The delta of the Danube River represents one of the last natural paradises in Europe, a network of channels, lakes, and lushly vegetated forests. It is home to a fascinating mix of cultures and peoples—and a huge diversity of birds, presided over by the greatest of them all, the pelican. The Danube Delta is a refuge for people like you who love the peace and quiet of nature. As you explore the vast complex of lakes and channels, you will discover a dreamworld still untrammeled by human intervention. Occupying some 5800 sq.km, the Danube Delta is the second largest in Europe, after the Volga Delta. It was formed approximately 12 000 years ago at the point where the Danube flows into the Black Sea. The Danube arises in the German Black Forest and flows across 10 countries, a distance of 2 860 km. It flows into the Black Sea as three main branches: the Chilia, Sulina, and Sf.Gheorghe (Saint George). All of the Danube Delta was declared a Biosphere Reserve in 1990. It is part of the world’s natural patrimony, and is managed by a state institution located in the town of Tulcea. The managing body is overseen by a governor. The main objective of the DDBRA is to preserve and protect the huge natural patrimony that still persists in this natural paradise. Another main objective of the DDBRA is the ecological reconstruction of areas destroyed by the impact of human activities, mostly during the communist period.