EXTREMELY RICH, THE FLORA IN THE DANUBE DELTA CONSISTS OF THREE MAIN CATEGORIES:

1. Plants with floating leaves
In this category there is White water lily (Castalia alba), Yellow water lily (Nuphar luteum), Frog’s grass (Hydrocharis morsusrane), Water thistle (Trapa natans), Potamogeton natans and Rizac (Stratiotes aloides).

2. Riparian plants and floating reed islets
In this category are: reed (Phragmites genus) - up to 80% - and burlush (Typha genus) - 20%, water fern (Nephrodium thelypteris), sorrel (Rumex hidrolapatum), the flower of "forget-me-not" ( Myosotis palustris), frogs mint (Mentha aquatica) and Water hemlock (Cicuta virosa).

floating reed islets reprezent a mixture of roots, herbs, reeds, and soil organic scraps. An important role in the floating reed islets formation have the reed rhizomes (underground stems), where the gas accumulates, which leads to the elevation of the layer and its breaking, as a result of waves action. Their thickness varies between 0.50 and 1.50 meters. The floating reed islets occupy in the Danube Delta a big surface, and depending on water level and their thickness, they are:

• mobile (moving on the lakes, under the action of wind and water currents)
• stuck in the less deep areas, when the water level is low;
• fixed on other sticked floating reed islets, under these being a layer of water which is an excellent habitat for certain species of fish (sheat fish, carp, crucian carp, etc.)

Most extensive surface floating reed islets can be found in the lakes complex Rosu – Puiu – Lumina. The dynamic of the floating reed islets is very dangerous, because they can block the channels and made the navigation difficult. Another difficulty is that the nets of the fishermen can be dragged or broken by these mobile floating reed islets. The obturated access routes are difficult to be unblocked, and when the floating reed islets are sticked, the only solution being to cut some lanes for the boats.

3. Land plants
In this family are: white willow tree (Salix alba), poplar (Populus), arin (Alnus), ash (Fraxinus) and mixed forests on sand banks.

Chiar dacă Rezervaţia Biosfera Delta Dunării nu este nici intre cele dintâi ca înfiinţare şi nici dintre cele mai întinse rezervaţii ale biosferei de pe Pământ, ea se află, totuşi, pe locul 5 între zonele umede ale Terrei şi pe locul 2 în Europa. Totodată, Rezervaţia Biosfera Delta Dunării este considerată a treia ca importanţă ecologică din întreaga lume.

Cel mai mare ţinut mlăştinos din Europa, Delta cuprinde una dintre cele mai mari întinderi de stufăriş din lume: este dominată, de fapt, de stuful care formează insule fixe sau plutitoare de vegetaţie (plaurii descrişi mai sus). Pe lângă stuf, există numeroase alte plante (papura, feriga de apă, măcrişul, izma broaştei, cucuta de apă, rogozul, menta, troscotul, salcia pitică). Suprafeţele nisipoase ale Deltei sunt acoperite cu iarbă şi alte specii de stepă: salcia albă, plopul, arinul, frasinul, pădurile combinate de pe grinduri. Luciul apei este populat de nenumărate specii de plante cu frunze plutitoare: nufărul alb, nufărul galben, iarba broaştelor, ciulinele de apă, limba apei, rizacul, cornacul, cosorul.




1. Fish
The Danube Delta is considered a true wildlife paradise. 98% of European aquatic fauna lives here, the entire fauna of the Odon order, from the aquatic butterfly order and gastropods mollusks in Europe. Amphibians are represented by two species of caudal and six species of Anura(eg: Frog), the reptiles through eight species, mostly snakes.

In the Delta there are living over 110 fish species, of which 75 species are of freshwater. A special place among the fish from the Danube Delta is taken by the marine sturgeons: sturgeon, beluga, Black Sea sturgeon, from which caviar results (caviar) and freshwater sturgeons: stelet and visa. From the migratory fish, the most important place is taken by the herring. The Waller is the biggest fish which lives in the freshwaters from Romania, in the Delta the waller fish can reach up to 400 kilograms. The pike perch record is 21 kg.

Other highly valued fish by the fishermen are: pike, carp, pike perch, crucian, rapacious carp, bass, and bream. In the Delta lakes, there is the opportunity of fishing the pike and the pike perch, carp, waller etc. On the fishing channel, in general, waller, pike perch, crap. The overflowing branches of the Danube are preferred by the crucian, oblate, sea herring, carp, waller, pike perch, pike, barbel, avat; calm waters are populated by crucian, perch, the bass.

The marine domain hosts, for the most part, beluga and Black Sea sturgeon and also theDanube herring. 50% of the production of freshwater fish of Romania comes from the Delta. In the Danube Delta, fishing is allowed all year round, except for a period of 60 days (from April 1, when the fish is spawning).

2. Birds
The birds are the ones who made The Danube Delta famous: the area owes his reputation to the 327 species found here, which represents 81% of the wildlife birds. From this total amount 218 species nest here and the remaining 109 species just pass through the delta and stay for varying periods- autumn,winter and spring.

Aquatic birds are the most numerous in the delta: 81 species of them nest here and 60 other species just pass through the area. Altogether this means a total of 141 species that represents 82% of the European aquatic avifauna.The aquatic avifauna of the Danube Delta is formed from by a nucleus of old species well adjusted to the aquatic enviroment joined by the secondary species and the cosmopolite species.

NThe nucleus of the avifauna of The Danube Delta is made up of 75 species, whose lives are tied to the presence of water. They are grouped in 5 main ecological types: species tightly bound to the water, spread in a limited area (diver, pelicans, cormorants, some palmipeds) species which live in the reed plots (all species of aquatic birds) species which live on the shore (heron, rower, black woodcock and some palmipeds) species which live in thehydrophilic meadows with rich vegetation that continues with reed plots (eg: corn crake), species of seashores (eg. Common tern).Romania laws currently protect more species of birds some of which have been declared monuments of nature. These protected species can be divided in 2 categories as follows –according to their plumage:

• white: those birds with bright-white feathers – the pink pelican, the Dalmatian pelican, the duck, the spoonbill , the great white egret, the small egret, the swan, the curly pelican and the common pelican;
• multicolored: birds whose feathers combine white and black with green, yellow, brown and blue- e.g. wild ducks, white-tailed eagle.

The best periods if you want to admire the Danube Delta‘s birds are between April- May and June -September. The best places to watch the birds are located near the lakes of the Danube Delta.

The swamp areas and flood plains shelter crested ducks, the red headed ducks, the wild goose, Pygmy cormorants, purple herons, Black woodcock. During the winter season in the delta we can find the red neck goose, the swan, the large duck, the moor hen.

3. Mammals
Most animals in the Danube Delta are mammals that live in higher areas, where the water doesn’t reach. Otters, foxes, bear, wolves, rats, ferrets, minks and turtles, vipers and snake colonies are mainly found on the islands of Lake Razim. Hunting is not allowed in the Danube Delta Reservation in order to protect the species some of which are rare and protected by the law (the mink, the otter, the rabbit, the wild boar, the fox, the ferret, the deer, the wild horse, the wild cat.

4. Reptiles
In the Danube Delta the sands shelter species of reptiles like turtles, vipers and snake colonies.




1. ROŞCA-BUHAIOVA (9625 ha)
Rosca-Buhaiova area includes a great diversity of habitats which are representative for the river delta (immobile and floating reed beds, reed marshes (fens), lakes, river sand banks, the western side of the Letea marine sand bank, the eastern side of the continental sand bank, natural streams, flooding areas, willow pledges, etc.). The fauna in this area shows a remarkable diversity represented by mammals like: otter, mink, ermine, muskrat, raccoon dog, fox, wild boar, etc.; by the ornithological fauna: the presence of the greatest colony of white pelicans (Pelecanus onocrotalus) from Europe, the Ardeidaes mixed colonies, the majority of Anatidaes and Paseriformes species characteristic for the delta, as well as the presence of the invertebrates fauna. The same rich diversity is present also in the vegetal world, in spite of the monotony offered by the predominant species: reed. The stagnant aquatic basins are invaded by water lily (Nymphaea alba, Nuphar luteum), Hydrocharis, Limnanthemum, Trapa natans, Stratiotes aloides. In the water poor in nitrates from some low hollows or puddles between reed beds, appear the Utricularia and Aldrovanda carnivorous plants. In the compact reed thickets is concentrated almost the whole European flora of amphibian plants represented by the Dryopteris thelipteris, Solanum dulcamara, Euphorbia palustris, species of Carex, etc. and rare species like: Acorus calamus or Calla palustris.

2. LETEA FOREST (2825 ha)
This forest, that grows between the dunes under the shape of some bands with 10-250 m breadth, separated by the top of the dunes, is formed especially from: English Oak (Quercus robur, Q. pedunculiflora), White Poplar (Populus alba), Black Poplar (Populus nigra), Narrow-Leafed Ash (Fraxinus angustifolia, Fraxinus pallisae), Pyrus pyraster, Silver Lime (Tilia tomentosa), Elm tree (Ulmus foliacea) and rarely Common Alder (Alnus glutinosa) and is completed by a rich scale of sub-shrub species (Crataegus monogyna, Ligustrum vulgare, Euonymus europaeus, Cornus mas, C. sanguinea, Rhamnus frangula, R. cathartica, Viburnum opulus, Berberis vulgaris, etc). A characteristic of this area is the abundance of climbing plants (Periploca graeca, Hedera helix, Vitis silvestris, Humulus lupulus, Clematis vitalba) which give a subtropical aspect to the forest. Within the vegetal carpet there are also another rare species: Sand bindweed (Convolvulus persicus), Merendera sobolifera and tendril (Epphedra dystachia). The fauna is represented by the White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla), Red-footed Falcon (Falco vespertinus), Hoopoe (Upupa epops), Roller (Coracias garrulus), a few species of herpetological rarities (Eremias arguta, Vipera ursinii renardi) and approx. 1600 entomofauna species identified until today.

3. RĂDUCU LAKE (2500 ha)
This area includes fresh water lakes supplied from the last branch of the big “M”, situated in a typical area for the development of the river-marine sand banks between Chilia and Sulina. The aquatic basins are surrounded by the marine sand banks with barren soils, mobile or insufficiently fixed with Elymus sabulosus, Carex ligerica and Agropyrum elongatum; steppe grasslands with Salix rosmarinifolia and Euphorbia palustris or depressionnary areas , with temporary open water, characterized by the shrubs with Juncus gerardii. “Rãducu” and “Rãduculet” lakes are hosting a representative ichtyofauna for this area, protected by the isolation of these basins.

4. NEBUNU LAKE (115 ha)
The lake “Nebunu” and its surroundings represent a small lacustrine area, characteristic for the river delta which is hosting specific biocoenosis, adapted to great amplitudes of the high flood wave. This area is suitable nesting place and feeding place for water-fowls during the summer time. Because of its isolation, the lake provides the best conditions for spawning and growth of the ichthyofauna which is specific for the small lakes with low levels of water.

5. VĂTAFU-LUNGULEŢ (1625 ha)
This area comprises different forms of relief: sand banks, low hollows, depressions, fixed and floating reed beds, halophyle grasslands, and it is characterized mainly by the existence of biocoenosis adapted to the euryhalin life conditions. The complex of lakes and river-marine sand banks is an important nesting place for Little bitterns and Pygmy cormorants, in mixed ardeidae colonies.

6. CARAORMAN FOREST (2250 ha)
This area comprises the most advanced and representative bare dunes from the delta and Caraorman forest, developed especially on the southern side of the sand bank. Beside the various meadow brushes consisting of poplars, ashes and oaks, we can also find here, pledge sub-shrubs, Salix, Tamarix, etc. The southern forest extremity shelters impressive oaks exemplaries with 4,20- 4,70 m circumference. The vegetal associations are hosting invertebrates (especially insects) and vertebrate animals (mammals). As avifauna, in this forest it can be found the White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) and the Raven (Corvus corax).

7. SĂRĂTURI MURIGHIOL (87 ha)
“Sãrãturi Murighiol” Lake is strongly salinized, of chlorine-sulphate type, being characterized by its richness of zoo- and phytoplankton species. This complex is a shelter for sternidae colonies, here nesting also the Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus), as well as the Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta), Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina) and Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus). During the winter, because of the water’s late freezing we can discover a great concentration of limicolous that find here shelter and plenty of food.

8. ARINIŞUL ERENCIUC (50 ha)
This area is the only forest area in the whole delta, where the common alder (Alder glutinosa) grows densely. Sometimes, here is nesting the White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla).

9. INSULA (ISLAND) POPINA (98 ha)
“Popina” island constitutes an important resting place for migratory birds and the nesting place for Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna). In spring, we can find here swamp and forest birds like: Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos), Calandra Lark (Melanocorypha calandra), etc. The invertebrates fauna comprises rarities like the venomous spider called “the black widow” (Lactrodectus tredecimguttatus) and the giant myriapod (Scolopendra cingulata).

10. SACALIN ZĂTOANE (21410 ha)
The lakes provide ideal nesting conditions for Mute swans and feeding conditions for the limicolous species, numerous on the Sacalin islands where the greatest colony of Sandwich Terns (Sterna sandvicensis) lives also. Both lakes and the sand banks, as well as the Black Sea coast are the maximum concentration sites of the ornithological fauna during the spring-autumn migration. The Sacalin island is the most important nesting, pre-migration and migration area, an important wintering quarter, here nesting approximatively 30 bird species.

11. PERITEAŞCA-LEAHOVA (4125 ha)
Characteristic here are the biocoenosis developed on the dry sand banks, on the sands bathed by the sea or by the Razim Lake, as well as the biocoenosis adapted to high salinity variations. It is a favorite nesting area for the limicolous species, for Shelducks (“Bisericuta” island), as well as for laridae and sternidae families (halophyle sand banks), being an important nesting and feeding area for winter guests. Periteasca- Leahova is also the favorite shelter for the Red-breasted goose population (Branta ruficollis), during day-time migration.

12. CAPUL DOLOŞMAN (125 ha)
This area is important for the conservation of the xerophyte vegetation, for the Swift (Apus apus) nesting, the Pied Wheatear (Oenanthe pleschanka), as well as for the protection of the Marbled Polecat (Vormela peregusna) of the Large Whip Snake (Coluber jugularis) and of the Dice Snake (Natrix tesselata). The area has also an archaeological importance, here lasting old civilizations vestiges.

13. GRINDUL (LEVEE) LUPILOR (2075 ha)
This area is an important nesting and feeding refuge for birds. During autumn migration period, this area becomes an impressive concentration of ornithofauna and, especially of winter guests (geese, ducks). Because of the low levels of water and due to its favorable conditions, this is a very important area for the natural spawning of the following fish species: carp (Ciprinus carpio), pike perch (Stizostedion lucioperca) and bream (Abramis brama).

14. ISTRIA-SINOIE (400 ha)
In this area there is a great variety of bird species: the Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna), different ducks, geese and numerous limicolous species. From the herpetology fauna we can find here the Spur- thighed Tortoise (Testudo Graeca), the Large Whip Snake (Coluber jugularis) and numerous Dice snakes (Natrix tesselata). Istria-Sinoie area has also a great archaeological value.

15. GRINDUL (LEVEE) CHITUC (2300 ha)
This area is valuable due to its morphological configuration, characterized by the succession of cordons, dunes, lakes, mainly the last ones, oriented on a side way direction on the current shore line, featuring a fan. The vegetation here is characteristic to the seacoast areas, with sandy salty soils and it is important for birds’ migration and wintering.

16. ROTUNDU LAKE (228 ha)
“Rotundu” is a typical lake from Danube’s holm, the lacustrine Somova-Parches complex being the last area of this kind, unaffected by dykings. It is an area of special interest, being representative for the research and conservation of the biocoenosis adapted to great amplitudes of the high flood wave, as well as for cyprinids reproduction.

17. POTCOAVA LAKE (625 ha)
This area is characterized by the existence of a mixed colony of herons, glossy ibis, egrets, pygmy cormorants. It is a nesting place for Little Bittern (Ixobrychus minutus), Bittern (Botaurus stellaris), Gadwall (Anas strepera), Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina), Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena), White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla), as well as feeding place for Divers, Grebes, Pygmy cormorants, Herons, Shovelers, Saker falcon, etc. The area is a shelter for otters, minks, ermines, wild boars. The piscicultural fauna is represented by a range of threatened species like the crucian carp, the tench.

18. BELCIUG LAKE (110 ha)
Because of its isolation and its water depth (about 7 m), this lake is very favorable for the conservation of some threatened fish species (crucian carp, tench, orfe).This area is also an important feeding place for numerous bird species, represented by: herons, egrets, ducks, etc. In the surrounding reed beds is nesting the Crane (Grus grus), a threatened species.




1. VALLEY FAGILOR FOREST – THE FOREST RESERVE LUNCAVIŢA
The forest is located in the mountains Măcinului, near Isaccea, at the North of Macin Mountains National Administration Park. It represents an island of beech wood residue, where there are found silver linden, maple and elm trees. Formerly the name of the valley was "The Scapeţi" the skopets being members of a religious sect.

2. MACIN MOUNTAINS NATIONAL ADMINISTRATION PARK
Macin Mountains National Administration Park is located in the Dobrogea Plateau and represents is the only area in Europe where the ecosystems characteristic to pontic-balkanian steppe, submediterranea and balkanic forests with many threatened with extinction species, develops on the oldest mountains in Romania - hercynian mountains, among the first formed on the continent. Macinului Mountains were formed during the hercynian orogenesis, who took place 300-400 million years ago, which is why are known as the oldest mountains in our country. Macin Mountains National Administration Park has over 11,000 hectares, of which 99.7% represent the forest fund and 0.3% are pastures. In the forests of northern Dobrogea features a rich and unique biodiversity in the world, with complex ecosystems forest steppe and forest steppe. The international value of the park is highlighted by the presence of six species of plants included in the list of European species in the category "vulnerable" - among them dobrogean bell (Campanula Romanic), sand wort (Moehringia grisebachi), snowdrop with folded leaves (Galanthus plicatus) the small china pink of cliff (Dianthus nardiformis). The mountains Macinului fauna, less studied, is characterized by great diversity and has the rare and protected species such as turtle - nature monument, blotched snake, sand viper, black vulture, black pecker, european roller - all of which are species protected worldwide.

3. CASIMCEA RESERVATION
Scientific importance of the reserves is given by green schist and traces of biological activity, plus the incidental presence of representative species of edacara fauna (seaweed, molluscs). Presently, they are considered the oldest traces of life in Romania. The reserve is crossed by a tributary stream of the river Casimcea. The amount of the reservation landscape value is enhanced by the existence of perspective points over the forest massif in the north and over the Casimcea course.

4. CALUGARU HILL RESERVE, IANCINA, COMMUNE JURILOVCA
A natural landscape reserve, the area is protected because it holds a great scientific value: it preserves the fossil coast of the Black Sea, right before the closure of the coastal lagoons. The genuine appearance of the reserve is rended by the cliffs or the rocky banks, with spectacular shapes, eroded by the waters of Lake Razim. The reserve is part of the Babadag Plateau. The landscape value is enhanced by the contrast between the barren landscape and the water areas of Lake Razim, which makes this place unique in the country.

5. THE COCOS MONASTERY RESERVE, COMMUNE NICULITEL
This reserve which is a mixed natural protected area, presents a special bio-historical value, being the place where, according to tradition, wild capercaillies (cocos salbatic) were singing, which explains the origin of the monastery’s name. The reserve is important for the habitat reconstruction of this particular species, presumed to be Lyrurus tetrix viridanus, the Eurasian black grouse, presently extinct from the Dobrogea area.

6. BABADAG FOREST RESERVE
One of the main objectives of the mix reservation Babadag Forest is the conservation on a limited area, of numerous forestry associations specific to the Dobrogea area, poorly represented in other protected areas. They are formed, in particular, by the brush of advanced age, mostly over 100 years of age, with an underived structure, close to the natural primordial forest of Dobrogea. They constitute some of the few secular forests that were kept in this province. Meanwhile, they represent witness-forests where the environmental studies of 1970’s were conducted, under the International programme “The Man and the Biosphere”, MAB-UNESCO. Their selection for such studies constitutes an additional proof of their ecological worldwide value.