Olt (river)

The Olt (Romanian and Hungarian; German: Alt; Latin: Aluta or Alutus, Turkish: Oltu, Ancient Greek: Ἄλυτος Alytos) is a river in Romania.[1][2] It is 615 km (382 mi) long, and its basin area is 24,050 km2 (9,290 sq mi).[2][3] It is the longest river flowing exclusively through Romania. Its source is in the Hășmaș Mountains of the eastern Carpathian Mountains, near Bălan, rising close to the headwaters of the river Mureș. It flows through the Romanian counties Harghita, Covasna, Brașov, Sibiu, Vâlcea and Olt. The river was known as Alutus or Aluta in Roman antiquity. Olt County and the historical province of Oltenia are named after the river.

Olt
The Avrig reservoir on the Olt
Location
CountryRomania
CountiesHarghita, Covasna, Brașov, Sibiu,
Vâlcea, Olt, Teleorman
CitiesSfântu Gheorghe, Râmnicu Vâlcea, Slatina
Physical characteristics
SourceHășmaș Mountains
 • locationBălan, Harghita
 • elevation1,440 m (4,720 ft)
MouthDanube
 • location
near Turnu Măgurele
 • coordinates
43°42′46″N 24°48′1″E
Length615 km (382 mi)
Basin size24,050 km2 (9,290 sq mi)
Discharge 
 • location*
 • average190 m3/s (6,700 cu ft/s)
Basin features
ProgressionDanube→ Black Sea
Tributaries 
 • leftRâul Negru, Bârsa, Topolog
 • rightCormoș, Cibin, Lotru, Olteț
River codeVIII.1

Sfântu Gheorghe, Râmnicu Vâlcea and Slatina are the main cities on the river Olt. The Olt flows into the Danube river near Turnu Măgurele.

Towns and villages
Crossing the Olt river, 1869 watercolor by Amedeo Preziosi

The following towns and villages are situated along the river Olt, from source to mouth (incomplete list): Bălan, Sândominic, Miercurea Ciuc, Sfântu Gheorghe, Făgăraș, Brezoi, Călimănești, Râmnicu Vâlcea, Drăgășani, Slatina, Drăgănești-Olt.

Tributaries

The following rivers are tributaries of the river Olt (from source to mouth):[2]

Dams

For supply of drinking water and water for irrigation and for the production of hydroelectricity, 44 reservoirs have been built in the Olt river basin. There are 24 reservoirs for hydropower on the river Olt itself, and three on its tributary Lotru.[4] 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.[5]

Clickable map of the (ro:Defileul Oltului)/(en:Olt Defile) drainage basin
Interactive map of the Olt Defile drainage basin. (Click on the desired quadrant.)
  • Olt – Close to the source, at Siculeni
  • The Olt River at Turnu Roșu
  • Carol Popp de Szathmary, Olt Valley
  • Slatina storage reservoir on the Olt river

See also

References
  1. "Planul național de management. Sinteza planurilor de management la nivel de bazine/spații hidrografice, anexa 7.1" (PDF, 5.1 MB). Administrația Națională Apele Române. 2010. pp. 635–638.
  2. Atlasul cadastrului apelor din România. Partea 1 (in Romanian). Bucharest: Ministerul Mediului. 1992. pp. 263–308. OCLC 895459847. River code: VIII.1
  3. Danube River Basin District, Part A - Roof Report, IPCDR, p 12
  4. Hydro-technical infrastructure in Romania, SEPIC, Bucharest (2004) pp. 23-27
  5. Danube Pollution Reduction Programme, National Reviews 1998 Romania, pp. 84-87 (of 262)
  • Trasee turistice - județul Olt
  • Trasee turistice - județul Vâlcea
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