It all began around 1850, when Viennese citizens borrowed boats from the Danube fishermen. On the weekends, they “rowed” down the extensive branches of the Danube. Shortly thereafter, they built their own flatboats and the first rowing communities were formed. The starting signal of rowing as a sport in Vienna took place when the first Viennese rowing club, LIA, was established in 1863. Over the years, more clubs were founded, and the first races took place. With the Danube regulation from 1870 to 1875, the separation of today's Old Danube from the main branch of the stream took place. The former riverbed is now a marsh.
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