About Danube Delta

  The Danube Delta is the second largest delta in Europe, after the Volga Delta, and the best preserved on the continent.
The greater part of the Danube Delta lies in Romania (Tulcea county), while its northern part, on the left bank of the Chilia arm, is situated in Ukraine (Odessa Oblast). The approximate surface is 4152 km², of which 3446 km² are in Romania. If the lagoons of Razim-Sinoe (1015 km² of which 863km² water surface; situated in the south, but attached to the Danube Delta from geological and ecological perspecives, as well as being the combined territory of the World Heritage Site) are to be added, the considered area of the Danube Delta grows to 5165 km².

Arms of the Danube

The Danube branches into three main arms into the delta, Chilia, Sulina, and Sfântu Gheorghe. The first two branches form the Tulcea arm, which continues as a single body for several kilometers after the separation with Chilia arm. At the mouths of each arm alluvionary processes take place, sign that the delta is continuing its expansion.

The waters of the Danube, which flow into the Black Sea, form the largest and best preserved of Europe's deltas. The Danube delta hosts over 300 species of birds as well as 45 freshwater fish species in its numerous lakes and marshes.

Over 300 species of bird have been recorded in the Danube Delta, of which over 176 species breed the most important being cormorant 61% of the world population, white pelican 50% of the world's breeding population, Dalmatian pelican 5% of the world population.
Lake Rosca, strictly protected reserve is home to Europe's largest white pelican colony.  Protected pelican colony are on Lake Isac and Uzlina.

Danube Delta provides sanctuary for 300 species of birds and 160 species of fish. Reed marches cover 156,000 hectares, constituting one of the largest single expanses of reed beds in the world.

The Danube Delta is home to at least 1600 plant species, which fall into three main categories. The floating islets, plaur, that occupy much of the Delta's area are largely composed of reeds with mace reed, sedge, Dutch rush, yellow water-flag, water fern, water dock, water forget-me-not, water memlock and brook mint.

The Danube Delta is the most humid region in Romania, The temperature is around 70-76 F during summer, the winters are mild with minimum around 30-34 F and it is extremely rare for the main channels or the waterways to freeze over.

The villages have reed cottages, the men fish and women tend the gardens of vegetables, plums, grapes, pears and quinces, and look after the poultry, pigs, and beehives.