The Prut originates on the eastern slope of MountHoverla, in theCarpathian Mountains inUkraine (Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast). At first, the river flows to the north. NearYaremche it turns to the northeast, and nearKolomyia to the south-east. Having reached the border between Moldova and Romania, it turns even more to the south-east, and then to the south. It eventually joins theDanube nearGiurgiulești, east ofGalați and west ofReni.
TheStânca-Costești Dam, operated jointly by Moldova and Romania, is built on the Prut. There is also a Hydro-Electric Station inSniatyn (Ukraine). Ships travel from the river's mouth to the port city ofLeova (southernMoldova).
The lowermost part of the basin is strongly marshy. The averagedischarge at itsmouth is 110 m3/s (3,900 cu ft/s).[5] The average discharge at the city of Leova is 69.2 m3/s (2,440 cu ft/s). The slope of the river varies from 100 m/km (near the source) to 0.05 m/km (near the mouth). In the upper reaches (to Delyatyn) it has a mountainous character, with a steep right bank, sometimes the cross-sectional profile of the channel has the form of a ridge. Near the city of Yaremche is the waterfall of Probiy.
The Prut was known inAntiquity as thePyretus (Ancient Greek:Πυρετός,romanized: Pyretós), or ScythianPorata (possibly),[6]Hierasus (Ἱέρασος,Hiérasos) orGerasius.[7] Herodotus lists the Prut, under the name of Porata or Pyretus, as being among the five rivers flowing through theScythian country which swell the Danube.[8] In the second volume of the Ottoman-Bulgarian chronicles of Iman "Jagfar Tarihi" (1680) the Prut River is referred to as Burat. And in the Byzantine treatise ofConstantine Porphyrogennetos "On the management of the empire" it is mentioned as the Brut river (Chap. 38) or as Burat (Chapter 42).
During theRusso-Turkish War of 1710–1711, on 19 July 1711 Russian forces initially divided amongPeter the Great's army on the west bank andBoris Sheremetev's army on the east bank of the Pruth and allied withDimitrie Cantemir, the ruler of Moldova, met with the Ottoman army led byGrand VizierBaltaci 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 betweenStănilești and the river, which was then completely surrounded by the Ottoman army. Negotiations started on 21 July 1711 and theTreaty of the Prut was signed on 23 July 1711. After this treaty, Dimitrie Cantemir had to go in exile at Moscow. This treaty led to the end of local dynasties of kings and inauguration of Greek rulers from the Fanar Quarter of Istanbul (Phanariotes).
In 1821, the Greek Nationalist leaderAlexander Ypsilantis crossed the Prut river atSculeni, with the intention of touching off a rebellion in theDanubian Principalities. Though theWallachian uprising ultimately failed — due especially to irreconcilable differences between Ypsilantis and his Wallachian allyTudor Vladimirescu — it did touch off theGreek War of Independence, leading to theKingdom of Greece gaining independence ten years later. In the Principalities it led to the end of Greek Phanariote rule, and indirectly to increasing self-government and eventually to the independence ofRomania several decades later. In Greek history, Ypsilantis' crossing of the Prut is an important historical event, commemorated in a famous painting displayed atAthens.
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 withmyrtle are tucked; Inside of the cabin play fiddles and bass While friends sing together: To their Happiness! Translated byWaldimir Semenyna (13 October 1933,Ukrainian Weekly).
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