Orsova

Orsova, the name of two towns on the Danube over against the Iron Gates. OLD ORSOVA, a Hungarian place, is 478 miles by rail SE. of Vienna, and is a station for the Danube steamers. Pop. 3381.—NEW ORSOVA, on the Serbian side, is a fortified town held by Austria (since 1878), who also were masters of it between 1716 and 1738; the Turks held it both before 1716 and after 1738. In 1890-96 a costly canal and other works were made for facilitating navigation at the rocky bend called the Iron Gates (see DANUBE).