Ialomița River

Ialomița River
Native name	Râul Ialomița
Location
Country	Romania
Counties	Dâmbovița County Prahova County Ilfov County Ialomița County
Physical characteristics
Source	Bucegi Mountains Location: Piatra Obârșiei Elevation: Approximately 2,390 m
Mouth	Danube
Location	Near Giurgeni, Ialomița County
Length	417 km
Basin size	10350 km²
Discharge	Location: Slobozia Average: 41.9 m³/s
Basin features
River system	Danube
Cities	Târgoviște Urziceni Slobozia Țăndărei
Tributaries	Left: Prahova River
Waterbodies	Bolboci Lake Lake Scropoasa Pucioasa Reservoir

The Ialomița River (Romanian: Râul Ialomița) is a river in southern Romania and a left tributary of the Danube. It rises in the Bucegi Mountains of the Southern Carpathians and flows southeast across the Romanian Plain, entering the Danube near Giurgeni. The river is 417 kilometres (259 mi) long and has a drainage basin covering 10,350 square kilometres (3,996 sq mi).

The river passes through Dâmbovița County before continuing across the plains east of Târgoviște. Ialomița County takes its name from the river.

Course

The Ialomița begins on the southern slopes of the Bucegi Mountains, below Piatra Obârșiei, at an altitude of approximately 2,390 metres. Its upper course runs through a steep mountain valley with rocky gorges and waterfalls. The river passes through Bolboci Lake and Lake Scropoasa, both formed by dams constructed along its mountain course.

After leaving the mountains near Moroeni, the river enters the Subcarpathian hills and flows south through Fieni and Pucioasa. It reaches Târgoviște, the county seat of Dâmbovița County, where the city stands mainly on its right bank. The river then turns southeast and enters the lower plains.

Across the Romanian Plain, the Ialomița flows through a much wider valley. Its gradient decreases and the channel develops broad bends. The river passes Urziceni before continuing east through Slobozia. Beyond Țăndărei, it reaches the Danube near Giurgeni, close to the point where the Borcea branch rejoins the main river.

Drainage basin

The Ialomița drains an area of 10,350 square kilometres, extending from the southern Carpathians into the lowlands of southeastern Romania. Its upper basin receives water from mountain rainfall and melting snow, while the lower basin contains agricultural land crossed by irrigation canals.

The Prahova River is the Ialomița's largest tributary. It enters from the left after draining part of the Prahova Valley and supplies a substantial proportion of the water carried through the lower river. Other left-bank tributaries include the Cricovul Dulce and the Sărata River.

On the right bank, the Snagov River drains toward the Ialomița. Lake Snagov occupies the lower Snagov valley and releases water through a channel leading toward the river.

The Ialomița's discharge changes along its course as tributaries join it. The mean annual discharge at the Slobozia measuring station is approximately 41.9 cubic metres per second. During dry periods, the lower river experiences reduced flow because of evaporation and water withdrawals.

Dams and water use

Dams along the upper Ialomița regulate the river's flow and store water for hydroelectric generation. The Bolboci Dam, situated in the Bucegi Mountains, forms Bolboci Lake. The reservoir also supplies water to settlements farther downstream, including Târgoviște.

Below Bolboci, the Scropoasa reservoir supplies water for hydroelectric generation. The Pucioasa reservoir, farther downstream, began operating during the 1970s and provides water for the town's water supply and hydroelectric facilities.

In the lower basin, water from the Ialomița is used to irrigate agricultural land in the Bărăgan Plain. Embankments have also been constructed along sections of the river near Urziceni to reduce flooding.

See also

• Dâmbovița River
• Argeș River