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With a long jorney from the Black Forest Mountains from Germany, the Danube ends its way in Romania's Black Sea, being known as the largest and the most beautiful of European deltas. It is over 2,800 km long and it traverses 9 European countries.

The river can be considered to be a bond between several cultures, but in the meantime it was also the place that offered shelter to people and to hundreds of species of animals and plants.

It had an eventful history started 5,000 years ago and mentioned in several documents by Herodot "the founder of history". It was the home for many people starting with the Scythian and Dacian people, who never left this land. It was known during the early history but also during the middle ages because of its accessibility to the sea, becoming between 10th and 15th century the main trade centre for the Greek, Arab, Venice and Genoa merchants .

Its point of start for an adventure is Tulcea town, situated close to the place where the Danube divises itself into 3 main brances: Sulina, Saint Gheorghe and Chilia. Old town it is almost the same age with the ancient Rome, but with a less eventful history; it lays on 7 hills, but it is an important port and in the mean time an important economic centre. Exploring this land you'll explore its natural silence and calm by boat, observing the variety of vegetation and the numerous species of fish and birds.

The vegetation is abundant and it can be divided in several cathegories such as: those which can be found floating of the lakes like the white water lilies, but also plants on the surface of the waters or even on land like several species of trees. The most important landmarks are the Letea and Caraorman forests. The former is placed at 7 km from Periprava town (near Chilia branch) and it represents a real monument of nature. Its appearance is similar to the ecuatorial forests, with a variety of plants that and dangerous animals like: snakes and adders. And the latter, the Caraorman forest is located in the west, between Sulina and Saint Gheorghe brances having pretty much the same vegetation as Letea forest.

The birding is diverse, with over than 250 species, with 80 species brought from northern Europe, Asia and Africa. It is a known place for the existance of the Dalmatian and the white pelican, a place visited by red-breasted-geese during the winter, but also the sheld duck, the curlew, the white-tailed eagle and the white egret can be found.

There are 110 fish species the most important being the crap, the sturgeon, the sheat fish and the pike perch.

There are 18 strictly protected areas. Besides trhe above-mentioned ones, there are also Raducu (2.500 ha), Nebunu (115 ha), Rodundu (228 ha), Potcoava (652 ha), Vatafu-Lunguletu (1.625 ha), Caraorman (2.250 ha), Saraturi-Murighiol (87 ha), Erenciuc (50 ha), Belciug (110 ha), Popina (98 ha), Capul Dolosman (125 ha), the banks of Lupilor (2.075 ha) and Chituc (2.300 ha), Istria-Sinoie (400 ha), Rosca - Buhaiova - Letea, landmarks of the area od 12,000 hectares in the Matita depression, in the northern part of the Big M (Sulina arm). The lakes Rosca, Merhei and a combination of ponds, reed marshes, floating islets play host to big colonies of pelicans, egrets, herons, glossy ibises, spoon bills, Sacalin - Zatoane streches south of the Sfantu Gheorghe commune, over some 21,000 hectares lining the litoral. It is a succesion of banks with isolated lakes, marshy areas, river and low salinity waters, sand-clogged ponds, reeds, traversed by parallel dunes. The Zatoane lakes in particularr are places of transit, stopover and hatching for mute swans, whitte, red and yellow herons, cormorants, composite colonies including pelicans, Periteasca - Bisericuta - Gura Portitei extends to the south the above-mentioned reserve by over 4,000 hectares. It distinguishes itself by dry banks washed by the sea or by the Razim lake, fit especially for the existence of shore birds used to salt and for transiting ones.

The touristic attractions in Danube Delta are several: it can be divided into natural landmarks and monuments. There can be seen lots of beautiful lakes such as: Furtuna, Babina, Matita, Gordova, Uzlina, Lumina, Puiu and Rosu and channels like: Sireasa-Sontea, Eracle-Lopatna and Litcov. Agighiol is a village situated at 18km away from Tulcea, it is a known spa and a monumental rezervation, the place where a "princial" grave was found which dated since the 14th century. Babadag, located at 37 km away from Tulcea, on the banks of a lake and at the foot of the forests, called "the father of the mountains", it is the host of a spa. The Ancient Chilia, is a village at 80 km from Tulcea, on the banks of Chilia branch, it is known as the oldest location from the region. In the 15th century it was one of the most important location, with its citadel that was rebuilt entirely by Stephen the Great in 1479. Other places to visit are: Bisericuta, an island in Razim lake; Dranov an important lake and Letea and Caraorman forests.

Enterteinment

Fishing for fresh water and saltwater fish is allowed the whole year, except during for the 60 day spawning season beginning in April. The fishing areas are yearly established by the Hunters and Anglers' Union and the Administration of the Biosphere Reservation "Delta Dunarii." Boating - options for getting on the water include druises in the Danube Delta, strolling on channels and brooks. There is plenty of opportunity to rent different types of boats at Tulcea, the "Lebada" Hotel at Crisan, the camping area at Crisan-sat, the tourist center at Murigiol, or from private individuals. The rulers of hunting in the Danube Delta are established by the Hunter and Anglers' Union and the Administration of the Biosphere Reservation "Delta Dunarii". The circumstances and the areas are yearly settled. The main areas are: Razim, Caraorman, Uzlina, Crisan-Sulina, Mila 23-Sat, Ilgani (geese, mallards, moor hens, snipes, wild oars) and Cardon-under special circumstances (roebucks, pheasants, hares). Hunting season opens in August and closes in March – water birds (15.08-15.03).