DNIESTER, a river of south-eastern Europe belonging to the basin of the Black sea. It rises on the northern slope of the Car pathian mountains in Poland, and for 15o miles from Za leszczyky to Karmassy, where it forms a broad estuary as it flows into the Black sea, is the boundary between Rumanian Bessarabia and the Ukrainian S.S.R. During the 1918 Russo-Rumanian re treat, all the bridges across the Dniester were destroyed, and as diplomatic relations between Rumania and the U.S.S.R. have not been opened (1928) these bridges have not been re-built, and no traffic is allowed up and down the river. Both banks of the river are watched by armed guards and trade across or along it has completely ceased. The Dniester drains an area of 29,67o sq.m. It is excessively meandering, and the current in most parts even during low water is decidedly rapid as compared with Russian rivers generally, the mean rate being calculated at ii m. per hour. The average width of the channel is from 50o to 7 5o ft., but in some places it attains as much as 1,400 ft.; the depth is various and changeable. The navigable portion of the river is interrupted by a granitic spur from the Carpathians which gives rise to the Yampol rapids. For ordinary river craft the passage of these rapids is rendered possible, but not free from danger, by a natural channel on the left side, and by a larger and deeper arti ficial channel on the right, for steamboats they form an insuper able barrier. The river falls into the sea by several arms, passing through a shallow lagoon, a few miles south west of Odessa. There are two periodical floods—the earlier and larger caused by the breaking up of the ice, and occurring in the latter part of Febru ary or in March ; and the latter due to the melting of the snows in the Carpathians, and taking place about June. The spring flood raises the level of the water 20 ft., and towards the mouth of the river submerges the gardens and vineyards of the adjacent coun try. In some years the general state of the water is so low that navigation is possible only for three or four weeks, while in other years it is so high that navigation continues without interruption; but considerable improvements were effected before the World War at government expense. In consequence the traffic increased; the Dniester used to tap regions of great productiveness, especially in cereals and timber. Steamboat traffic was introduced in the lower reaches in 184o. The fisheries of the lower course and of the estuary are of considerable importance ; and these, together with those of the lakes which are formed by the inundations, fur nish a valuable addition to the diet of the people in the shape of carp, pike, tench, salmon, sturgeon and eels. Its tributaries are numerous, but not of individual importance.