BRAILA (formerly Ibraila), a Danubian port of Rumania, capital of the department of Braila, situated in flat country on the left bank of the Danube, 1 06m. from its mouth at Sulina, and 142m. from Bucharest. Population (1930) 68,310. Braila is mostly a modern town, built compactly on its site of 148 acres, partly on a bank which rises about Soft. above sea-level, partly between this bank and the water. The principal building is the cathedral of St. Michael; there are 3 theatres, foreign consulates, banks, and shipping agencies. Electric trams intersect the town and also run out to Lake Sarat, 5m. away, where there are waters which contain over 45% of salt, iodine and sulphur, being among the strongest of the kind in Europe. Braila is connected by rail with Ploesti and Bucharest, and with Galatz (2om.). It is the centre of the Rumanian grain export trade, and does also a con siderable import trade of general merchandise and coal. The port extends for 31m., with I , I oo yards within the dock limits. The depth of water alongside the quays varies from 17-28ft. There is accommodation for 8 steamers alongside the quays, with 21 addi tional berths inside the port. Extensions were in progress in 1928. The grain warehouses have a total capacity of 300,00o tons. The shipyards are capable of only small repairs. By an arrangement concluded in May 1921, Poland enjoyed harbour facilities similar to those in force for Czechoslovakia in Trieste. Braila has had a varied history, being many times taken and burnt in the wars between the Turks, the Voivodes of Walachia, and, later, the Russians. A little above the city are remains of the piles of a bridge attributed by doubtful tradition to Darius (c. 500 B.c.).
See the Near East Handbook, 1927 (London, 1927) .