Cerna (Danube)
River in Mehedinți, Romania
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Cerna (Hungarian: Cserna) is a river in Romania, a left tributary of the river Danube.[1][2] The Cerna has its source on the south-east side of the Godeanu Mountains and flows into the Danube near the town Orșova.[3] The upper reach of the river is sometimes called Cernișoara. With a length of 79 km (49 mi) and its basin of 1,380 km2 (530 sq mi),[2] it carves an erosive tectonic valley with numerous gorges, quite deep sometimes. There is a man-made lake on it (Tierna), just before it crosses the Băile Herculane spa, to perpetuate the old toponimic od Dierna.[clarification needed] The upper course of the Cerna is part of the Domogled-Valea Cernei National Park. The Cerna flows through the villages and towns Cerna-Sat, Țațu, Băile Herculane, Pecinișca, Bârza, Topleț, Coramnic and Orșova.
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| Cerna | |
|---|---|
| |
  | |
 | |
| Location | |
| Country | Romania |
| Counties | Gorj, Caraș-Severin, Mehedinți |
| Towns | Băile Herculane, Orșova |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Godeanu Mountains |
| Mouth | Danube |
• location | Orșova |
• coordinates | 44°44′22″N 22°24′44″E |
| Length | 79 km (49 mi) |
| Basin size | 1,380 km2 (530 sq mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Danube→ Black Sea |
| Tributaries | |
| • right | Belareca |
The Valea lui Iovan-Cerna dam is located on the Cerna River at its intersection with the Valea lui Iovan River. The Cerna reservoir has a maximum volume of 124 million m3 and an area of 292 ha.[4]
The Herculane Dam is the second important barrier obstructing the waters of the Cerna River. It is located 7 km upstream from Băile Herculane, has a volume of 15.8 million m3, a retention level NNR of 235 m above sea level, and an area of 75.2 ha.[5]
The Cornereva Dam is located on the main tributary of the Cerna, Belareca (with a discharge of 6.24 m³/s) approximately 5 km upstream from the village of Cornereva.[6]
At the end of its journey, the Cerna flows into the Danube at Orșova via a large bay. This bay was formed when the Danube entered the Cerna's mouth following the construction of the Iron Gates I dam, which caused water levels to rise.[7]
Tributaries
The following rivers are tributaries of the river Cerna (from source to mouth):[2]
- Left: Arsaca, Jelerău, Valea Mare
- Right: Șturu, Măneasa, Valea Cărbunelui, Valea lui Iovan, Balmez, Naiba, Olanul, Craiova, Iauna, Topenia, Iuta, Prisăcina, Belareca, Jardașița Mare, Sacherștița
