Dunavăţu de Jos: Waterways, Nature and Culture

The navigable Dunavăț Arm runs through Dunavăţu de Jos. It connects the Sfântu-Gheorghe Arm with canals leading to the lakes in the south. Boat trips from Dunavăţu de Jos travel along the Dunavăț Arm as well as neighbouring canals and lakes. Birdwatching is possible as a tourist activity in Dunavăţu de Jos. Sport fishing is also possible in Dunavăţu de Jos as a tourist activity.

Water

For a slow-paced activity on the Canal Dunavăț, a permit for one overnight stay is provided for. Excursions into the Delta travel by boat along the Dunavăț Arm as well as neighbouring canals and lakes.

This means that the route described includes different water landscapes: the Dunavăț Arm forms the connection, while the adjacent canals and the lakes in the south make up further sections of the boat trips. The planned one-night overnight stay relates to the slow-paced activity on the Canal Dunavăț.

Nature

West Pontic white poplar gallery forests occur in the wetlands east of Dunavăţu de Jos. At the level of the Murighiol area, these forests are considered endangered. The Sărăturile Murighiol nature reserve lies within the municipality of Murighiol, south of the village of Murighiol. This very shallow, saline body of water has dense vegetation and serves as a refuge for waterbirds.

The nature features thus combine various landscape elements: wetlands and gallery forests lie east of Dunavăţu de Jos, while Sărăturile Murighiol is located in the municipality of Murighiol, south of the village. The reserve is described by the combination of shallow, saline water, dense vegetation and its function as a refuge for waterbirds.

Getting There

Dunavăţu de Jos can be reached by road from Tulcea via Murighiol and is one of the last villages in this part of the Delta accessible by car. The DJ 229L provides the road connection to Dunavăţu de Jos over a length of 9.0 km. The DJ 229M connects this road with the Murighiol landing stage.

Two connections are therefore specified for road access: the 9.0-kilometre DJ 229L leads to Dunavăţu de Jos, while the DJ 229M connects this road to the Murighiol landing stage. The approach from the direction of Tulcea runs via Murighiol.

Culture

The Sfântul Ilie Monastery, an Old Rite monastery, stands in Dunavăţu de Jos. The collections of the “Casa Satului” Dunavat Museum of Folk Art reflect a cultural model of ethnic coexistence among Romanians, Ukrainians, Lipovan Russians, Turks and Tatars. In the wider regional surroundings of Dunavăţu de Jos, Cetatea Halmyris is regarded as the main attraction on the “Malcoci – Cetatea Halmyris – Agighiol” itinerary. It is reached after Murighiol.

The cultural attractions range from the monastery in the village and the ethnographic collections to a destination in the wider regional surroundings. The museum names Romanians, Ukrainians, Lipovan Russians, Turks and Tatars as the groups represented in the portrayal of ethnic coexistence. Cetatea Halmyris is assigned to the “Malcoci – Cetatea Halmyris – Agighiol” itinerary.

Food

Fish is an easily available food in the municipality of Murighiol. Romanians, Ukrainians and Muslims, including Turks and Tatars, prepare fish baked, fried, salted or marinated. It is also served in soups and fish borscht, in stews, as piftel or baked in the oven. On every one-day excursion, there is an opportunity to have a traditional fisherman's meal at a local resident's home or in a restaurant.

For the overarching travel overview: Comuna Murighiol.