| Săsar River | |
| River | |
|
The Săsar flowing through Baia Mare
|
|
| Countries | Romania |
|---|---|
| Counties | Maramureş County |
| Tributaries | |
| - left | Valea Slipului |
| - right | Valea Crişului, Frăsinet, Valea Limpede, Valea Tulbure, Borcutul, Chiuzbaia, Valea Morii, Valea Gordon, Firiza, Usturoiu, Valea Borcutului |
| Villages | Baia Sprie, Tăuţii de Sus, Baia Mare, Săsar |
| Source | |
| - location | Gutâi Mountains, Mount Arşiţa |
| - elevation | 1,005 m (3,297 ft) |
| - coordinates | |
| Mouth | Lăpuş River |
| - elevation | 155 m (509 ft) |
| - coordinates | |
The Săsar River is a medium-size river which crosses the Baia Mare region of Romania and flows through the city of Baia Mare in Maramureş County.
The river is 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 January 30, 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 Sasar, 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 River flows into the Lăpuş River, which in turn flows into the Someş River. The Someş is a tributary of the Danube. Pollution in the Sasar thus eventually reaches Romania, Hungary, Serbia, and Bulgaria.