Eighty kilometers before reaching the Black Sea, the Danube river splits into two, and then three branches (Chilia, Sulina and Sfântu Gheorghe) to create a unique and exotic landscape, the youngest land in Europe, a refuge for many rare species of birds, fish and animals. Located at mid-distance between the North Pole and the Equator, the Danube Delta covers 4,152 sq. km of which 3,446 sq. km (82%) lie on the Romanian territory and the rest is in Ukraine.

The Danube Delta is probably the most isolated and least populated region of Romania. The three major main towns are Tulcea, Sulina and Sfintu Gheorghe. Recently, ecotourism fostered the development of other small settlements, such as Crisan.

The Delta is truly the largest and most diverse wildlife refuge in Europe. In this huge sea of reeds and water, animals outnumber humans 1000 to 1. Wonderful as it is, this is a fragile paradise that needs good care and preservation efforts. That’s why some of the Delta territory has been designated as restricted areas and natural reservations, and are on the list of UN natural monuments. Bordered by thatch, willows and oaks entangled in lianas, the maze of canals offers the perfect breeding grounds for countless species of birds. Some of the birds migrate to Romania from as far away as China and Africa.

The top bird-watching season is May to June. However all summer long, one can row up the canals covered in gorgeous water lilies, and have surprising encounters. The richness of the Delta’s wildlife doesn’t stop above the surface. The underwater world is equally diverse. Although one should never trust a fisherman’s stories, it’s a fact that here catfish outgrow people in size. The Delta’s waters are abundant with fish.

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