Danube Delta

            The Danube Delta is the second largest delta (Volga is the first) but best preserved of European deltas, with an area of 3446 km2. This land of waters takes you away from everything that looks like a human establishment and guides you into a journey sprinkled with natural islands, lonely floating forests and incredible wildlife.

         The Danube, springs from Germany and it gathers all the tributary streams from 10 countries and crosses 4 capital cities.
After covering 2860 km and before flowing into the Black Sea, it forms a delta. The Danube Delta is situated in the Southeastern part of the country, it has the shape of the Greek letter "delta" and it is bordered in the Southwestern part by Dobrogea Plateau, in the Northern part by the Ukrainian border and in the Eastern part by the Black Sea.

             The delta was created over the past 5,000 years—through much of recorded history. Before that, the delta was a gulf of the Black Sea. The deposition of million tons of alluvia links the three branches of the Danube: Chilia, Sulina and Sfantu Gheorghe (Saint George) with a fascinating net of channels, brooks and ponds. Wherever you look, you can see floating islets covered by rush and reed, rainforest-like lianas, lakes with muddy depths and surfaces carpeted by water lilies. The silent boats of fishermen stir countless pelicans and flocks of cormorants and moor hens from their nests beyond the reed curtains. Every year, the alluvium deposited by the Danube increases the width of the Delta by around 40 meters, making it extremely dynamic and the youngest land in Europe.

          The Danube Delta is listed as a UNESCO Reservation of the Biosphere because of its peculiar features and its variety of ecosystems (more than 25 types of natural ecosystems). It is considered to be the third in ecological significance among the 300 reserves of the world. There are 16 strictly protected areas in which no economical activities are allowed, areas for ecological rehabilitation and buffer zones between economical areas, where tourist activities are permitted as long as the environment is protected. It hosts over 1,200 varieties of plants, 300 species of birds, being the richest ornithological fauna on the continent, as well as 45 freshwater fish species in its numerous lakes and marshes. This is the place where millions of birds from different places of Earth (European, Asian, African, Mediterranean) come to lay their eggs.

           Their surface is ploughed by numerous secondary branches, fleets and artificial channels which connect the stream to the numerous lakes and swamps. The biggest lakes are: Fortuna, Gorgova, Matita, Isac, Rosu ,Uzlina, etc.. The South of the delta is occupied by Reazelm lacustrine complex (1015 sq. km) with the lakes Reazelm, Babadag, Golovita, Sinoe and Tuzla. 80% of the delta surface is covered by waters during the entire year.The clime is continental with big temperature amplitudes, with a few rainfalls,but with high humidity, the average annual temperature being of 11 degr. Celsius. The vegetation is mainly made up of bushes surrounded by cattail and sedge. The floating reed islet – form over 100000 hectares. Willows, poplars, oaks, alders and ash grow in the sandbank. In the delta there are strictly protected area  18 areas which occupy a total surface of 50 600 ha

            In the Danube Delta Romania there are over 1200 species of plants, over 300 species of birds and over 45 species of fishes –carp, crucian carp, sheatfish, pike, rapacious carp, bream, perch, rudd, pike perch, sturgeon, stor sturgeon etc.The universal value of the Delta  Biosphere Reserve was recognized by its inclusion in the international network of the biosphere reserves (1990), within the programme “MAN AND BIOSPHERE”(MAB) launched by UNESCO.In September 1990, Danube Delta Romania Biosphere Reserve was listed as wetland of international importance, especially as habitat for waterfowls – RAMSAR Convention.The universal natural heritage value of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve was recognized in December 1990 by its inclusion in the World Cultural and Natural Heritage List.