The Danube Delta, one of the largest wetlands of the world, is the result of the continuous interaction, during the last 16000 years, between the sea and the Danube, the second greatest river of Europe (2840 km). As a result of the last rising of the Black Sea level the sedimentation process accelerated and more meanders and ramifications appeared on the previously existing branches and smaller deltas. This process is continuous and it reflects the typically intermediate condition ‘between land and sea” of this territory. The delta holds the largest compact reed beds areas in the world, 30 types of ecosystems, over 5000 species of flora and fauna and 16 000 inhabitants. In 1990 a national law has declared the whole area (580000 ha) a biosphere reserve and a significant part of it (over 50600 ha) has been successively included by UNESCO on the World Heritage List.

The Danube, crossing 10 countries and 4 capitals - nowadays even connecting the Northern Sea with the Mediterranean basin thanks to an integrated waterways system - has been, through history, a European water route of great economic and cultural importance. Danube’s mouths were essential for navigation and antique sources such as Strabon or Ptolemy are mentioning them. The settlement of Solina (Sulin) is first mentioned in a Byzantine text of the X-th century and, successively, different medieval sources, such as Genovese or Venetian maps, are referring to it. Up to the XIX-th century, Sulina remained a small community inhabited by multinational sailors who’s main activity was to offer guidance to ships entering the dangerous waters of the Danube’s Mouths.

In Paris’s 1856 Peace Congress that followed the Crimean War a beautiful European cooperation idea (Wiena 1815) came to life. In order to have free, safe and controlled navigation on the Danube, the creation of the Danube’s European Commission - C.E.D. was decided, having member delegates from Austria, France, England, Prussia, Sardinia and Turkey with the official headquarters in Sulina. Romanian provinces also joined C.E.D., with Turkey’s approval, and then Romania adhered, after its Independence in 1877.

C.E.D.’s successful activity determined the rapid development of a secure traffic on the Danube (mainly due to the construction of the Sulina navigation canal) up to interior harbors like Tulcea, Galaþi and Brãila, in the service of industry, economic development and agricultural production, a spectacular urban development and multi-cultural life of Sulina.