The Balta Mică a Brăilei Natural Park ( ro, Parcul Natural Balta Mică a Brăilei) is a

protected area Protected areas or conservation areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognized natural, ecological or cultural values. There are several kinds of protected areas, which vary by level of protection depending on the ena ...

( natural park category V

IUCN The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN; officially International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natu ...

) which is situated in

Romania Romania ( ; ro, România ) is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern, and Southeast Europe, Southeastern Europe. It borders Bulgaria to the south, Ukraine to the north, Hungary to the west, S ...

, in Brăila County, on the administrative territory of communes Berteștii de Jos, Chiscani, Gropeni, Mărașu and

Stăncuța Stăncuța is a commune located in Brăila County, Muntenia, Romania Romania ( ; ro, România ) is a country located at the crossroads of Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe. It borders Bulgaria to the south, Ukraine to the north, ...

Location

The Natural Park is located in the inferior course of the

Danube The Danube ( ; ) is a river that was once a long-standing frontier of the Roman Empire and today connects 10 European countries, running through their territories or being a border. Originating in Germany, the Danube flows southeast for , pa ...

, between the Brăila Plain (

Wallachian Plain The Romanian Plain ( ro, Câmpia Română) is located in southern Romania and the easternmost tip of Serbia, where it is known as the Wallachian Plain ( sr, Vlaška nizija/Влашка низија). Part of the historical region of Wallachia, it ...

) and

Great Brăila Island The Great Brăila Island ( ro, Insula Mare a Brăilei) is an island on the Danube river in the Brăila County, Romania. It has on average length and width, with a total area of . The two river branches which separate it from the mainland are an ...

, based on the Small Brăila Island, in the south-eastern part of country.

Description

Balta Mică a Brăilei Natural Park an area of 17.529 ha was declared protected area by the ''Law Number 5 of March 6, 2000'' (published in ''Romanian Official Paper'' Number 152 of March 12, 2000) and is a wetland of international importance especially a waterfowl habitat ( aquatic ecosystem) and terrestrial species. Pelecanus crispus2

Fauna

Species of

fish Fish are aquatic, craniate, gill-bearing animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish as well as various extinct related groups. Approximately 95% of li ...

: Black Sea shad ('' Alosa pontica''),

northern pike The northern pike (''Esox lucius'') is a species of carnivorous fish of the genus '' Esox'' (the pikes). They are typical of brackish and fresh waters of the Northern Hemisphere (''i.e.'' holarctic in distribution). They are known simply as a ...

(''Esox lucius''), zander (''Stizostedion lucioperca''), wels catfish (''Silurus glanis'') or

common carp The Eurasian carp or European carp (''Cyprinus carpio''), widely known as the common carp, is a widespread freshwater fish of eutrophic waters in lakes and large rivers in Europe and Asia.Fishbase''Cyprinus carpio'' Linnaeus, 1758/ref>Arkive The ...

(''Cyprinus carpio''). Species of

bird Birds are a group of warm-blooded vertebrates constituting the class Aves (), characterised by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, the laying of hard-shelled eggs, a high metabolic rate, a four-chambered heart, and a strong yet lightweigh ...

red-breasted goose The red-breasted goose (''Branta ruficollis'') is a brightly marked species of goose in the genus ''Branta'' from Eurasia. It is currently classified as vulnerable by the IUCN. Taxonomy and etymology The red-breasted goose is sometimes placed ...

(''Branta ruficollis''), Dalmatian pelican (''Pelecanus criptus''), purple heron (''Ardea purpurea''), pygmy cormorant (''Phalacrocorax pygmeus''), squacco heron (''Ardeola ralloides''), black stork (''Ciconia nigra''), ferruginous duck (''Aythya nyroca''),

whooper swan The whooper swan ( /ˈhuːpə(ɹ) swɒn/) (''Cygnus cygnus''), also known as the common swan, pronounced ''hooper swan'', is a large northern hemisphere swan. It is the Eurasian counterpart of the North American trumpeter swan, and the type specie ...

(''Cygnus cygnus'').visitdanubedelta.com – Species of birds
; retrieved on June 09, 2012

Access

* European route E60

București Bucharest ( , ; ro, București ) is the capital and largest city of Romania, as well as its cultural, industrial, and financial centre. It is located in the southeast of the country, on the banks of the Dâmbovița River, less than north of ...

– Moviliţa – Urziceni – National road DN2A Slobozia – Țăndărei –

Giurgeni Giurgeni is a commune located on the left bank of the Danube, in Ialomița County, Muntenia, Romania. It is composed of a single village, Giurgeni. Giurgeni is linked with Vadu Oii–Hârșova over the Danube via the Giurgeni–Vadu Oii Bridge. ...

– bridge ''Giurgeni-Vadu Oii''

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Balta Mica a Brailei Natural Park Protected areas of Romania Tourist attractions in Brăila County Protected areas established in 2000 Geography of Brăila County Important Bird Areas of Romania