Danube Delta

Danube Delta (Globetrotter Rodrigo/Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0).

The waters of the Danube, which flow into the Black Sea, form Europe's second largest and best preserved deltas, and largest continuous marshland.

The reserve is vast with numerous freshwater lakes interconnected by narrow channels featuring huge expanses of aquatic vegetation, and the world's greatest stretch of reedbeds.

The marsh vegetation is dominated by reeds which form floating or fixed islands of decaying vegetation reeds and the floating reed islands.

The Razelm-Sinoie complex to the south comprises several large brackish lagoons separated from the sea by a sandbar.

The delta's overall basic hydrological and ecological system of the delta is intact.

Forest elements are best observed in Letea Forest where a series of bands occur along dunes up to 250m long and 10m wide.

The delta has been classified into 12 habitat types: aquatic, lakes covered with flooded reedbeds; 'plaur', flooded islets; flooded reeds and willows; riverine forest of willows and poplars; cane-fields; sandy and muddy beaches; wet meadows; dry meadows; human settlements; sandy and rocky areas; steep banks; and forests on high ground.

The Danube Delta is a remarkable alluvial feature constituting critical habitat for migratory birds and other animals, with over 300 species of bird recorded, the most important being cormorant, pygmy cormorant, white pelican, Dalmatian pelican, heron, white-tailed eagle, marsh tern, white-fronted geese, red-breasted geese, teal, mallard and pochard.

The delta is very important for fish, with 45 fresh water species present in its numerous lakes and marshes, while otter and weasel are to be found on the floating islands.

It is the major remaining wetland on the flyway between central and Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean and Middle East and Africa, and exceptional for its contiguity of wetland ecosystem and currently supports endangered flora and fauna.

Danube delta at Tulcea (Michael Clarke/Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0).

Nearest Cities:

Constanta (pop. 284,000) is a coastal Black Sea town in southern Dobruja, Romania, the second most important city in the country and, during summer, a beautiful touristic city. It is the capital of Constanta county and Romania's largest seaport, a great city to begin to explore the wonders of the sea [read more].

Galati (pop. 249,000) a city in Romania. Seems nice. 10km away from the moldova/ukraine border [read more].

Braila (pop. 180,000) is a port city on the Danube river, in south eastern Romania [read more].