Razelm Lake & Popina Island
The Local Legend of Razelm Lake
Lake Razelm, or Razim, is the largest lake in Romania, a freshwater liman located in the southern part of the Danube Delta, in Tulcea County, near the Black Sea coast. Before the 1980s and the subsequent communist embankments, the Razelm lagoon complex communicated with the Black Sea through the Periteașca and Portița mouths, allowing marine fish to access it for spawning. After closing these two mouths with dikes, the lagoon became a freshwater lake – fed by the Danube through the Sfântu Gheorghe branch and the channels branching south: Dranov and Dunavăț.
Lake Razelm
The Landscape & Fauna of Lake Razelm
The landscape of Lake Razelm will captivate you with its clear and warm water, clean air, and the presence of birds. The vegetation is typical of the Danube Delta and is rich in dense reed beds, white and yellow water lilies, willows, and aquatic species of bulrush and water thistles. Lake Razelm shelters a wide variety of common fish species, as well as freshwater fish – Cega (among the smallest sturgeons) and Viza (a species threatened with extinction in our country). In the thickets along the shores, you can spot otters (semi-aquatic carnivorous mammals with chestnut-red fur) and raccoon dogs (wild animals similar to dogs with valuable fur).
Razelm-Sinoe Complex
Also known as the freshwater sea, Lake Razelm is part of the Razelm-Sinoe Complex or Razim-Sinoie Complex, located south of the Danube Delta, over an area of 1,145 km². The complex is a component of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve and a Special Avifaunal Protection Area, alongside the Danube Delta. The Razelm-Sinoe Complex is composed of approximately 85% lagoon-type lakes (including Lake Razelm), limanic lakes, and lakes between sandbanks, spanning 863 km².
The Razelm-Sinoe Complex represents the only brackish coastal lakes in Romania. These are low-salinity lakes, resulting from the mixture of freshwater and saltwater, connected both to the Danube and the Black Sea. Currently, the Razim-Sinoie complex is divided into two units: the Razim unit with the lakes Razim, Golovița, Zmeica, and Babadag (Tauc and Topraichioi) – isolated from the sea, and the Sinoe unit with the lakes Sinoe, Nuntași, and Tuzla – connected to the sea via a sluice.
Did you know?
- Lake Razelm - the Largest Lake in Romania
- Max. Depth - 2.80m
- Popina-the only rocky island in Romania
Activities on Lake Razelm
If you venture out on a kayak ride across Lake Razelm, you will feel the enthusiasm and relaxation of this slow-paced sport, even if it’s your first time. Kayaking has become increasingly popular in recent years, offering tourists the freedom to cross and explore the waters for a complete nature experience. Around Lake Razelm, you can also enjoy fishing or swimming in the warm and clean water, with a maximum depth not exceeding 3 meters.
Argamum Fortress at Cape Dolosman
Cape Dolosman is a 3 km long limestone cliff – a protected area, strict natural reserve of avifaunal, floristic, and faunal type. It includes the Argamum Fortress and the rocky, high, and steep shore. Argamum Fortress (Orgamè in ancient Greek) is an archaeological site and the oldest settlement in Romania – documented from the beginning of the 6th century BCE. The ruins of Argamum Fortress stretch along the cliff of Cape Dolosman, on the eastern side of Lake Razelm.
Located in the territory of Jurilovca commune, Argamum Fortress spans a total area of approximately 100 hectares. Mostly buried underground, Argamum Fortress can be visited through the ruins that remain – a gate, several streets, early Christian basilicas, and the defensive wall.
Popina Island on Lake Razelm
Popina Island is a strictly protected area within the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve and the only rocky and pelagic island in Romania. Located in the northern part of Lake Razelm, Popina Island stands at an elevation of 47 meters, covering an area of 98 hectares, with several thermal springs on its northern shore. Popina Island is situated in Tulcea County, 500 meters from the village of Iazurile.
Fauna of Popina Island
The fauna of Popina Island is notable for the presence of about 200 species of insects and rare invertebrates such as the venomous Black Widow spider (Latrodectus tredecimguttatus), the giant centipede (Scolopendra cingulata), and the endemic bush-cricket Isophya dobrogensis (found only in this territory). Additionally, the limestone cliffs of the island are home to the tessellated water snake (Natrix tessellata) – a non-venomous snake over 1 meter long, with a yellowish-gray back and dark square spots that give it a checkerboard appearance.
Popina Island is a nesting, stopping, feeding, and resting place for 130 bird species (including 17 nesting species), among them: the Common Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos), the Calandra Lark (Melanocorypha calandra), the Black-headed Bunting (Emberiza melanocephala), the Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus), the Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna), and the Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea). The vegetation of Popina Island is abundant in reed beds, bulrushes, and water lilies.
Gastronomic Journey on Lake Razelm
During your visit to Lake Razelm, honor your journey with the local cuisine of the lakeside restaurants. The hospitality of the place, fresh fish in traditional recipes, and the variety of local fish or international menus will leave you heading home with a complete experience in the Danube Delta.
