47.901, 17.476. 1 of 2 selected statements include explicit references; 0 carry qualifiers and 0 use preferred rank.
Architectural summaries often privilege surviving fabric and can understate demolished phases, contested use or displaced communities. The lead is largely declarative, so disagreement and counter-evidence require a deliberate search beyond the opening account. Authority statements aid reconciliation but still require their own references, qualifiers and ranks to be checked.
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Treat names, boundaries and functions as historically changeable. Maps, plans, inventories and administrative records can clarify what the place meant at different dates.
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Contemporary maps, plans, listed-building records, estate papers and the responsible local or national archive.
Three-step research path
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Questions for further research
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This entry incorporates text from “Žitný ostrov” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.