Mârșa River
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The Olt ( Romanian and Hungarian; ; or ', , ''Alytos'') is a
river A river is a natural stream of fresh water that flows on land or inside Subterranean river, caves towards another body of water at a lower elevation, such as an ocean, lake, or another river. A river may run dry before reaching the end of ...
in
Romania Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Bulgaria to the south, Moldova to ...
. It is long, and its basin area is . It is the longest river flowing exclusively through Romania. Its average discharge at the
mouth A mouth also referred to as the oral is the body orifice through which many animals ingest food and animal communication#Auditory, vocalize. The body cavity immediately behind the mouth opening, known as the oral cavity (or in Latin), is also t ...
is . It originates in the Hășmaș Mountains of the eastern
Carpathian Mountains The Carpathian Mountains or Carpathians () are a range of mountains forming an arc across Central Europe and Southeast Europe. Roughly long, it is the third-longest European mountain range after the Ural Mountains, Urals at and the Scandinav ...
, near Bălan, rising close to the headwaters of the river Mureș. The Olt flows through the Romanian counties of Harghita, Covasna,
Brașov Brașov (, , ; , also ''Brasau''; ; ; Transylvanian Saxon dialect, Transylvanian Saxon: ''Kruhnen'') is a city in Transylvania, Romania and the county seat (i.e. administrative centre) of Brașov County. According to the 2021 Romanian census, ...
,
Sibiu Sibiu ( , , , Hungarian: ''Nagyszeben'', , Transylvanian Saxon: ''Härmeschtat'' or ''Hermestatt'') is a city in central Romania, situated in the historical region of Transylvania. Located some north-west of Bucharest, the city straddles th ...
, Vâlcea, and Olt. The river was known as ''Alutus'' or ''Aluta'' in
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 Roman civilization *Epistle to the Romans, shortened to Romans, a letter w ...
antiquity.
Olt County Olt County () is a county (judeÈ›) of Romania on the border with Bulgaria, in the Historical regions of Romania, historical regions of Oltenia and Muntenia (the regions are separated by the Olt River, Olt river). The capital city is Slatina, Roma ...
and the historical province of
Oltenia Oltenia (), also called Lesser Wallachia in antiquated versions – with the alternative Latin names , , and between 1718 and 1739 – is a historical province and geographical region of Romania in western Wallachia. It is situated between the Da ...
are named after the river. Sfântu Gheorghe,
Râmnicu Vâlcea Râmnicu Vâlcea (formerly ''Râmnic'', ) is a city in Romania. Located in the south-central part of the country, in the historical province of Oltenia, it is the seat of Vâlcea County and its main urban settlement. According to the 2021 Romanian ...
and Slatina are the main cities on the river Olt. The Olt flows into the
Danube The Danube ( ; see also #Names and etymology, other names) is the List of rivers of Europe#Longest rivers, second-longest river in Europe, after the Volga in Russia. It flows through Central and Southeastern Europe, from the Black Forest sou ...
river near Turnu Măgurele.


Settlements

The main cities along the river Olt are Miercurea Ciuc, Sfântu Gheorghe,
Făgăraș Făgăraș (; , ) is a municipiu, city in central Romania, located in Brașov County. It lies on the Olt (river), Olt River and has a population of 26,284 as of 2021. It is situated in the historical region of Transylvania, and is the main city of ...
,
Râmnicu Vâlcea Râmnicu Vâlcea (formerly ''Râmnic'', ) is a city in Romania. Located in the south-central part of the country, in the historical province of Oltenia, it is the seat of Vâlcea County and its main urban settlement. According to the 2021 Romanian ...
and Slatina. The Olt passes through the following communes, from source to mouth: Bălan, Sândominic, Tomești, Cârța, Dănești, Mădăraș, Racu, Siculeni, Ciceu, Miercurea Ciuc, Sâncrăieni, Sântimbru, Sânsimion, Tușnad, Băile Tușnad, Bixad, Micfalău, Malnaș, Bodoc, Ghidfalău, Sfântu Gheorghe, Ilieni, Prejmer, Hărman, Vâlcele, Bod, Feldioara, Hăghig,
Măieruș Măieruș (; ) is a commune in Brașov County, Transylvania, Romania. It is composed of two villages, Arini (''Lüget'') and Măieruș. The settlement was mentioned for the first time in 1377 as "villa nucum". Geography Măieruș is situated at a ...
, Belin, Apața, Aita Mare, Ormeniș, Baraolt, Augustin, Racoș, Hoghiz, Ungra, Comăna, Părău,
Șercaia Șercaia (; ; ) is a commune in Brașov County, Transylvania, Romania. It is composed of three villages: Hălmeag (''Halmagen''; ''Halmágy''; ''Halmaç''), Șercaia, and Vad (''Waadt'', ''Waden''; ''Vád''). The Hungarian name means "dragon". Ge ...
, Mândra,
Făgăraș Făgăraș (; , ) is a municipiu, city in central Romania, located in Brașov County. It lies on the Olt (river), Olt River and has a population of 26,284 as of 2021. It is situated in the historical region of Transylvania, and is the main city of ...
, Beclean, Voila, Viștea, Ucea,
Arpașu de Jos Arpașu de Jos () is a commune located in Sibiu County, Transylvania, Romania Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, ...
, Cârța, Porumbacu de Jos,
Avrig Avrig (; , Transylvanian Saxon: ''Freck/Fraek'', ) is a town in Sibiu County, Transylvania, central Romania. The first documents attesting its existence date to 1346. It officially became a town in 1989, as a result of the Romanian rural systema ...
, Racovița,
Tălmaciu Tălmaciu (; ) is a town in Sibiu County, in central Romania, south of the county seat, Sibiu. It lies on the eastern end of the Mărginimea Sibiului area. Geography Tălmaciu is situated at the confluence of the Sadu and Cibin rivers, before ...
, Turnu Roșu,
Boița Boița (; ; ) is a commune in Sibiu County, Transylvania, Romania Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to ...
, Câineni, Racovița, Brezoi,
Călimănești Călimănești, often known as Călimănești-Căciulata, is a town in Vâlcea County, southern Romania. It is situated in the Historical regions of Romania, historical region of Oltenia and the northern part of the county, on the traditional rou ...
, Dăești, Bujoreni,
Râmnicu Vâlcea Râmnicu Vâlcea (formerly ''Râmnic'', ) is a city in Romania. Located in the south-central part of the country, in the historical province of Oltenia, it is the seat of Vâlcea County and its main urban settlement. According to the 2021 Romanian ...
, Budești, Mihăești, Galicea,
Băbeni Băbeni is a town located in Vâlcea County, Romania. The town, elevated to that status in 2002, administers six villages: Bonciu, Capu Dealului, Pădurețu, Români, Tătărani, and Valea Mare. It is situated in the historical region of Oltenia. ...
, Ionești, Olanu, Drăgoești, Orlești, Dobroteasa, Prundeni, Vulturești, Verguleasa, Drăgășani, Voicești, Teslui, Grădinari, Strejești, Curtișoara, Pleșoiu, Găneasa, Olt, Slatina, Slătioara, Milcov, Piatra-Olt, Brâncoveni, Ipotești, Osica de Sus, Coteana, Fălcoiu, Mărunței, Drăgănești-Olt, Fărcașele, Stoenești, Dăneasa, Gostavățu, Sprâncenata, Băbiciu, Scărișoara, Rusănești, Cilieni, Tia Mare, Izbiceni, Lunca, Giuvărăști and Islaz.


Tributaries

The following rivers are
tributaries A tributary, or an ''affluent'', is a stream or river that flows into a larger stream ('' 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 into which the ...
of the river Olt (from source to mouth): *Left: Mediaș, Fântâna lui Gal, Sedloco, Babașa, Șoarecu, Cad, Racul, Nicolești, Delnița, Pustnic, Fitod, Fișag, Tușnad, Vârghiș, Valea Roșie, Micfalău, Pârâul Urșilor, Malnaș, Hereț, Talomir,
Râul Negru The Râul Negru (; literally meaning "Black River") is a left tributary of the river Olt in Romania. It joins the Olt in Lunca Câlnicului.Ghimbășel The Ghimbășel (also ''Ghimbav'') is a left tributary of the river Bârsa in Romania Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north ...
, Bârsa, Homorod (Ciucaș), Crizbav, Valea Cetății (Rotbav), Valea Seacă, Hotaru,
Măieruș Măieruș (; ) is a commune in Brașov County, Transylvania, Romania. It is composed of two villages, Arini (''Lüget'') and Măieruș. The settlement was mentioned for the first time in 1377 as "villa nucum". Geography Măieruș is situated at a ...
, Bozom, Valea Lungă, Remetea, Ormeniș, Top, Valea Cetății (Racoș), Valea Mare, Bogata, Lupșa, Comana, Veneția, Părău, Găvan,
Șercaia Șercaia (; ; ) is a commune in Brașov County, Transylvania, Romania. It is composed of three villages: Hălmeag (''Halmagen''; ''Halmágy''; ''Halmaç''), Șercaia, and Vad (''Waadt'', ''Waden''; ''Vád''). The Hungarian name means "dragon". Ge ...
, Urăsa, Mândra, Iaz,
Sebeș Sebeș (; German: ''Mühlbach''; Hungarian: ''Szászsebes''; Transylvanian Saxon: ''Melnbach'') is a city in Alba County, central Romania, southwestern Transylvania. Geography The city lies in the Mureș River valley and straddles the river ...
, Racovița, Hurez, Săvăstreni, Netot, Dridif,
Breaza Breaza () is a town in Prahova County, Muntenia, Romania. The town center consists of at least two former villages, ''Podu Vadului'' and ''Breaza de Sus'', which were later merged. Today, ten villages are administratively part of the town: Breaza ...
, Sâmbăta, Racovița, Drăguș, Hotarul, Viștea, Corbul Viștei, Corbul Ucei, Ucea, Racovița, Gârlățel, Gostaia, Arpaș, Valea Neagră, Cârțișoara, Opat, Scorei, Sărata, Porumbacu,
Avrig Avrig (; , Transylvanian Saxon: ''Freck/Fraek'', ) is a town in Sibiu County, Transylvania, central Romania. The first documents attesting its existence date to 1346. It officially became a town in 1989, as a result of the Romanian rural systema ...
, Mârșa, Racovița,
Sebeș Sebeș (; German: ''Mühlbach''; Hungarian: ''Szászsebes''; Transylvanian Saxon: ''Melnbach'') is a city in Alba County, central Romania, southwestern Transylvania. Geography The city lies in the Mureș River valley and straddles the river ...
, Strâmba, Rândibou, Curpăn, Valea Satului, Boia Mare, Pârâul Sec, Băiaș, Lotrișor, Văratica, Păușa, Valea Satului, Sălătrucel, Alunoasa, Valea Satului, Sâmnic, Aninoasa, Pârâul Ruzii, Topolog, Ursana, Stăneasa, Geamăna, Cungra, Sterpul, Cepturaru, Surduiu, Cungrișoara, Recea, Racovăț, Teslui, Strehareți, Milcov, Cinculeasa, Oboga, Dârjov, Iminog *Right: Sipoș, Lunca Mare, Lunca, Modicea, Mădărașul Mare, Șopot, Var, Segheș, Știuca,
Beta Beta (, ; uppercase , lowercase , or cursive ; or ) is the second letter of the Greek alphabet. In the system of Greek numerals, it has a value of 2. In Ancient Greek, beta represented the voiced bilabial plosive . In Modern Greek, it represe ...
, Capolnaș, Techera, Valea Mare, Chendreș, Valea Merilor, Chereș, Pârâul Mare, Mitaci, Răchitiș, Calnic, Valea Crișului, Arcuș, Valea Porumbelor, Debren, Valea Sâmbrezii, Ilieni, Baciu, Vâlcele, Hăghig, Iarăș, Corlat, Belinul Mare, Valea Adânca, Aita, Valea Mateiașului, Pârâul Adânc, Căpeni (Chepeț), Baraolt, Cormoș, Pârâul Sărat, Homorod, Dăișoara, Crăița, Ticuș, Felmer, Galați, Poenița, Cincu, Golbav, Pârâul Nou, Valea Fermelor, Brad, Cibin, Pleașa, Megieș, Lotrioara, Vad, Valea Largă, Valea lui Vlad, Uria, Robești, Sărăcinești, Călinești,
Lotru The Lotru is a right tributary of the river Olt in Romania. Its source is in the Parâng Mountains. It feeds the reservoirs Vidra, Malaia and Brădișor. It flows into the Olt in Golotreni, near the town of Brezoi. It passes through the commu ...
, Lotrișor, Căciulata, Valea Căldărilor, Muereasca, Bujoreanca, Olănești, Pârâul Sărat, Govora, Focșa,
Bistrița (; , archaic , Transylvanian Saxon: , ) is the capital city of Bistrița-Năsăud County, in northern Transylvania, Romania. It is situated on the Bistrița River. The city has a population of 78,877 inhabitants as of 2021 and administers s ...
, Luncavăț, Nisipoasa, Pesceana, Oporelu Canal, Oltișor, Olteț, Teslui,
Caracal The caracal (''Caracal caracal'') () is a medium-sized Felidae, wild cat native to Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and arid areas of Pakistan and northwestern India. It is characterised by a robust build, long legs, a short face, long ...
, Vlădila, Suhat, Crușov


Dams

For supply of
drinking water Drinking water or potable water is water that is safe for ingestion, either when drunk directly in liquid form or consumed indirectly through food preparation. It is often (but not always) supplied through taps, in which case it is also calle ...
and water for
irrigation Irrigation (also referred to as watering of plants) is the practice of applying controlled amounts of water to land to help grow crops, landscape plants, and lawns. Irrigation has been a key aspect of agriculture for over 5,000 years and has bee ...
and for the production of
hydroelectricity Hydroelectricity, or hydroelectric power, is Electricity generation, electricity generated from hydropower (water power). Hydropower supplies 15% of the world's electricity, almost 4,210 TWh in 2023, which is more than all other Renewable energ ...
, 44
reservoir A reservoir (; ) is an enlarged lake behind a dam, usually built to water storage, store fresh water, often doubling for hydroelectric power generation. Reservoirs are created by controlling a watercourse that drains an existing body of wa ...
s have been built in the Olt river basin. There are 24 reservoirs for
hydropower Hydropower (from Ancient Greek -, "water"), also known as water power or water energy, is the use of falling or fast-running water to Electricity generation, produce electricity or to power machines. This is achieved by energy transformation, ...
on the river Olt itself, and three on its tributary
Lotru The Lotru is a right tributary of the river Olt in Romania. Its source is in the Parâng Mountains. It feeds the reservoirs Vidra, Malaia and Brădișor. It flows into the Olt in Golotreni, near the town of Brezoi. It passes through the commu ...
. There are hydropower plants at (from source to mouth) Voila, Viștea, Arpaș, Scoreiu, Avrig, Gura Lotrului, Turnu, Călimănești, Dăești, Râmnicu Vâlcea, Râureni, Govora, Băbeni, Ionești, Zăvideni, Drăgășani, Strejești, Arcești, Slatina, Ipotești, Drăgănești, Frunzaru, Rusănești and Izbiceni. The total energy production of the 43 hydropower plants in the Olt basin was 2,980 GWh in 1996.Danube Pollution Reduction Programme, National Reviews 1998 Romania
pp. 84-87 (of 262)


Gallery

Image:Madefalva Olt Szekelygate.jpg, Olt – Close to the source, at Siculeni Image:OltulLaTurnuRosu.jpg, The Olt River at Turnu Roșu Image:Carol Popp De Szathmary - Pe Valea Oltului.jpg, Carol Popp de Szathmary, Olt Valley Image:Baraj Olt Slatina.jpg, Slatina storage reservoir on the Olt river * More pictures
Raft ride (rafting) on Olt


See also

* Olt Defile * Limes Alutanus


References

{{Portal bar, Romania Rivers of Romania Rivers of Harghita County Rivers of Covasna County Rivers of Brașov County Rivers of Sibiu County Rivers of Vâlcea County Rivers of Olt County Rivers of Teleorman County