Virtual Meeting Place Romania

Danube is the second longest river and one of the principal traffic arteries on our continent. It is the only major European river which flows from West to East that is why this river has always been an important route between Western Europe and the Black Sea. It rises in the Black Forest region (Germany) and flows through the Black Sea on a distance of about 2,850 km. In the 19^th century the Danube became an essential link between the growing industrial towns of Germany and the agrarian areas of the Balkans.

Before reaching the Black Sea, the Danube river crosses many countries and collects thousands of tributaries. This great amount of material is deposited in a special area called The Danube Delta. It is a unique place not only in Europe but also among other similar ecosystems due to its high diversity, its natural resources and its beautiful scenery. The Danube Delta is the lowest part of Romanian territory having only 13% of firm land. The rest is formed by lakes, marshes, swamps, streams, easily flooded zones and countless small areas with trees and reeds. There are three main arms which carried different amounts of water: Chilia (68%), Sulina (12%) and Sf. Gheorghe (20%).

The Danube Delta is the youngest land in Europe but is famous because often it is called "a paradise for vegetation, birds and fish". It is the third in ecological significance among the 300 reserves of the world. The extremely rich vegetation of the Danube Delta can be divided into floating plants, floating reed islets and plants growing on land. A dense water flora grow everywhere in the Delta. In the lakes you may find water plants whose roots mingle with the reed rhizomes and form an interesting thick mattress. Taking a ride by boat you will be delighted by the view. There are two famous reserves: the Letea and the Caraorman equatorial forests containing creeping plants, grey oak trees (some of them are over 150 years old and 25 m high), elms, alder trees, white and black poplars, willows, fluffy ash trees, etc.

Specialists include the Razim - Sinoe lagoon in the area named the Danube Delta although it has different characteristics (for example the salinity is higher than the Danube waters). Here typical sea-shore birds are to be found.

Animals in the Danube Delta are especially mammals ones (wolves, wild boars, foxes, hares, otters, minks and muskrats). The fauna found here includes over 300 varieties of water birds, 176 nestle in the Danube Delta and 178 are strictly protected by law. Specialists notice five different birds categories: Mediterranean, European, Siberian, Mongolian and Chinese. More than 74 species from the total number are migratory birds as the cormorant, the pelican, the heron, the spoon bill, the plover, the swan, the wild duck and goose. As for pelicans, in Letea there is the largest pelican colony in Europe. When spring begins woodcocks, polar ducks and cranes come here. Hunting is not allowed in the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve for protecting wildlife.

The fish is the main natural resource in this water area covering 25 km². To be precise, there are over 110 species of fish. The Danube Delta accounts for 50% of the fresh-water fish production of Romania. Some of the fish species are on the increase (like carps, breams), while others like pikes, sheat fish, pike perches are on a constant decrease. Specific to this delta are sturgeons (the great sturgeon, the common sturgeon, the sevruga, and the red sterlet) which yield fine black roe (called caviar). In the Danube Delta fishing is allowed all the year round except for a period of sixty days, starting from April 1st, when fish spawn their roe.

Wonderful trips for tourists are organized along the Sulina and Sf. Gheorghe arms. The Sulina arm is the most intensely navigated being regularized between 1880 and 1902. In this way, boats are able to sail to the ports of Tulcea, Galati and Braila. Sulina is the only seaport town of the delta, recorded since 950 A.D. In the 14^th century it became a port of call for Genoese boats. Its environment is amazing. From here you can visit the Letea woods and it is the starting point if you want to see the lovely channels going to Sf. Gheorghe arm (105 km long and with many meanders).

To be honest the Danube Delta is an unforgettable place. Even you don't like to fish, it is a good idea to visit this unique zone which will offer you many delightful sights. You may choose to stay over night in a hotel in Tulcea city or in fishermen's village (Letea, Mahmudia, Maliuc, Crisan, Mile 23, Sf. Gheorghe and many others).

Tulcea

This city lies on the right bank of the Danube and it is surrounded by hills. Tulcea has an interesting history as the whole Dobrudja region. Its past started 2,500 years ago as a Geto-Dacian settlement. Under the reign of the Prince Mircea the Old, Tulcea was part of Wallachia. In the 16^th century this place was already a town. After the Turkish rule which lasted till 1878, the port of Tulcea developed quickly so many commercial and economic activities flourished here. In the past 100 years this city became bigger and bigger and its importance grew constantly. Today you can visit in Tulcea the Danube Delta Museum, the Art Museum, the Independence Monument (raised in 1904), the Turkish Mosque of Azizie and many other fine places remembering the history and the natural beauty of the surroundings. As a remark: the majority of trips to the delta start from here because it is only 14 km far from this picturesque zone. Uzlina is a village placed in the South-East of Tulcea, one of the few fishing settlements on the left bank of Sf. Gheorghe branch. Here there are the central offices of the Biosphere Reserve of the Danube Delta and of the J. Yves Cousteau Foundation.

Babadag

This small town is also called "Sinaia of the Dobrudja region". It has forested heights around and 60 m altitude. You can visit here the Mosque of Ali-Gazi Pasha, an 18^th century funerary memorial and the Fine Arts Museum where a collection of Oriental textiles can be seen.

Basarabi

Also known as Murfatlar, this commune is placed at the foot of a limestone hills. That is why here you will find many vineyards known all over Europe for their wines (Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Cabernet-Savignon, Riesling, Merlot and Muscat-Ottonel). A museum was set up for showing the evolution of the region from the antiquity till present days. In the neighborhood you will find a special place: a complex of six small churches, a few rooms, galleries, vaults and 10^th century graves. On the limestone walls you will admire old drawings illustrating men, saints, fantastic animals, Greek and Slav inscriptions. Not very far from here you can visit the Fintinita Natural Reservation where are growing rare species of plants.

Medgidia

It is a small town lying in the Carasu valley in the center of the Dobrudja tableland. Medgidia is an important railway junction and a transit port too (at the Danube-Black Sea navigable canal). Before 1850, it was known as a corn market but in the mid-19^th century were built many buildings ordered by Sultan Abdul Medgid. The big mosque and the Turkish baths are still preserved. In the last 60 years Medgidia faced industrialization so the aspect of the town has totally changed. You will find here a Fine Arts Museum too.