The Danube River is Europe's second largest river, and it flows through Southern Romania for 1075 km (over 665 miles) until it eventually becomes the Danube Delta and meets the Black Sea. The Danube River and Delta and the Black Sea have all played major roles in the history of Romania by supporting different ecosystems, and serving as ports and methods of transportation for thousands of years.
Although the Danube River flows through 10 different countries, Romania contains the largest section of the river of any country. Romania is also home to the Danube Delta, where the Danube River meets the Black Sea. This area is rich in plants, animals and fertile soil, and has been inhabited by different civilizations for thousands of years. Some of the earliest human cultures can be traced to the Danube. The first recorded civilization in the Delta and near the Black Sea was the Dacians, and you can still see the ruins of their towns and fortresses today! These days, the Black Sea is a port where goods come into and out of Romania, and the Danube River is an international waterway that can be used by ships coming from the Black Sea to travel into Romania and beyond. In fact, smaller boats can even travel as far as Germany, making it an important route for trade and travel in Central and Eastern Europe.
