Danube Delta

The Danube Delta is the second largest river delta in Europe, after the Volga Delta, and is the best preserved on the continent. The greater part of the Danube Delta is situated in Romania (in Tulcea ), while its northern part, on the left bank of the Chilia arm, is situated in Ukraine The approximate surface is 4152 km?, of which 3446 km? are in Romania. If one includes the lagoons of Razim-Sinoe , which are located south of the delta proper.

Distributaries of the Danube

The Danube branches into three main distributaries into the delta, Chilia, Sulina, and Sfantul Gheorghe (Saint George). The last two branches form the Tulcea channel, which continues as a single body for several kilometers after the separation from the Chilia.

Chilia, in the north, the longest, youngest, and most vigorous, with two secondary internal deltas and one microdelta in full process of formation at its mouth (to Ukraine).

Sulina, the central and thus the shortest arm, which consequently led to its extensive use for traffic and severe transformation. At its mouth is located the main port and the single settlement with urban charactersitics of the Romanian part of the delta. Because of the alluvium deposited at its mouth, a channel gradually advancing into the sea, was built in order to protect the navigation.

Sfantul Gheorghe , in the south, is the oldest and more sparsely populated. Its alluvium has led to the creation, beginning with 1897, of the Sacalin islands, which as of today measure 19 km in length.