Danube Delta - A Secret Place

Danube Delta's Map

2007-07-06T14:47:00.000+03:00

A very recent map with all regions from Danube Delta. Sorry for unavailable English version yet.

Access in Danube Delta by Boat

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Call for reservation, HARBOR - phone: +40/240/511553

Passenger boats:

Departure	Time	Days	Arrivals	Time
Tulcea	13:30	Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday	Sulina	18:00
		Monday, Wednesday, Friday	Sf. Gheorghe	18:30
		Monday, Wednesday, Friday	Periprava	19:00
Sulina	07:00	Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday	Tulcea	11:00
Sf. Gheorghe	06:00	Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday
Periprava	05:00	Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday

Starting with 15 June till 30 September, the passenger boats will follow the next schedule:

Departure	Time	Days	Arrivals	Time
Tulcea	13:30	Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday	Sulina	18:00
		Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday	Sf. Gheorghe	18:30
		Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday	Periprava	19:00
Sulina	06:00	Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday	Tulcea	11:00
Sf. Gheorghe	06:00	Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday
Periprava	05:00	Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday

Hydrofoil

Departure	Time	Days	Arrivals	Time
Tulcea	14:00	Every day	Sulina	16:00
Sulina	07:00	Every day	Tulcea	09:00

This video was made on Mircea Clasic Passenger Boat trip

You can arrive in Romania by plane, landing on the Henri Coanda International Airport in Bucharest. After that, by car on the European road E60 (Bucuresti-Urziceni-Slobozia-Harsova-Tulcea) - 300km, or you can also arrive in Tulcea by train.

You can leave the car in one of the private parkings next to Tulcea`s harbor: Hotel Delta parking, Syndicate House parking, railroad parking, guarded and secured. The tax is 5 Euro/day/car.

Enot Dog

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The Enot Dog, Nyctereutes procyonoides, has a striking resemblance to a raccoon, but is really a member of the dog family, Canidea, and is unrelated to the raccoon. In the wild, the enot dog ranges in the wooded areas of western Europe, Romania, Russia, China, and Japan, and as far as Nova Scotia in North America. They are native to south-eastern Siberia, Manchuria, northern Indo-China, China and Japan. They were introduced to western Russia, mainly for hunting purposes, and have since spread from Russia to Scandinavia, Germany, and France.

Here is probably an unique video of an daylight apparency of this very rare nocturnal animal.

The enot dog, is perhaps one of the most unusual canids in the world. It is a dog that for all their physical appearance looks just like a raccoon, having raccoon markings and body structure. This is where the species name, procyonoides, comes from; Procyon is the scientific name for raccoon. It has a very thick body, stout legs, small rounded ears, and bushy tail. Their thick, short fur is a grizzled grey in color, with dark areas around the eyes, the legs and the tip of the tail, and lighter areas on the muzzle and underneath their tail. The canine teeth are small, so most of their chewing is done through the molars. Enot dogs have no close living relatives in the dog family, though they show both behavioral and anatomical links to the bat-eared fox (Otocyon megalotis).

The enot dog's diet depends on where they live and the season. They are omnivorous, and will eat just about anything they can find, from rodents, lizards, frogs, ground birds, seeds, fruit, berries, insects, and spiders. They are able to eat even toxic frogs and toads. They cannot eat larger prey due to weak dental structure; the teeth of raccoon dogs are very small in comparison to other canids. Also, their carnassials are weaker, but they have more developed molars for chewing plant matter. Which is a good indication that if there were an abundance of plant foods, they could easily become vegan. Enot dogs are primarily nocturnal animals, and they start to hunt for their food after sunset, taking a break at around midnight. They are rarely seen during the daytime. On their search for food, they can cover up to 12 miles (20 km) in one night. In areas where they live along the shoreline, they hunt on the beach at night for shellfish and carrion washed ashore by the tides.

Enot dogs tend to live in pairs. Mating season commences when they emerge from their burrow, with the female being receptive for 6 days. After a gestation period of 60 days, about 5 cubs are born, but births of as many as 12 have been recorded. The male enot dog stays with the female, helping to raise the cubs. The male helps by providing food, for his mate first, then for the cubs as well when they begin to eat solid food. The cubs are weaned after 50 days. In some areas, several pairs have dens in close proximity to one another, but do not seem to establish any sort of territorial boundaries. The young are sexually and physically mature at one year old. Enot dogs do not live for more than about 3-4 years in the wild, which we believe is primarily due to being extensively hunted for their fur. Enot dogs can live for 11 years in captivity.

Stay Safe in the Sun on Your Danube Delta Holiday

2007-06-08T15:48:00.000+03:00

Excess sun exposure can cause sunburn, skin damage, skin cancer (the most common form of cancer), cataracts, and heat stroke. Take the right precautions to avoid these hazards and enjoy the sun safely.

1. Select an appropriate sunscreen.

2. Check your sunscreen's SPF. SPF, or "sun protection factor", is one of the most important thing to check. This number describes how effective the sunscreen is. Look for at least SPF 30.
Keep in mind that SPF is not cumulative. Applying one SPF 15 sunscreen and another. SPF 20 sunscreen may give you slightly better coverage, but it does not add up to SPF 35.

3. Look for both UVA and UVB coverage. This means that the sunscreen will block both kinds of damaging ultraviolet light.

4. Look for a PABA-free sunscreen. Para-aminobenzoic acid, or PABA, was used in sunscreens for a long time, but it can stain clothing and cause an allergic reaction in some people.

5. Choose a waterproof sunscreen, if you will be swimming or sweating. No sunscreen is truly waterproof, so you should reapply the sunscreen frequently, according to package instructions.

6. Choose a sunscreen that suits you. Some daily sunscreens aren't as gooey or smelly as some of the heavy-duty outdoor sport formulations. Some sunscreens come in spray-on, roll-on, and stick formats. Some sunscreens come with built-in insect repellent. If you dislike wearing it so much that you don't, it will do you no good. Wearing sunscreen need not be unpleasant, so smell and try different sunscreen brands and styles to find the one(s) that are best suited for you.
* The word "sunblock" is a misnomer. Sunscreen slows the effects of the sun on skin by absorbing, reflecting, and scattering UV rays, but it doesn't stop them.

7. Apply the sunscreen generously. If you're using a cream, the amount of sunscreen you should use is about the size of a regular golf-ball, or 1 oz.

8. Start ahead of time. Ideally, begin applying sunscreen at least a half hour before you go out.

9. Use more than you think you need. Most people do not use enough sunscreen, stopping at somewhere between one fourth and one half the quantity applied to test sunscreens.

10. Don't just grease it on. Put a little on and rub it in. Then do it again and again, until you have a deep, penetrating layer of sunscreen. Do it right and you won't notice it at all and it will truly protect.

11. Be thorough. Put it on the most vulnerable areas: the entire face and forehead, especially the nose and tips of ears, back of the neck, backs of knees, and arms. Make sure to cover all skin that will be exposed. Don't forget the tops of feet, if you're wearing sandals. Have a friend help with hard-to-reach spots like backs and shoulders.

12. Keep your sunscreen relatively fresh. Expired sunscreen may not be as effective as recently-purchased sunscreen, but in general, any sunscreen is better than no sunscreen. If there's no expiration date, try it and see if it still works, or replace anything older than about three years.

13. Cover up. Light layers of clothing work best, in light colors which reflect heat, rather than dark ones, which absorb it. Try a shell or tank top, and then wear a light camp shirt open over that. Natural fibers like cotton are coolest.

14. Wear the right hat. Choose a hat with at least a 3-inch (8 cm) brim all around. A hat will also help to keep you cool. Baseball caps leave the ears and neck exposed, so they're not the best choice for sun protection. A hat will also help to protect your eyes from glare.

15. Wear light-colored, loose fitting clothing. It will keep you cooler and help prevent sunburn by reflecting the sunlight. Be aware, though, that clothing may not block sunlight completely. In fact, an ordinary t-shirt may only be the equivalent of SPF 5. Look for clothing designed to block sun, even up to SPF 50, if you spend a lot of time outdoors.

16. Wear sunglasses. Choose sunglasses that block UV light and wrap around to block light from the side, too. If you're not sure whether your old sunglasses adequately block UV, ask an optometrist to have them checked. Long term exposure to UV light can lead to cataracts. Wear sunglasses in conjunction with a hat.

17. Stay hydrated. Water is the best choice. If you'll be exercising heavily, a sports drink can help to replace electrolytes. Drink in proportion to how much you perspire, but remember that too much too quickly can harm you. It's best to take frequent, moderate portions. Too much sugar, as in soda, can undermine the benefits of the liquid, and alcohol can dehydrate you outright.

18. Stay out of the sun. Especially between 10am and 4pm, stay out of the sun as much as possible. Finding a spot in the shade, carrying an umbrella or parasol, and scheduling outdoor activities to avoid those hours can help to minimize exposure.

19. Limit your total time in the sun. Roll up car windows and run the air conditioning rather than dangling your arm out the window. Glass blocks UV light reasonably well.

20. Keep cool. If you have heavy physical activity to perform outside, try to do it in the morning or evening, not the heat of midday. Choose a shady spot to sit. Sip a cool drink. Take a swim.

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Danube Delta - Flora and Fauna

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The Danube Delta climate is semi-dry temperate, specific to the steppe. The length of the sunshine is high, the multi-annual average is 2,250 hours and the precipitations are reduced. The meteorological statistics for the Danube Delta show 142 summer days, 60 winter days and the springs are equal with autumns.

Danube Delta is ranked to be the first from the 29 wet regions around the Black Sea as biodiversity and surface. In the Danube Delta 5,200 species of plants and animals were identified. 98% of the aquatic fauna can be found here. In the Danube Delta there are various types of colonies: herons, spoon bills, eastern flossy ibises, cormorants, pelicans and terns.

The landscape of the Danube branches is dominated by the enormous flow of water, of bends and riverside coppices. Saint George branch is oriented to south-east and has a curved way on 112 km and transports 22% of the flow. At the river mouth it forms the Sacalin Islands.

Imagine...

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... an elegant and luxurious retreat, complemented by the very best of personal service, set amongst 5,000 square kilometers of waterways and ancient forest wilderness.

A premium five star resort combining rich traditional style with contemporary luxury, the Delta Nature Resort is the perfect gateway to one of the most spectacular holiday experiences in Europe.

The resort is beautifully situated on the rolling banks of Sfantu Gheorghe with magnificent views of the Danube Delta and Black Sea.

Houses / Pensions

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Manecuta Mihai House
Traditional house with 10 places, 4 rooms, TV. He organizes boat trips.
Contact: +40743.046.461, +40740.238.323

Andra Pension
5 rooms and the bathroom is inside the house.
Contact: +40240-546.811

Stefan Ichim Pension
Traditional house, has 10 places in 3 rooms. The dwelling has a big courtyard and a covered terrace were meals are served. It organizes boat trips with the boat of the house.
Contact: +40745.600.650, tel/fax: +40239-672.569

Dimache Jenica Pension
Traditional house with 4 rooms.
Contact: +40240-546.868

Egreta Pension
The pension has 4 rooms and it is ranked in the rural tourist system with two daisies.
Contact: +40745.128.709, +40240-546.770

Aurora Pension
Traditional house with 4 rooms.
Contact: +40240-546.714

Inedit Delta Pension
Pension with the capacity of 14 places in 5 rooms, showers and bathrooms inside the house. It is ranked in the rural tourist system to have two daisies and has its own restaurant.
Contact: +40745.757.849

Tina Pension
Traditional house with 5 rooms.
Contact: +40240.546.855

Mareea Pension
The pension has 10 double rooms 5 with their own bathroom and the others with 2 separate bathrooms, living, two restaurant halls. It has its own central heating.

Dolphin Tourist Village
It is composed by a four star vacation village and a three star campings.

Saint George, Two in One

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The beach
At two km from Sfantu Gheorghe (Saint George) village is a wide, super-fine sand beach spreading on 38 Km until Sulina town. The beach goes under the Black Sea so smoothly forming an secure area for children.

Fishing
For the fishing lovers this area offers the opportunity of organizing fishing contests on the Danube, lakes and channels at carp, sheat fish, pike, eel, crucian, perch and sea fishing at grey mullet, turbot and shark. The permit for sport fishing can be obtained from the authorities.

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Tourist boat treks
The tourists can enjoy boat treks on Danube, channels and lakes with specific fishing area boats or can take a modern rapid boat.

Sulina town – channels:
Busurca - Imputita – along the sea – Tataru – Saint George village
Sulina – Saint George on the route:
Sulina town- Busurca channel – Rosu channel – Imputita channel – Rosulet lake – Rosulet fishing hut – Rosu lake – Rosu tourist area – Puiu lake – Mocansca channel – Erenciuc lake – Saint George branch – Saint George village
Saint George village – channels: Zaton – Buhaz – Palade – Crasnicol – Saint George branch- Saint George village

This movie was made in Saint George Village

Saint George Village

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Lays on the left side of the oldest branch of Danube – Saint George, close to where Danube flows into the Black Sea. The administrative area of the village is of 60,575. 87 ha and is spread on 75.98 ha.

Saint George Village is inhabited by 971 people that live in 358 dwellings and have preserved their traditions.

The place is situated in the eastern extremity of the Danube Delta, in the eastern part of Tulcea county, at 120 Km from Tulcea (the largest town of Tulcea county and the administrative centre of the county) and 35 Km from Sulina. The village is bordered at north by Crisan village and Sulina town, at east by the Black Sea and at west by Murighiol village.
The climate is continental, with warm summers and freezing winters with harsh winds. The annual medium temperature is 11°C and the average quantity of precipitation is 440l/mp annually.

The access in the community is possible on water only. The boat can be taken either from Tulcea harbor (Tulcea – Saint George 4h), Mahmudia (Mahmudia – Saint George 2h 30’) or Murighiol waterfront (Murighiol – Saint George 2h). Both Mahmudia and Murighiol ports can be reached by car, on the main road the distance being of 30 km and respectively 38 km from Tulcea.

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