Sulina

Sulina is the largest village in the delta, first documented in AD950, with about 50% of the delta's population living here. The novelty of being poised on the literal edge of Europe, is enhanced by the lighthouse (1870), the increasingly busy beach, and a modest 19th-centruy British cemetery.

Between 1880 and 1902 a canal was dug to shorten the length of the Tulcea-Sulina channel by 20km, cementing Sulina’s status as the delta’s main commercial port. After WWI Sulina was declared a ‘free port’ and trade boomed. Greek merchants dominated business here until their expulsion in 1951. The village has been in a slow process of economic decay ever since, only moderately offset by tourism.

Plans to start a maxitaxi (minibus) service from Sulina to Sfantu Gheorghe, the delta's other prime destination, along the dike connecting the two cities, increasing mobility options greatly, were temporarily squashed after the summer floods of 2005. The project has been delayed indefinitely.

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