The Danube Delta's wildlife paradise

The Danube Delta, witness of eventful, century-old history of Romanian people, huge, amazing spread of water, reed and sun, of a unique wealth, biological value, exuberance and variety, is a major target of tourist interest in nowadays Romania. The Danube Delta was included in the UNESCO Project as a Reservation of the Biosphere because its peculiar features and the originality and variety of the ecosystems (more than 25 types of natural ecosystems). There are settled 18 areas strictly protected ecological rehabilitation, 13 buffer areas and economic zones, where tourist activities are permitted under the circumstances of protection and maintenance of the environment. At the end of the great river Danube’s journey through Europe to the Black Sea there spreads out a natural paradise unique in Europe, where channels, lakes, reed islands, pastures and sand dunes cover over 5,165sq km (2,000sq miles). In the long run, deposition of million tons of alluvia linked the three branches of the Danube: Chilia, Sulina and Sf. Gheorghe.

This amazing wetland shelters over 310 species of birds countless fish from royal sturgeon down to carp and perch, while its 1,150 kinds of plants range from sinuous lianas suggesting tropical forests to gently blossoming water lilies.

It is small wonder that UNESCO has designated the Delta a "Reservation of the Biosphere". Only 15,000 people make their living from fishing, livestock breeding, and reed harvesting in this vast area. Their villages, lapped by the waterways, seem untouched by time.

The starting point for a Delta adventure is usually the ancient city of Tulcea, with modern tourist hotels and special small cruise ships, plus a worthwhile museum devoted to the natural history of the Delta. It is 72 km (45 miles) by boat from the almost equally old settlement of Sulina at the other end of the Sulina channel and cruises between the two offering passengers a panoramic view of wildlife. You will see pelicans and cormorants, eagles and vultures.

Local fishermen make their own version of Russian bortsch over an open fire. At restaurants you can sample Danube herring, croquettes of zander, or sturgeon steak, tastly washed down with Aligote, Muscat or Merlot wines. In every way a Delta trip is a memorable experience.

Wherever you look, you can see floating islets covered by rush and reed, lians like in tropical woods, lakes with muddy depths but with surfaces like carpets of water lilies hiding a puzzling under-water world. The silent boats of fishermen stir numberless pelicans and flocks of cormorants and moor hens from their nests beyond the reed curtains.