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The Prut River

A Hydrographic and Historical Nexus of Eastern Europe.

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River Characteristics

Origin and Mouth

The Prut River originates on the eastern slope of Mount Hoverla in the Carpathian Mountains, within Ukraine. It concludes its journey as a left tributary of the Danube River, emptying into it near Giurgiulești, Romania, east of Galați and west of Reni, Ukraine.

Geographic Course

Initially flowing northward from its source, the Prut turns northeast near Yaremche and then southeast near Kolomyia. Upon reaching the border between Moldova and Romania, its course shifts further southeast, eventually flowing directly south to its confluence with the Danube.

Dimensions and Basin

The Prut spans a considerable length of 953 kilometers (592 miles). Its hydrographic basin covers an extensive area of 27,540 square kilometers (10,630 sq mi), with significant portions within Romania (10,990 km²) and Moldova (7,790 km²).

Discharge and Slope

The river's average discharge at its mouth is approximately 110 cubic meters per second (3,900 cu ft/s). The riverbed gradient is substantial, varying from 100 m/km near its source to a gentle 0.05 m/km as it approaches the Danube.

Etymology and Historical Names

Classical Origins

In antiquity, the Prut was known by names such as Pyretus in Ancient Greek and possibly the Scythian Porata. It was also referred to as Hierasus or Gerasius. Historical texts, including those by Herodotus, mention the river as a significant waterway flowing through Scythian territory into the Danube.

Medieval and Ottoman Mentions

Later historical records, such as the Ottoman-Bulgarian chronicles of Iman "Jagfar Tarihi" (1680), refer to the river as "Burat." Byzantine texts, like Constantine Porphyrogennetos's "De Administrando Imperio," mention it as the "Brut" or "Burat" river, underscoring its continuous historical presence.

Settlements Along the Prut

Key Cities and Towns

Numerous towns and cities are situated along the banks of the Prut River, marking its course from its mountainous origins to its deltaic confluence. Notable settlements include:

  • Ukraine: Vorokhta, Yaremche, Deliatyn, Lanchyn, Kolomyia, Zabolotiv, Sniatyn, Nepolokivtsi, Luzhany, Chernivtsi, Novoselytsia.
  • Moldova: Lipcani, Ungheni, Leova, Cantemir, Cahul.
  • Romania: Darabani, Galați (near mouth).

Chernivtsi, Ukraine, stands as the largest city directly situated on the Prut's banks.

River Network

Left Bank Tributaries

The Prut receives numerous tributaries from its left bank, contributing significantly to its water volume as it flows through Moldova and Ukraine. These include:

  • Turka (Prut)
  • Chorniava
  • Sovytsia
  • Rokytna
  • Rynhach (river)
  • Cherlena
  • Larga (Briceni)
  • Vilia
  • Lopatnic
  • Racovăț (Prut)
  • Ciuhur
  • Camenca (Prut)
  • Delia (river)
  • Nârnova
  • Lăpușna (Prut)
  • Sărata (Prut)
  • Larga (Cantemir)

Right Bank Tributaries

The right bank tributaries primarily originate in the Carpathian Mountains and flow through Ukraine and Romania. Key tributaries include:

  • Pistynka
  • Rybnytsia
  • Cheremosh
  • Derelui
  • Hertsa (river)
  • Poiana
  • Cornești
  • Isnovăț
  • Rădăuți
  • Ghireni
  • Volovăț (Prut)
  • Badu
  • Bașeu
  • Corogea
  • Berza Veche
  • Râioasa
  • Soloneț (Prut)
  • Cerchezoaia
  • Jijia
  • Bohotin
  • Moșna (Prut)
  • Pruteț
  • Gârla Boul Bâtrân
  • Copăceana
  • Belciug
  • Elan (Prut)
  • Horincea
  • Oancea
  • Stoenești
  • Brănești
  • Chineja

Historical Significance

Strategic Waterway

The Prut has historically served as a crucial border and strategic crossing point. Ottoman armies under Suleiman the Magnificent crossed it in 1538. During the Russo-Turkish War of 1710-1711, the river was the site of significant military maneuvers and the signing of the Treaty of the Prut, which altered the political landscape of the region.

Shifting Borders

Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, the Prut frequently demarcated borders. It separated the Russian Empire from Romania, later the Soviet Union from Romania, and currently forms part of the borders between Romania and Moldova, and Romania and Ukraine. This geopolitical role has shaped the river's historical narrative.

Uprisings and Independence

In 1821, Alexander Ypsilantis crossed the Prut at Sculeni, initiating a rebellion in the Danubian Principalities. While the uprising ultimately failed, it played a role in the eventual Greek War of Independence and the subsequent move towards Romanian autonomy and independence.

Cultural Resonance

Poetic Depiction

The Prut River has inspired artistic and literary works. A notable example is the poem "Within that Prut Valley" by Sydir Vorobkevych. This piece evokes pastoral imagery and romantic sentiment, portraying the river valley as a place of beauty and quiet contemplation.

Within that Prut Valley
By Sydir Vorobkevych (Translated by Waldimir Semenyna)

Within that Prut Valley a cabin rests close
In which lives a lassie—a beautiful rose:
Her eyes like the bright stars that lighten the sky;
When you see them, laddie, you'll pause with a sigh.

Within that Prut Valley the moon does not shine,
'Tis only a lover has come to his shrine.
A sweet conversation in murmur now goes
While dreamy old river just quietly flows.

Within that Prut Valley the flowers are plucked
And wreathes for the wedding with myrtle are tucked;
Inside of the cabin play fiddles and bass
While friends sing together: To their Happiness!

Crossings Over the Prut

Notable Bridges

The Prut River is spanned by numerous bridges, facilitating transport and connection between the regions it borders. These range from modern infrastructure to historically significant structures.

  • Lipcani-Rădăuți Bridge
  • Eiffel Bridge, Ungheni
  • Costești-Stânca (Dam and Bridge)
  • Fălciu-Cantemir
  • Oancea-Cahul
  • Galați-Giurgiulești

The Eiffel Bridge in Ungheni, named after its engineer Gustave Eiffel, is a notable historical landmark.

References

Source Material

The information presented on this page is derived from comprehensive data sources. The primary reference is the Wikipedia article on the Prut River, supplemented by cited materials detailing its geography, history, and management.

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References

References

  1.  Herodotus, translated by Thomas Gaisford and edited by Peter Edmund Laurent, The Nine Books of the History of Herodotus, Henry Slatter 1846, p. 299
A full list of references for this article are available at the Prut Wikipedia page

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