Prut River
Prut near Albiţa, Drânceni
Countries	Ukraine, Romania, Moldova
Oblasts/ Counties/ Districts	Ukraine: Ivano-Frankivsk O., Chernivtsi O. Romania: Botoşani C., Iaşi C., Vaslui C., Galaţi C. Moldova Briceni d., Edineţ d., Rîşcani d., Glodeni d., Făleşti d., Ungheni d., Nisporeni d., Hînceşti d., Leova d., Cantemir d., Cahul d.
Tributaries
- right	Cheremosh, Jijia
Cities	Kolomyia, Chernivtsi, Ungheni, Leova, Cahul
Source	Carpathian Mountains
- location	Mt. Hoverla, Ivano-Frankivsk O., Ukraine
Mouth	Danube
- location	Giurgiuleşti, Romania/Moldova
- coordinates	45°28′8″N 28°12′28″E / 45.46889°N 28.20778°E / 45.46889; 28.20778
Length	953 km (592 mi)
Basin	27,500 km2 (10,618 sq mi)
Discharge
- average	110 m3/s (3,885 cu ft/s)
Official River Code	XIII.1
Map of the Prut River

The Prut (also spelled in English Pruth; Romanian pronunciation: [prut], Ukrainian: Прут) is a 953 km (592 mi) long river in Eastern Europe. In part of its course it forms the border between Romania and Moldova.

Overview[link]

It was known in antiquity as the Pyretus, Porata (possibly),^[1] Hierasus or Gerasius.^[2] It originates on the eastern slope of Mount Hoverla, in the Carpathian Mountains in Ukraine. The Prut flows southeast eventually joining the Danube river near Reni, east of Galaţi.

Between 1918 and 1940 it was almost entirely in Greater Romania. While prior to that it also served as a border between Romania and the Russian Empire. After the World War II the river resumed its border purpose between Romania and the Soviet Union. Nowadays, for a length of 695 km it forms the border between Romania and Moldova. It has a hydrographic basin of 27,500 km², of which 10,990 km² are in Romania and 7,790 km² in Moldova. The biggest city along its banks is Chernivtsi, Ukraine.

The Costeşti-Stînca/Stânca-Costeşti dam, operated jointly by Moldova and Romania, is built on the Pruth. There is also a Hydro-Electric Station in Snyatyn (Ukraine). Ships travel from the river's mouth to the city of Leova (southern Moldova). Near the city of Yaremche the river creates a waterfall Probiy which is eight meters high and has a slope of almost 45 degrees.

Towns[link]

The following towns are situated along the river Prut, from source to mouth: Delatyn, Kolomyia, Sniatyn, Chernivtsi, Novoselytsia, Darabani, Lipcani, Ungheni, Leova, Cantemir and Cahul.

Tributaries[link]

The following rivers are tributaries to the river Prut:

Left: Racovăţ, Ciuhur, Lăpuşna, Seret, Tlumachyk, Turka, Chornyava, Cherlena, Rynhach, Rekitnyanka, Larha

Right: Cheremosh, Herţa, Poiana, Corneşti, Isnovăţ, Rădăuţi, Ghireni, Volovăţ, Badu, Başeu, Corogea, Berza Veche, Râioasa, Soloneţ, Cerchezoaia, Jijia, Cozmeşti, Bohotin, Moşna, Pruteţ, Siret, Elan, Horincea, Oancea, Stoeneasa, Chineja, Rybnitsa, Pistynka

Historical events[link]

On 19 July 1711 Russian forces, divided to Peter the Great's army on the west bank and Boris Sheremetev's army of on the east bank of the Pruth met with the Ottoman army led by Grand Vizier Baltaci Mehmed Pasha. The Turks and Crimean Tatars attacked first against Sheremetev, who then retreated to the other side to join Peter the Great. Afterwards the Russian army set up a defensive camp between Stănileşti (Stanileshti) and the river, which was then completely surrounded by the Ottoman army. Negotiations started on 21 July 1711 and the Treaty of the Pruth was signed on 23 July 1711.

Popular culture[link]

Sydir Vorobkevych: Within that Prut Valley (Над Прутом у лузі).^[3]

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!
Translated by Waldimir Semenyna (13 October 1933, Ukrainian Weekly).

Legend[link]

In one village lived a boy who was called Prut. One time he worked for so long that by the evening decided simply to stay overnight in the mountains. He found a big pine tree and situated underneath it. During his sleep he saw a wonderful dream as to him came very beautiful girl all in green. The girl was stroked his hair and sang a song. But as the boy stretch towards her hand she disappeared right away. He woke up, but no one was around. He only noticed on a branch a green ribbon. That girl fell into his soul and he decided to find her.

The next evening he again laid under the same pine tree, but did not sleep. As the darkness fell he saw that from under the ground appeared that girl and went straight to that place where Prut hid. As she neared the tree the boy jumped out and hugged her. He asked her what her name was. She at first looked at him in fright, but then smiled and said: "Hoverla". After that night Prut already almost never was seen in the village. All the time he spent in the mountains. They fell in love with each other.

However Hoverla was a daughter of the mountain Tsar and therefore she could not come down from the mountains among people. Once her father learned of her love, he cursed her. She could not live any longer without her love and jumped down from a high cliff. Immediately rose terrible wind that destroyed everything in its path. The next morning once again appeared the sun and people saw that in place of a valley now appeared a big mountain. For a long time Prut sought Hoverla. He ran onto the mountain and heard her voice. He never returned back to people. Since then flowed down a mountain river, laying a path between rocks. And people named the river Prut, and the mountain Hoverla.

Bridges[link]

• Lipcani-Rădăuţi Bridge
• Eiffel Bridge, Ungheni
• Costeşti-Stânca

See also[link]

• Moldavia
• Pokucie

Gallery[link]

• 

  Prut's rapids near Mt. Hoverla

• 

  Vorokhta (Yaremche)

• 

  Ungheni in the 1900s

• 

  Eiffel Bridge, Ungheni

• 

  On June 21, 1941

• 

  Near Albiţa, Drânceni

• 

  Lower Prut

References[link]

• Administraţia Naţională Apelor Române - Cadastrul Apelor - Bucureşti
• Institutul de Meteorologie şi Hidrologie - Rîurile României - Bucureşti 1971

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Prut River

• (Russian) Legend about Prut and Hoverla

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