Welcome to the Danube Delta

+44 (0)1900 838570

HIGHLIGHTS

Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve
Pelicans + 280 bird species
Sturgeon + 160 fish species
1150 plant species

Delta NatureResort
Tulcea
Jurilovca (Lipoveni)
Sulina
Sfanthu Gheorghe
Chilia Veche
Letea Forest
Caraorman Forest
Lakes Razim & Sinoie
Babadag
Histria
Constanta & Black Sea Coast
Niculitel Vineyards
Cocos Monastery

TRAVEL

Road transfers available from
Bucharest to Tulcea
and Danube Delta Resort

Boat transfers from
Tulcea or Murighiol to Uzlina

Scheduled boats from Tulcea to
Sulina, Periprava & Sf.Gheorghe

Express boasts operate daily:
Tulcea - Sulina dep. 14:00
Sulina - Tulcea dep. 07:00

Intercity rail service:
Bucharest N 06:52 Tulcea 11:36
Tulcea 13:58 Bucharest N 18:38

Read the article 'Water World' about
the Danube Delta Nature Resort
in the
THE INDEPENDENT

Danube Delta - Europe's Natural Paradise

The Danube Delta acts as a magnet for bird-watchers, fishermen and those seeking true adventure -
for them all, this unique wilderness is simply paradise.

...

ACCOMMODATION

DELTA RESORT

FLIGHTS

GETTING ABOUT

CAR HIRE

White Pelicans in the Danube Delta
courtesy: Romania National Tourist Office

0845 3000 247
+44 (0)1539 531258

Photo at head of page: Whiskered Terns
courtesy: Romania National Tourist Office

The Danube Delta, the 2nd biggest delta in Europe (after the Volga) grows annually by 40 metres as 40 million tonses of natural silt are deposited as the river flows out into the Black Sea. The entire Danube Delta is a Biosphere Reservation, and UNESCO World Heritage Site. It covers a surface area of 580,000 hectares, comprising the Delta itself, the Razim -Sinoe Lagoon and Danube basin up to the Cotul Pisicii, of which over 50,000 hectares is strictly protected, including an area sheltering the largest pelican colony in Europe.

The Delta is formed around the three main channels of the Danube, named after theirrespective ports: Chilia, Sulina, and Sfântu Gheorghe.

1. Chilia the northern and the most active arm is 120 km long, mainly in Ukrainian territory and forms another micro-delta where it flows into the Black Sea.
2. Sulina the shortest, flows 63.7 km due east and forms a a navigation channel of sufficient depth and breadth for big ships;
3. Sfântu Gheorghe the oldest arm of the Danube, 69.7 km long.

The main relief of the Delta are the banks of alluvial silt deposited by the rivers water or by the Black Sea, and the areas of plain and marsh which remain permanently above the floodwater level. The most important of these are Letea, Caraoman, Stipoc and Crasnicol, the first two also including woodland. The landscape comprises a combination of extensive reedbeds, pools, lakes and channels, sand dunes and forests of predominantly willows.

Excluding the main cities in the region, the population of the Delta is rather sparse, amounting to about 15,000 people. It consists mainly of orthodox Lipoveni (Russians) who are descendants of the Old Believers who left Russia in around 1772 to avoid religious persecution. They are skilled fishermen, speaking a Russian dialect as well as Romanian, who still possess a traditional culture and are very hospitable.

TULCEA, mentioned by Herodotus, and later by Ovid,as Castrum Aegyssus, represents the main gateway to the Delta. The town is also built on seven hills and has been an important harbour since ancient times. Attractions include the Danube Delta History Museum, Art Museum, History and Archeology Museum, the Orthodox Cathedral and the Azizie Mosque. Daily trips to the Delta may be arranged for 1-4 days covering all parts of the Delta.

JURILOVCA is a small fishing village on the shore of Lake Golovita which was established in the 18th century and is inhabited by Lipovani. At CAPUL DOLOSMAN, to the east, there are the ruins of a Greek citadel, probably Arganum (Orgame), the oldest antique habitation on Romanian territory, mentioned for the first time by Hecateus from Millet (6th -5th centuries BC). Nearby Lake Razim is popular for bird-watching, especially in November when thousands of Red-Breasted Geese arrive from the Arctic.

BABADAG, which lies 22 km south of Tulcea, is a small town with several attractions: Art Museum, the Kalaigi Fountain and the Mosque of Ali Ghazi, the oldest Moslem building in Romania, dating from 1522. To the north of Babadag, is DENISTEPE (DEALUL MARE) where according to legend, the Argonauts landed to seek out the Golden Fleece.

Fifty miles north-east of Tulcea, on the Chilia arm of the Danube, is CHILIA VECHE , an old Greek colony called Achillea, which is one of the oldest settlements in the Delta. CRISAN, which is located on the Sulina arm comprises the popular Lebada centre which is presently being refurbished.

SULINA, the second largest town in the Delta, after Tulcea, is an important port, first recorded by a Byzantine scribe in 950 under the name of Sellina.

40 km east of Tulcea, on the Sfantu Gheorghe arm at UZLINA, you will find the offices of the Delta Dunarii Biosphere Reservation and the Cousteau Foundation in addition to the excellent Cormoran Complex and facilities for hiring boats and guides to venture into some of the more interesting parts of the Danube Delta. MURIGHIOL, a popular fishing village located between Tulcea and Sfantu Gheorghe may be reached by road and is the stepping off point for boats to Uzlina. SFANTU GHEORGHE, located at the mouth of the arm bearing the same name, has depended on fishing ever since it was recorded in 1318. Just west of Tulcea you can find the DANUBE DELTA NATURE RESORT - Romania's first 5-star resort - which offers a wide programme of activities and excursions into the Danube Delta, though please bear in mind it is outside the Delta which adds time to daily excursions. An excellent altreantive is the ENISALA SAFARI VILLAGE near Babadag on the southern edge of the Delta. Specialist guides are available for exploring the hidden channels of the Delta and the wilderness of the Letea Forest, as well as interesting regions outside of the Delta sych as the wild Black Sea Coast, Enisala Fortress, the Macin Hills and some wonderful viewpoints.

Travelling southwards from the Danube Delta you soon reach the beach resorts of the Black Sea Coast and Constanta. Tulcea is served by daily trains from Bucharest and Constanta and an airport withan airport with domestic flights to Bucharest (Baneasa Airport). Regular passenger boats shuttle between Tulcea, Periprava, Sfantu Gheorghe, Sulina, Galati and Braila.

NATURAL HISTORY OF THE DANUBE DELTA

The biodiversity of the Danube Delta is considerable - over 3400 species of aquatic fauna have been recorded, representing 98% of the European total, many of them endemic. Some 280 species of birds have been recorded in the region of the Delta, with 177 species breeding here. Several species are protected by law including the White Pelican, Dalmatian Pelican, Great White Egret, Little Egret, Spoonbill, Mute Swan, Whooper Swans, Black-Winged Stilt, Avocet, Shelduck, Ruddy Shelduck and the White-Tailed Eagle. Other important species include Night and Squacco Herons, Glossy Ibis, Cormorant, Pygmy Cormorant, Little Bittern and Ferruginous Duck, in addition to numerous passerines and wintering ducks and geese such as the rare Red-Breasted Goose. Important pelican colonies may be encountered to the south of the Sfantu Gheorghe arm at Uzlina, Maliuc, Fortuna Lakes and Matita.

There are some 160 fish species (including Sturgeons: Beluga, Black Sea Sturgeon, Sevruga and Sterlet; Grey Mullet, Danubian Herring, Carp, Crucian Carp, Zander, Pike, Barbel, Perch, and Wels) presenting endless opportunities for angling, indeed even Herodotus described the fishing activities of the Delta. Fishing is permitted for most of the year, a close season being imposed for just 60 days around spawning (March-June). Mammals living in the Danube Delta include Otters, Wild Cats, Wolves, Bears, Wild Boar, Foxes, Raccoon-Dogs, Mink, Polecats, and Hares. Tortoises, Vipers, and other Snakes have made their homes on the sand banks.

With over 1150 plant species, the Danube Delta has an extremely rich flora. There are several types of plants: plants with floating leaves (White Water Lily, Yellow Water Lily, Frogbit, Water Chestnut), riverside plants and plants on drifting masses of decaying vegetation (Reed, Bulrush, Water Fern, Brook Mint, Water Hemlock, Yellow Flag), and land plants (White Willow, Crack Willow, Poplars, Alder, Wild Cherry, Ash).

In the Delta there are three areas of woodland strictly protected as natural reservations: Letea (situated in the NE is particularly impressive virgin forest with many trees over 500 years old), Caraorman and Erenciuc. All of these comprise Oaks, Willows, and Black Poplars with an abundance of lianas and creeping plants.

With the support of UNESCO, the entire Danube Delta was declared a Biosphere Reservation in August 1990, and with over 500 sq. km. strictly protected, the zone was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991.

At present, there are 18 highly protected areas with buffer zones, out of the necessity to preserve the natural evolution process and the specific fauna and flora. The most important of these areas are Rosca-Buhaiova, which shelters the largest pelican colony in Europe; Letea, an ancient forest located at the highest elevation in the Delta, and Sacalin-Zatoane located near the mouth of the Sfintu Gheorghe channel which stretches for over 21,000 ha and is one of the few places in Europe where Dalmatian Pelicans are still found.

In all these areas, the approval of any trip (usually limited to specialists and researchers) is required from the Administration of the Delta Dunarii Biosphere Reservation. Anybody gaining authorisation to visit these areas must observe specific rules: it is forbidden to camp, to set fires, to make a disturbance, and to cut down trees.

It should also be noted that tourists visiting other parts of the Delta also require a permit issued by the above-mentioned Administration - these can be arranged in conjunction with bookings at the Danube Delta Nature Resort at Somova, Enisala Safari Village and the Cormoran Complex in Uzlina.

Bespoke holidays can be arranged in the Delta, offering quality accommodation (air-conditioning is a must when the mosquitoes are out). There are several hotel complexes which provide boat access, guides and equipment for bird-watching or fishing, and the luxury Danube Delta Nature Resort at Samova. The latter recently changed hands and should perhaps be regarded as 4-star. Transfers can be organised by road or even rail with boats from Tulcea or from Murighiol. If you are travelling by car you would need to leave your vehicle in secure parking at Murighiol if taking the boast to Uzlina for the Cormoran Complex which is also the centre of Delta Reservation. A better option in this case might be to stay at Hotel Egreta in Dunavatu de Jos which is at the end of a long road winding along the southern edge of the Delta. Dunavatu also allows easy access to Lakes Razim and Sinoie. A personal favourite is the Enisala Safari Village at the southern edge on account of the guides and the wide variaty of activities on offer,

There are a few air-conditioned pensions, and we can also organise accommodation on House Boats though these are rarely air-conditioned and can be very hot during the summer months. We can also organise extended trips into the Delta for small groups using a comfortable boat with a full crew providing meals and assistance. Please contact us for further details.

White Pelicans; Duck takes Flight; Cormorant

Fishing; Delta Sunset; What a catch!

Green Frog; Folk dancing at Delta Resort; Spoonbill

Also photos courtesy Delta Nature Resort, except
Sunset - Colin Shaw

Cockermouth, Cumbria, United Kingdom CA13 0RA - Tel. +44 (0)1900 838570; Email. [email protected]

beyondtheforest.com and www.lakelandbeyond.com are information websites provided and maintained in the United Kingdom by Romantique Couture

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