Although the transport of solute uranium (U) from tailings deposits in adjacent streams is one of the fastest ways of distributing U throughout the biosphere it cannot yet be sufficiently modeled. By comparing U-mining sites in different physical-geographical environments this study discusses factors controlling the migration of solute U along the aqueous pathway and within streams. It focuses on three major aspects of the transport, illustrated by examples from study sites: Chemical transport and immobilisation of U along the aqueous pathway; Hydraulic mechanisms controlling U-migration via groundwater into streams; Hydrochemical fluctuations controlling U-mobility in streams.