The Estuary of the Sfântu Gheorghe Branch at the Black Sea
The Sfântu Gheorghe branch outflow into the Black Sea
The Estuary of the Sfântu Gheorghe Branch into the Black Sea
Navigation on the branch is of local interest, over a navigable stretch of just 70 km, due to the meandering course (caused by meanders cut in the last quarter of the 20th century, which are places in the course with sudden and irregular changes in direction). At its mouth—on the right bank, the Sfântu Gheorghe branch forms two islands: Sacalinul Mic and Sacalinul Mare, resembling a secondary delta. To the south, two channels (Dranov and Dunavat) branch off from the arm, connecting it to the Razim Lagoon.
The estuary of the Sfântu Gheorghe branch into the Black Sea is one of the largest river mouths in Europe. The sight of the Danube’s discharge from Cape Buival (the easternmost point) is stunning, wild, and devoid of protective dikes. The discharge of the old river at Sfântu Gheorghe unfolds within the perimeter of the locality with the same name, which is the last in a series of localities along the Sfântu Gheorghe branch, namely: Nufăru, Mahmudia, and Uzlina.
Sfântu Gheorghe Beach
Sfântu Gheorghe village stretches along the left bank of the Sfântu Gheorghe branch, near the Danube’s mouth into the Black Sea. The landscape composition of the old fishing village is typical for the Danube Delta, with the authenticity of the area known for being Romania’s top producer of reeds. To the south of Sfântu Gheorghe commune, about 21,000 hectares of the Sacalin-Zatoane protected area extend, part of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve.
Sacalin-Zatoane Reserve
The Sacalin-Zatoane Reserve, especially the Zatoane Lakes, serve as a nesting, resting, and feeding ground for various species of breeding and migratory birds, including the purple heron (Ardea purpurea), squacco heron (Ardeola ralloides), Eurasian spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia), glossy ibis (Plegadis falcinellus), and swans (Cygnus cygnus).
With the allure of its wild beach and numerous tourist attractions in the area, the mouth of the Sfântu Gheorghe branch into the Black Sea remains one of the favorite tourist destinations for travelers through the Danube Delta, a unique splendor in Romania.
