Journey to Paradise: The Danube Delta

The Danube Delta used to be my favorite summer destination. I used to spend there 2 to 3 weeks each year, sometimes traveling with the recons from Tulcea, sometimes with my friends and family. Whenever there was an opportunity to travel to what I used to call “Earthly paradise,” I took it.

The Danube Delta is truly one of the most beautiful places to see in Romania, so beautiful and valuable that UNESCO listed it as one of the World Heritage Sites. It is the second largest delta in Europe, but the best preserved on the continent. Its approximate surface is 4152 km², of which 3446 km² are in Romania, mostly the Tulcea county. The northen part of the Delta is situated in Ukraine.

On the Romanian shore live about 15000 people, from which cca. 4500 in the port of Sulina. With such a low population density it’s easy to understand why the ecosystem is still well preserved. The people living here have a high respect for their homeland. They know the waters and the lands, but sadly very few people born here stay through adulthood. Poverty is king in a land of unexpected richness and splendor.

More than 300 bird species reside here (including storks, egrets, swans and pelicans), 160 kinds of fish (including caviar-bearing sturgeon) and more than 800 plant families - all adding to the beauty of these wetlands.

You’ll travel by boat on channels and canals widening into clear-blue lakes. You’ll be mesmerized by oak forests and traditional fisherman villages.

You’ll be welcomed with the most exquisite home-made fish dishes. The Delta will lead you to the Black Sea after a short journey on its enchanted waters. I can honestly tell you: if you visit once, you’ll come back over and over again. The Danube Delta will put its spell on you as it did on my heart more than 15 years ago. It’s been three years since I last felt its scents, three long years since I last watched the pelicans flying over the oak trees. This is one of the downsides of living in a foreign country…

But when you travel there don’t miss visiting the Letea Forest and the villages surrounding it, for their ethnic architecture but especially to meet some of the most hospitable people in my country. My favorite summer destination was Murighiol and I strongly recommend it to the bird watchers and amateur fishermen.

Don’t worry about accommodations: agrotourism is flourishing and there are some very good bed and breakfast hotels and motels too (my personal favorite is the Cormoran Complex in Uzlina, not far from Murighiol).

Here are some itineraries:

• Village Letea - Village C.A.Rosetti - Letea Forest - Nebunu Lake and return;
• Village Nuntaşi - The Fortress of Histria - Sinoe Lake and return;
• Tulcea - Maliuc - The Information and Ecological Education Centre - Crişan Cannal - Caraorman - Puiu Lake - Halta Roşu - Busurca Cannal - Sulina - Tulcea;

The best trips will be organized by a local fisherman, who’ll know where you can witness the most extraordinary views and who will take you to the less frequented locations, where the motor-boats do not disturb the peace of the fauna. There you’ll see colonies of pelicans, rare birds and unimals in their natural habitat.

Some photos credits: JCKole.