The Motru is a right

tributary A tributary, or affluent, is a stream or river that flows into a larger stream or main stem (or parent) river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean. Tributaries and the main stem river drain the surrounding drainage ...

of the river Jiu in Southwestern

Romania Romania ( ; ro, România ) is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern, and Southeast Europe, Southeastern Europe. It borders Bulgaria to the south, Ukraine to the north, Hungary to the west, S ...

. It discharges into the Jiu in

Gura Motrului Gura may refer to: Places Eritrea * Gura, Eritrea, a formerly-important town of the Ottoman, Egyptian, Ethiopian, and Italian Empires India * Gura Sonigara, small village in Rajasthan, India * Gura, Nakodar, small village in Punjab, India * Gur ...

, near the town

Filiași Filiași () is a town in Dolj County, Oltenia, Romania, on the river Jiu. The town administers six villages: Almăjel, Bâlta, Braniște, Fratoștița, Răcarii de Sus and Uscăci. Natives * Irinel Popescu Irinel Popescu, M.D. (born on 22 ...

. Its length is and its hydrological basin size is .

Towns and villages

The following towns are situated along the river Motru, from source to mouth:

Padeș Padeș is a commune in Gorj County, Oltenia, Romania Romania ( ; ro, România ) is a country located at the crossroads of Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe. It borders Bulgaria to the south, Ukraine to the north, Hungary to the ...

Cătunele Cătunele is a commune in Gorj County, Oltenia, Romania Romania ( ; ro, România ) is a country located at the crossroads of Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe. It borders Bulgaria to the south, Ukraine to the north, Hungary to th ...

Motru Motru () is a city in Romania, Gorj County. It is situated on the river Motru in western Oltenia. The county capital Târgu Jiu is located about 35 km northeast. The city administers eight villages: Dealu Pomilor, Horăști, Însurăței, ...

, Broșteni,

Strehaia Strehaia () is a town in Mehedinți County, Oltenia, Romania. It is situated on the Motru River valley, in the eastern part of the county. Forests in the vicinity are home to the largest Hermann's tortoise colonies in Oltenia. Nine villages ar ...

Butoiești Butoiești is a commune located in Mehedinți County, Oltenia Oltenia (, also called Lesser Wallachia in antiquated versions, with the alternative Latin names ''Wallachia Minor'', ''Wallachia Alutana'', ''Wallachia Caesarea'' between 1718 and 1 ...

Tributaries

The following rivers are tributaries to the river Motru (from source to mouth): Left: Frumosu, Valea Râsului, Cărpinei, Valea Mare, Lupoaia, Ploștina, Stângăceaua Right: Mileanu, Scărișoara,

Motrul Sec The Motrul Sec is a right tributary of the river Motru in Romania Romania ( ; ro, România ) is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern, and Southeast Europe, Southeastern Europe. It border ...

, Brebina, Crainici, Peșteana, Lupșa, Coșuștea, Jirov, Cotoroaia, Hușnița,

Slătinic The Slătinic is a right tributary of the river Motru in Romania Romania ( ; ro, România ) is a country located at the crossroads of Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe. It borders Bulgaria to the south, Ukraine to the north, Hung ...

, Tălăpan

History

The ancient Dacian name of the river was Amutria, which is homonymous with a settlement in the area. The Dacian town of

Amutria Amutria (''Amutrion'', ''Amutrium'', ''Admutrium'', ''Ad Mutrium'', ''Ad Mutriam'', grc, Ἀμούτριον) was a Dacian town close to the Danube and included in the Roman road network, after the conquest of Dacia. The name is homonymous with ...

is mentioned in ancient sources like

Ptolemy Claudius Ptolemy (; grc-gre, Πτολεμαῖος, ; la, Claudius Ptolemaeus; AD) was a mathematician, astronomer, astrologer, geographer, and music theorist, who wrote about a dozen scientific treatises, three of which were of importanc ...

Geographia The ''Geography'' ( grc-gre, Γεωγραφικὴ Ὑφήγησις, ''Geōgraphikḕ Hyphḗgēsis'', "Geographical Guidance"), also known by its Latin names as the ' and the ', is a gazetteer, an atlas, and a treatise on cartography, com ...

(c. 150 AD) and

Tabula Peutingeriana ' (Latin Language, Latin for "The Peutinger Map"), also referred to as Peutinger's Tabula or Peutinger Table, is an illustrated ' (ancient Roman road map) showing the layout of the ''cursus publicus'', the road network of the Roman Empire. The m ...

(2nd century AD), and placed around the river. After the

Roman Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *''Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a letter ...

conquest of

Dacia Dacia (, ; ) was the land inhabited by the Dacians, its core in Transylvania, stretching to the Danube in the south, the Black Sea in the east, and the Tisza in the west. The Carpathian Mountains were located in the middle of Dacia. It thus r ...

, Amutria was part of an important road network, between Drubetis and

Pelendava Pelendava (''Pelendoua'', ''Potulatensioi'', ''Polonda'' ) was a Dacian town. Ancient sources Ptolemy's Geographia Tabula Peutingeriana Etymology History Dacian town Roman times Archaeology See also * Daci ...

References

Rivers of Romania Rivers of Gorj County Rivers of Mehedinți County {{Mehedinți-river-stub