Galați is the seat and also the largest city of Galați county, a county located near the corner of the three borders in Moldova, Romania. According to the latest official estimates of the National Institute of Statistics, the population of the city was, in 2009, 290,733 inhabitants, being the 7th city in the country by the number of inhabitants. It is one of the largest economic centers in Romania, respectively Moldova. The city of Galaţi has a rich history also due to the fact that it is located on the Danube, the most important European commercial-river artery, the Danube-Main-Rhine Canal. Economic life developed around the Shipyard, the River Port, the Arcelor-Mittal Iron and Steel Plant and the Mineral Port.
The first documentary mention of the city of Galati (then a fair) dates from 1445 (in a document signed by the ruler Ștefan II). Galați grew in importance after the Turks conquered the fortresses of Chilia and Cetatea Albă, in July-August 1484, the city remaining the only port of Moldavia with an important role in internal trade, but also in Polish-Turkish trade. In 1789, during the Russo-Turkish War of 1789 – 1791, Galatia was burned by the armies of the Russian general Mikhail Kamensky, this being one of the many desolations that the city endured in the Russo-Turkish wars of the century. XVIII and the beginning of the XIX century.
The name Galati probably comes from the Celtic tribe of the Gauls, who lived in that area in antiquity, or from the region of Galicia, another variant would be from the Cuman language gala(t) taken from the Arabic kalhat (fortress).
The municipality of Galați is located in the eastern part of Romania, in the southern extremity of the Moldavian plateau. Located on the left bank of the Danube, it occupies an area of 246.4 km2, at the confluence of the rivers Siret (to the west) and Prut (to the east), near Lake Brateș, approx. 80 kilometers from the Black Sea. The nearest city is Brăila, only 15 kilometers to the south. The city stretches on three terraces: the Valley of the city, with an altitude between 5 – 7 m and two others, drawn almost in the shape of a fan; the first with an altitude between 20 – 25 m (the core of the medieval city, currently the city center) and the second with altitudes exceeding 40 m (the modern city). The life of human communities was directly influenced by the Danube, the second longest river in Europe (2,850 km), with an average flow in this sector of 6,199 mc/s, after it receives the waters of the Siret river upstream with an average flow of 210 mc/s (the largest tributary on the Romanian territory). The river continues its way to the Black Sea after receiving, downstream of the ports of Galati, the waters of the Prut River, with an average flow of 86 m3/s. The flows of the Danube vary significantly, depending on the season and year, with maximum values in May (18,000 – 19,000 m3/s) and minimum values during the summer (2,000 – 2,450 m3/s). Due to the deep channel up to the area of Brăila, the Danube is declared maritime. Currently, the 3rd port for light craft is being built near the ferry crossing.
Given the fact that Galați county represents a gateway to the northeast and southwest, it is under the influence of the eastern and less southern continental air masses, almost completely lacking the influence of the western air that is stopped by the Carpathian mountains. The average annual temperature, calculated over a period of 70 years, is 10 degrees C. The average temperature during the summer is 21.3 degrees C. During the winter, cold air masses come from the north and northeast over Galati county which produce temperature drops that oscillate between 0.2 degrees C -3 degrees C. The climate is temperate-continental.
Are you looking for a quick alternative to the traditional transfer or taxi service from or to Galati?
Talk 24/7 with a Cricos Rent consultant at 0768566672 for a personalized car rental offer with driver.