New Nature Reserves in Danube Delta

"Prundu cu păsări" and "Ceaplace" islands, in Danube Delta will be declared nature reserved and will be closed for public access.

Scientific reserve Ceaplace Island will have a total area, including the water area, of 117 hectares and the size of the island is 0.6 ha. Laying in the north part of Sinoie Lake, the island is one of the three areas in Romania sheltering colonies of Curly Pelicans (Pelecanus Crispus).

The scientific reserve "Prundu cu păsări" islands has a total area of 187 hectares and the approximate size of the islands is 1,4 hectares. Approximate not because no-one was was able to measure it exactly, but because it varies continuously, together with the configuration of the entire Danube Delta.

the islands from Prundu cu păsări shelter a mix colony of birds, out of which the most important are the Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia), the Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus Crispus), who tries to build the nests here. But they also offer shelter and a place to rest to the common white pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus) and other protected birds. 

The administration of the two areas is insured by ARBDD (Romanian Administration of Danube Delta's Biosphere Reserve) and access of tourists, as well as any economic activity is forbidden. 

We salute the initiative and the conservation status granted to the two areas and we really hope more areas in Romania will be included in the nature reserve list. But we also hope the status of the nature reserve is really protected and no economic activities will take place there, unlike now, when some well-connected people are allowed to build them own houses in the middle of nature reserves.

Camping in Danube Delta

During the first half of August, 2010, the "Environment Protection Guard" applied fines of 162.650 Lei (about 40.000 EUR) for illegal camping. Some of the areas where people can camp without worries are Delfinul camping, in Sfantu Gheorghe, Campoeuroclub Partizani, Sulina youth camp (though the youth camp in Sulina, doesn't have too many facilities, IMO).

I totally agree that camping should be allowed only in some areas, but there is a smell of "let's help the guest-houses and hotels" here. If people respect the nature and leave no trace behind, if they don't disturb the animals and birds, I see nothing wrong with camping in the areas that are not strictly restricted.

No Toxic Residues in Danube Delta

Romania's senate voted today two laws that forbids storage of the toxic residues in Danube Delta. Basically there is forbidden any deposit of toxic or radioactive residue at a distance smaller than 20 km from the Black Sea coastline or in the "Natura 2000" protected areas.

Landscapes of Danube Delta

Here is another slideshow with pictures by Leonard Butusina. I don't know Leonard yet, but I'd like to meet him and have a chat.

Just watch the pictures and you'll understand why we love Danube Delta, why we consider it as one of the most beautiful places in Europe and why when someone asks me what to see in Romania I always recommend Danube Delta as a must-see.

Birds of Danube Delta

The birds and the main treasure of Danube Delta. 325 species of birds shelter and nest here, out of which some are very rare. Like the Curly Pelican (Pelecanus Dalmatus) or the pigmy cormorant. Lucian Butusina has a very nice slideshow surprising the pelicans (Pelecanus Onocrotalus), the take-off of the swans (Cygnus Olor), the Black-winged Stilt, (Himantopus himantopus), the Pochard (Aythya Ferina), a tern (Sterna Hirundo), the Squacco heron , a falcon (which I would idetntify as Falco Subbuteo), an Ibis (Glossy Ibis), the Spoonbill (Platalea Leucordia), the Little Egret (Egretta Garzetta), the Black Headed Gull

People of Danube Delta

A slide show with lovely pictures by Leonard Butusina. While other similar slide-shows concentrate on the landscape or the birds, this time Leonard's pictures are about people living in Danube Delta, them households and the lifestyle:

Birds of danube delta

Yet another slideshow, on a daring music.
Nice pictures by Romeo Huidu, presenting many of Danube Delta's birds:

Passenger boat in Danube Delta

The transfer by the passenger boat in Danube Delta is a nice trip in itself, we we can see in this video. There are two types of boats: a slow one and a fast catamaran. The slow passenger boat, called by the locals simply "Pasagerul" (the passenger) is the one I recommend. The catamaran is faster, you cannot stay outside and you don't see that many birds as from the slow one.
That's why, whenever possible Outdoor Holidays' excursion in Danube Delta feature transfer by the slow passenger boat and the guide will stay with you outside showing the birds and explaining the local traditions.

Rafting in Danube Delta

In 2001 a group of French guys travelled along the Danube in a raft.
Here is the part of the trip from Danube Delta. It seems to have been a nice adventure.



If you'd like trying a similar experience, you can check out Outdoor Holidays' Canoeing and kayaking trips in Danube Delta

Nature photography

Let's start the year with this slideshow of excelent pictures taken by Daniel Petrescu in Dobrogea & Danube Delta:



thanks Daniel for posting this on youtube!