Olt (river)

{{short description|River in Romania}}

{{Infobox river

| name = Olt

| native_name =

| native_name_lang =

| name_other =

| name_etymology =

| image = Olt East Karpatien.jpg

| image_size =

| image_caption = The Avrig reservoir on the Olt

| map = Raul Olt.png

| map_size =

| map_caption =

| mapframe = yes

| mapframe-zoom = 5

| subdivision_type1 = Country

| subdivision_name1 = Romania

| subdivision_type2 = Counties

| subdivision_name2 = {{hlist|Harghita|Covasna|Brașov|Sibiu|Vâlcea|Olt|Teleorman}}

| subdivision_type3 = Cities

| subdivision_name3 ={{hlist|Miercurea Ciuc|Sfântu Gheorghe|Râmnicu Vâlcea|Slatina}}

| length = {{convert|615|km|mi|abbr=on}}

| width_min =

| width_avg =

| width_max =

| depth_min =

| depth_avg =

| depth_max =

| discharge1_location= mouth

| discharge1_min =

| discharge1_avg = {{cvt|174|m3/s}}

| discharge1_max =

| source1 = Hășmaș Mountains

| source1_location = Bălan, Harghita

| source1_coordinates=

| source1_elevation = {{convert|1440|m|abbr=on}}

| mouth = Danube

| mouth_location = near Turnu Măgurele

| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|43|42|46|N|24|48|1|E|display=inline,title}}

| mouth_elevation =

| progression = {{RDanube}}

| river_system =

| basin_size = {{convert|24050|km2|abbr=on}}

| tributaries_left = Râul Negru, Bârsa, Topolog

| tributaries_right = Cormoș, Cibin, Lotru, Olteț

| custom_label = River code

| custom_data = VIII.1

| extra =

}}

The Olt (Romanian and Hungarian; {{langx|de|Alt}}; {{langx|la|Aluta}} or {{lang|la|Alutus}}, {{langx|tr|Oltu}}, {{langx|grc|Ἄλυτος}} Alytos) is a river in Romania.{{GeoSource|RO|Annex7|635-638}}{{GeoSource|RO|Atlas|263-308|VIII.1}} It is {{convert|615|km|abbr=on}} long, and its basin area is {{convert|24050|km2|abbr=on}}.{{GeoSource|RO|Atlas|263-308|VIII.1}}{{GeoSource|Danube||12}} It is the longest river flowing exclusively through Romania. Its average discharge at the mouth is {{cvt|174|m3/s}}.{{GeoSource|Danube||12}} It originates in the Hășmaș Mountains of the eastern Carpathian Mountains, near Bălan, rising close to the headwaters of the river Mureș. The Olt flows through the Romanian counties of 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.

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

Settlements

Tributaries

The following rivers are tributaries of the river Olt (from source to mouth):{{GeoSource|RO|Atlas|263-308|VIII.1}}

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.[http://hispagua.cedex.es/sites/default/files/especiales/Trasvases%20Africa/hydrotechnical_infrastructure_romania.pdf Hydro-technical infrastructure in Romania], SEPIC, Bucharest (2004) pp. 23-27 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.[https://www.icpdr.org/main/sites/default/files/RO_TECHNICAL_REPORTS_PARTS_A-B.pdf Danube Pollution Reduction Programme, National Reviews 1998 Romania], pp. 84-87 (of 262)

{{Defile Olt drainage basin}}

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: [http://www.cntours.eu/en/pictures-transylvania.htm#pluta Raft ride (rafting) on Olt]

See also

References