Swis Nature

Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve

A Garden of Eden for People and Wildlife

At the end of the 2860 km that it runs through, from the springs (Donaueschingen - Black Forest in Germany) to the Black Sea (ancient Pontus Euxinus), the Danube builds for more than 12,000 years one of the most beautiful deltas in Europe and in the world. For the richness of its landscape and its fauna where the birds are the most significant element, Delta represents a special interest from all points of view: scientific, touristic and even economic.

Danube and its arms.

The Danube at the top of the Delta (Ceatalul /River Fork Chiliei) drains a catchment area of 805,300 square kilometers, with 120 major tributaries and an average flow of (6.515 m/s), distributing its waters on the three main arms:

Chilia, with its many ramifications and islets, is the youngest and longest one (120 km); it strength is given by the fact that it carries the biggest water volume and sediments (58%). Throughout its evolution, it has formed several secondary deltas - the first one in the Pardina depression, the second one, downstream the Chilia Veche village and the third one, downstream the Periprava village. The navigation along the Chilia Arm is an important economic activity, the most important ports being Izmail and Vîlcovo (Ukraine).

Sulina, was preferred for maritime navigation according to the studies of the Danube Commission (1856) which led to meanders’ correction and the deepening of the riverbeds between 1862 and 1902. As a result, the length was reduced from 92 km to 63.7 km, while the water volume and transported silts increased from 7-8% to 18.8%. Sulina Town, as entrance port for marine vessels suffered changes in its economic development. Due to the silt deposited at the arm's mouth, a canal was built stretching progressively into the sea, (currently has 10 km) in order to make possible the navigation.

Sfântu Gheorghe, the most Southern and the oldest arm with a length of 109 km, in 1980-1990 suffered changes by correcting the six meanders and shortening down to 69.7 km. The volume of water and the silts flowing on this arm is about 23.2%. Before its end into the Black Sea, the Sfântu Gheorghe arm is developing a small secondary delta in between the Sf. Gheorghe Arm and another two southern arm branches: Gârla de Mijloc and Gârla Turcească. Both reach a bay called Meleaua Sfântu Gheorghe, resulted from the occurrence (1897) and the development of the islands Sacalin (currently joined to the mainland, forming a 19 km long peninsula).

The main morphological and hydrographic categories include: the marine levees having a nearly a perpendicular position on the arms of the Danube Delta in Eastern side, the river levees accompanying the Danube's arms and the main streams, continental fields, the swampy land covered by water, depending on the level of the Danube, and marsh vegetation, ranging from -0.5 to 1 m high, the lakes (more than 440) occupying depressions below 0 m in the West (fluvial delta) and below 0.5 m in the East (maritime delta) associated in lake complexes and the arms, streams and main channels.

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