Sandbanks

Sandbanks

The sandbanks are quite a peculiarity of the Danube Delta's configuration. They have been made by alluvia deposited either by the water of the river (river sandbanks) or by the water of the sea (maritime sandbanks) along time; their origin may be also sought in fragments of plain left between the waters. Whatever their origin, the sandbanks in the Danube Delta lend a special character to the landscape, and are related to the growth of a special kind of vegetation.

Letea is the largest maritime sandbank in the Danube Delta, with a 20 km length, a 15 km maximum breadth, a surface of 17,000 ha and its maximum height of 13 m. It is shaped as an isosceles triangle, with its point at Periprava and its base in the proximity of Sulina branch. The soil consists of sand gathered in dunes which sometimes are over 3 m high; they are inhabited by tortoises, yellow and green lizards; there are also over 1,800 species of insects, among which the large fly (Satanas gigas), 11 species that have not been listed in specialized literature, and one species of night butterfly (Rhyparioides metelkana) which is now extinct from Europe. Near the village of Letea lies the forest by the same name, acknowledged as a monument of nature (see also Flora). Caraorman is a maritime sandbank situated south of Sulina branch, also shaped as an isosceles triangle, with its point at Crisan and its base near Sfântu Gheorghe branch. It is 18 km long, it has a maximum breadth of 8 km, 7,000 ha, and 6,7 m as its highest altitude. The sandy soil winds in endless sand dunes which can reach a 7 m height, thus resembling a real desert. In the western part of the sandbank is to be found the Caraorman forest, a monument of nature (see also Flora).

is the largest maritime sandbank in the Danube Delta, with a 20 km length, a 15 km maximum breadth, a surface of 17,000 ha and its maximum height of 13 m. It is shaped as an isosceles triangle, with its point at Periprava and its base in the proximity of Sulina branch. The soil consists of sand gathered in dunes which sometimes are over 3 m high; they are inhabited by tortoises, yellow and green lizards; there are also over 1,800 species of insects, among which the large fly (Satanas gigas), 11 species that have not been listed in specialized literature, and one species of night butterfly (Rhyparioides metelkana) which is now extinct from Europe. Near the village of Letea lies the forest by the same name, acknowledged as a monument of nature (see also Flora). is a maritime sandbank situated south of Sulina branch, also shaped as an isosceles triangle, with its point at Crisan and its base near Sfântu Gheorghe branch. It is 18 km long, it has a maximum breadth of 8 km, 7,000 ha, and 6,7 m as its highest altitude. The sandy soil winds in endless sand dunes which can reach a 7 m height, thus resembling a real desert. In the western part of the sandbank is to be found the Caraorman forest, a monument of nature (see also Flora).

Saraturile (salt sandbanks), a maritime sandbank situated north of the village of Sfântu Gheorghe with 9 km in length, 10 km maximum breadth, 7,500 ha, and 4 m as its highest altitude, is, according to certain authors, the former Peuce island mentioned by the ancient geographer Strabon. The soil is sandy, with dunes 2 m high and a poor vegetation made up of halophyte plants (adapted to salt marshes) and xerophite plants (adapted to drought). When the sand is burning hot, mirages occur, just like in the desert

(salt sandbanks), a maritime sandbank situated north of the village of Sfântu Gheorghe with 9 km in length, 10 km maximum breadth, 7,500 ha, and 4 m as its highest altitude, is, according to certain authors, the former Peuce island mentioned by the ancient geographer Strabon. The soil is sandy, with dunes 2 m high and a poor vegetation made up of halophyte plants (adapted to salt marshes) and xerophite plants (adapted to drought). When the sand is burning hot, mirages occur, just like in the desert

Chilia, a sandbank situated north of the locality by the same name, is 15 km long, 5 km broad, 5,500 ha and 6.5 m as its highest altitude; it is actually what was left of a plain, which is now surrounded by water.

, a sandbank situated north of the locality by the same name, is 15 km long, 5 km broad, 5,500 ha and 6.5 m as its highest altitude; it is actually what was left of a plain, which is now surrounded by water.

Stipoc, a fragment of predeltaic land formed of river alluvia, is an extensive sandbank in between the locality Pardina (Chilia branch) and the south of the Chilia sandbank. It is 30 km long, with a maximum breadth of 2.5 km, a surface of 3,500 ha, and a maximum height of 3 m.

, a fragment of predeltaic land formed of river alluvia, is an extensive sandbank in between the locality Pardina (Chilia branch) and the south of the Chilia sandbank. It is 30 km long, with a maximum breadth of 2.5 km, a surface of 3,500 ha, and a maximum height of 3 m.

Crasnicol is a maritime sandbank situated south of the locality Sfântu Gheorghe (18 km long); together with other many and large sandbanks, it amounts to about 3,500 ha. Sandbanks are very much like marshes too, as the land may emerge or submerge overnight. The area is Danube Delta's realm for migratory and passage birds

is a maritime sandbank situated south of the locality Sfântu Gheorghe (18 km long); together with other many and large sandbanks, it amounts to about 3,500 ha. Sandbanks are very much like marshes too, as the land may emerge or submerge overnight. The area is Danube Delta's realm for migratory and passage birds

 

is the largest maritime sandbank in the Danube Delta, with a 20 km length, a 15 km maximum breadth, a surface of 17,000 ha and its maximum height of 13 m. It is shaped as an isosceles triangle, with its point at Periprava and its base in the proximity of Sulina branch. The soil consists of sand gathered in dunes which sometimes are over 3 m high; they are inhabited by tortoises, yellow and green lizards; there are also over 1,800 species of insects, among which the large fly (Satanas gigas), 11 species that have not been listed in specialized literature, and one species of night butterfly (Rhyparioides metelkana) which is now extinct from Europe. Near the village of Letea lies the forest by the same name, acknowledged as a monument of nature (see also Flora). is a maritime sandbank situated south of Sulina branch, also shaped as an isosceles triangle, with its point at Crisan and its base near Sfântu Gheorghe branch. It is 18 km long, it has a maximum breadth of 8 km, 7,000 ha, and 6,7 m as its highest altitude. The sandy soil winds in endless sand dunes which can reach a 7 m height, thus resembling a real desert. In the western part of the sandbank is to be found the Caraorman forest, a monument of nature (see also Flora). (salt sandbanks), a maritime sandbank situated north of the village of Sfântu Gheorghe with 9 km in length, 10 km maximum breadth, 7,500 ha, and 4 m as its highest altitude, is, according to certain authors, the former Peuce island mentioned by the ancient geographer Strabon. The soil is sandy, with dunes 2 m high and a poor vegetation made up of halophyte plants (adapted to salt marshes) and xerophite plants (adapted to drought). When the sand is burning hot, mirages occur, just like in the desert, a sandbank situated north of the locality by the same name, is 15 km long, 5 km broad, 5,500 ha and 6.5 m as its highest altitude; it is actually what was left of a plain, which is now surrounded by water., a fragment of predeltaic land formed of river alluvia, is an extensive sandbank in between the locality Pardina (Chilia branch) and the south of the Chilia sandbank. It is 30 km long, with a maximum breadth of 2.5 km, a surface of 3,500 ha, and a maximum height of 3 m. is a maritime sandbank situated south of the locality Sfântu Gheorghe (18 km long); together with other many and large sandbanks, it amounts to about 3,500 ha. Sandbanks are very much like marshes too, as the land may emerge or submerge overnight. The area is Danube Delta's realm for migratory and passage birds