Săsar

{{about|a river in northern Romania|the village Săsar in northern Romania|Recea, Maramureș}} {{Infobox river | name = Săsar | native_name = | native_name_lang = | name_other = | name_etymology =  | image = SasarBaiaMare.JPG | image_size = | image_caption = The Săsar flowing through Baia Mare | map = Raul Sasar.png | map_size = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = Romania  | subdivision_type1 = Country | subdivision_name1 = Romania | subdivision_type2 = Counties | subdivision_name2 = Maramureș County | subdivision_type3 = Villages | subdivision_name3 = '''Baia Sprie''', Tăuții de Sus, '''Baia Mare''', Săsar  | length = {{convert|31|km|abbr=on}} | width_min = | width_avg = | width_max = | depth_min = | depth_avg = | depth_max = | discharge1_location= | discharge1_min = | discharge1_avg = | discharge1_max =  | source1 = Mount Arșița | source1_location = Gutâi Mountains | source1_coordinates= {{coord|47|41|28|N|23|48|31|E|display=inline}} | source1_elevation = {{convert|1005|m|abbr=on}} | mouth = Lăpuș | mouth_location = Bozânta Mare | mouth_coordinates = {{coord|47|37|24|N|23|27|33|E|display=inline,title}} | mouth_elevation = {{convert|155|m|abbr=on}} | progression = {{RLăpuș}} | basin_size = {{convert|306|km2|abbr=on}} | tributaries_left = | tributaries_right = Firiza | custom_label = | custom_data = | extra = }}

The '''Săsar''' ({{langx|hu|Zazar}}) is a right tributary of the river Lăpuș in Maramureș County, Romania.{{GeoSource|RO|Annex7|113}}{{GeoSource|RO|Atlas|85-86|II.1.66.19}} It discharges into the Lăpuș in Bozânta Mare, southwest of Baia Mare.<ref>[http://www.e-calauza.ro/index.php?afiseaza=pluta_noua&rau=106 Sasar (jud. Maramures)], e-calauza.ro</ref> It is a medium-size river which flows through the cities of Baia Sprie and Baia Mare. Its length is {{convert|31|km|abbr=on}} and its basin size is {{convert|306|km2|abbr=on}}.{{GeoSource|RO|Atlas|85-86|II.1.66.19}}

The river was heavily polluted with untreated sewage, agricultural fertilizer, and toxic chemicals from local mining sites, including cyanide, arsenic, lead, and cadmium. One notable incident occurred on 30 January 2000, when a tailings impoundment at the Baia Mare mine burst, releasing 50 to 100 tons of cyanide and heavy metals into the river. The Săsar, locally known as the "dead river," is unsuitable for bathing, washing, or fishing. The World Health Organization has identified the Baia Mare region as a "health risk hotspot."

The Săsar flows into the Lăpuș, which in turn flows into the Someș, a tributary of the Danube via the Tisza. Pollution in the Săsar thus eventually reaches Romania, Hungary, Serbia, and Bulgaria.

==Tributaries==

The following rivers are tributaries to the river Săsar:{{GeoSource|RO|Atlas|85-86|II.1.66.19}}

*Right: Chiuzbaia, Firiza, Usturoi, Borcut

===References=== {{Reflist}}

== External links == {{Commons category|Săsar River}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20060109144909/http://www.rec.org/REC/Publications/CyanideSpill/ENGCyanide.pdf United Nations report on cyanide spill from the Baia Mare mine]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Săsar}} Category:Rivers of Romania Category:Rivers of Maramureș County Category:Baia Mare