How We Define Continental Divides

A drainage basin forms a continental divide. Here the Spree River drainage basin is depicted.
Drainage basin of the Spree River from source to mouth

Continental divides are formed through drainage basins for individual rivers. A drainage basin begins at the source and stretches to the mouth of that river until it flows into another larger river. The source of the river forms the high point, from which gravity pulls all the water downward. Different basins come together to form a network of waterways ultimately leading to an ocean.

Thus, what we call a continental divide is the main ridgeline that separates one network of waterways leading to one major body of water from another network of waterways leading to another major body of water.

For Continental Divide chasers, standing on a ridgeline that separates two major bodies of water is a satisfying thrill. A raindrop landing on that spot could have two entirely different journeys ahead.  

The Many Continental Divides of Europe

Yet Europe does not have single divide. Instead, it is surrounded by many seas: The Baltic, North, Mediterranean, Black, Adriatic, Aegean, Tyrrhenian, Ionian and Caspian Seas, as well as two oceans: Arctic and Atlantic.

Therefore in Europe, there are actually many continental divides that separate the oceans and seas surrounding the continent. As a matter of interpretation, this project considers the ‘Main’ Continental Divide as the ridgeline that divides the continent from the northeast bodies of water (Atlantic, North Sea, Baltic and Arctic) from the southwest bodies of water (Mediterranean, Tyrrhenian, Ionian Adriatic, Aegean, Black Sea and Caspian Sea).  

Karst Regions and Sinkholes

The karst region of the Dinaric Alps in Croatia, with the Divide between the Adriatic and Black Sea depicted in purple. The river network (enhanced in blue) does not flow connect to an oceanic drainage basin, but rather drains through the underwater karst system.
The karst region of the Dinaric Alps with the Continental Divide in purple and the its river network enhanced in blue.

The map of the Continental Divide depicts the drainage basins of groundwater rivers. In Europe, however, there are several locations where the river drainages flow underground into karst regions, rather than into an oceanic basin.

The Dinaric Karst of Croatia is one of the largest of these regions. In the image to the right, you can find the rivers within this region, without a clear outflow to an oceanic basin.

Although significantly smaller, the Danube Sinkhole in Germany is another well-known region with this particular phenomenon.

Mapped Divides

This project documents the path of the following continental divides in Europe. Note that the most detailed and accurate portions of the map are in western Europe, with the divides in eastern Europe shown with less precision. The length of each divide in km is noted.

Along the Main Divide From the Southwest to Northeast

European Continental Divide Map
Overview map of the European Continental Divide

Side Spurs of the Continental Divide

France, British Isles

Atlantic – North Sea: from Mount Piémont in France through the English Channel to the northern tip of Scotland (4118 km)

Italian Peninsula

Balkans, Greece, Turkey

Germany and Scandinavia

Eastern Europe

Continental Divide Triple Points

Continental Divide Triple point on the Baltic/North/Black Sea Divide
Map of the triple point Baltic/North/Black Seas

As satisfying as it can be to stand on a point that separates two major bodies of water, a single point that separates three bodies of water is even more thrilling. These points are called triple points. As Europe is surrounded by various seas and oceans, triple points are actually fairly abundant throughout the continent.

This project documents the following triple points throughout Europe:

From the Main European Continental Divide

Triple Points on Side Spurs

About Divides

A Continental Divide is formed by drainage basins for individual rivers.

About Divides

Methodology

The map of the Continental Divide is assembled from publicly available datasources for water management and cartography.

Methodology

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