The Siret or Sireth (, ; or ; ) is a river that rises from the Carpathians in the Northern Bukovina region of Ukraine, and flows southward into Romania before it joins the Danube. It is long, of which a section is in Romania, and its basin area is , of which in Romania. Its average discharge is . In ancient times, it was named Hierasus (Ancient Greek ÃÂõÃÂñÃÂÃÂÃÂ).
The Siret River hydrographic basin consists mainly of waters brought by the BistriÃÂa (about 26.8%), TrotuÃÂ (about 10%), Moldova (about 12.2%), and Suceava (about 12%) rivers.
The river initially flows northward in the region of Northern Bukovina. The section of the river up to its confluence with the Siretul Mic (Malyi Seret) (near Suceveni (Sucheveny) village in the Adâncata district (Hlyboka Raion)) is called the Siretul Mare. The river is called Siret after its confluence with the Siretul Mic.
The river flows through the towns of Berhomet on the Siret and Jadova, where it begins to change its direction of flow to the southeast. It continues its flow through the town of StorojineÃÂ and the villages of Ropcea, Camenca, VolcineÃÂ, and CerepcÃÂuÃÂi.
The Siret leaves Ukrainian territory and enters Romania in the north-east. Initially forming the border between Suceava and BotoÃÂani counties, it continues in a southeastern direction. It passes through Siret, the former capital of Moldavia (in the second half of the 14th century), and then through GrÃÂmeÃÂti, ZvoriÃÂtea, and Liteni. The 170 km-long Suceava River flows into the Siret on the right near Liteni, around from Suceava.
The Siret continues flowing southward, crossing the towns of PaÃÂcani and Stolniceni-PrÃÂjescu until it reaches Roman, where it joins the waters of the Moldova River. The BistriÃÂa River (290 km) joins it on the right 5 km after it passes the city of BacÃÂu. Further downstream, it passes through the town of Adjud and near MÃÂrÃÂÃÂeÃÂti. Near its confluence with the Danube, it merges with the waters of the Bârlad River (289 km) on its left bank and the waters of the BuzÃÂu River (325 km) on its right bank.
Finally, it flows into the Danube near the city of GalaÃÂi.
The banks of the Siret River are formed of layers of gravel, sand, and loess. In spring, when the snow melts, and in summer, after heavy rains, the Siret River can cause flooding. While the Siret is normally 70âÂÂ100 m wide and 0.20âÂÂ0.70 m deep, during snowmelt or heavy rainfall, its width increases to 200 m and its depth reaches 2âÂÂ3 m.
Several dams and reservoirs have been built along its course, reducing the risk of flooding.
The Siret River is not navigable due to its shallow depth; only small ships can navigate the section after its confluence with the Bârlad River.
The following towns and villages are situated along the river Siret, from source to mouth: Berehomet, Storozhynets, Siret, GrÃÂmeÃÂti, ZvoriÃÂtea, Liteni, Dolhasca, PaÃÂcani, Stolniceni-PrÃÂjescu, Roman, BacÃÂu, Adjud, MÃÂrÃÂÃÂeÃÂti, and GalaÃÂi.
The following rivers are tributaries to the river Siret (from source to mouth):
Left: Bahna (MihÃÂileni), MolniÃÂa, Bahna (Lozna), Gârla SireÃÂel, Gârla HuÃÂanilor, Vorona, PleÃÂul, Turbata, Pietrosul, SireÃÂel, Stolniceni, HÃÂrmÃÂneÃÂti, Pârâul ÃÂigÃÂncilor, MihÃÂili, Boca, Albuia, Rediu, VulpÃÂÃÂeÃÂti, Pârâul Pietros, ÃÂiganca, IcuÃÂeÃÂti, Glodeni, RâpaÃÂ, Moara, BogdÃÂneÃÂti, Valea Morii, Ulm, Racova, TamaÃÂi, RÃÂcÃÂtÃÂu, Soci, FulgeriÃÂ, Rogoza, Polocin, Lupa, Bârlad, CÃÂlmÃÂÃÂui, Geru, BârlÃÂdel, Rusca, MÃÂlina, and CÃÂtuÃÂa.
Right: Malyi Seret, GÃÂvan, Negostina, Pârâul Mare, Verehia, Baranca, Leahu, StâncuÃÂa, HÃÂnÃÂeÃÂti, GrigoreÃÂti, SÃÂlÃÂgeni, Suceava, ÃÂomuzul Mic, ÃÂomuzul Mare, Pârâul lui Pulpa, Trestioara, ConÃÂeasca, Ruja, Sodomeni, Valea PÃÂrului, Podul Turcului (Draga), Moldova, Valea NeagrÃÂ, Turbata, Precista, BistriÃÂa, Bahna, Valea Mare, Cleja (or Tocila), RÃÂcÃÂciuni, DrÃÂguÃÂeni, Scurta, Bolohan, Fântânele, ConÃÂeÃÂti, TrotuÃÂ, Valea Boului, Carecna, Câmpul, ZÃÂbrÃÂuÃÂ, ÃÂuÃÂiÃÂa, Gârla Morilor, Putna SeacÃÂ, Putna, Leica, Râmnicul SÃÂrat, and BuzÃÂu.
During July 2010, Gheorghe Flutur, president of the county council of Suceava, told the Mediafax news agency his region was one of the worst hit in the country on the morning of the 29th, as he coordinated local flood relief work in his stricken county. Later that day, the Siret river threatened to break through the dykes protecting the town of ÃÂendreni, as locals and emergency services reinforced the dykes with truckloads of sandbags to prevent the river breaking out and flooding the town.