The Great Rye Island (Slovakian Žitný ostrov, formerly Čalokez, German also Great Schuett, Hungarian Csallóköz) is a river island (or river island group) between the Danube, the Little Danube (Malý Dunaj) and the Vah (Váh) on the left side of the river of the main stream in southwest Slovakia.
With a length of 84 km and a width of 15 to 30 km, the Danube forms a network of numerous meanders and tributaries, including the Little Danube. There are about 500 islands and islets between the arms of the river.
The Great Rye Island begins near Bratislava at river kilometer 1865 and covers an area of 1,885.19 km².[1] When considered as a single island, it is the largest river island in Europe.
The Great Rye Island is, in contrast to the Small Rye Island, exclusively on Slovak territory and administratively largely belongs to Okres Dunajská Streda in the Trnavský kraj in the center and west and to Okres Komárno in the Nitriansky kraj in the east. Parts of Bratislavský kraj (Okres Senec and Okres Bratislava II) are located in the extreme west of the island.
The most important cities of the Big Rye Island are Komárno, Dunajská Streda and Šamorín. In addition, part of the capital Bratislava extends on the island. There is a significant Hungarian minority among the inhabitants of the area. The area is mainly used for agriculture and drinking water. Literally translated into German, the Slovak name means "rye island".