Popina Island
The Popina Island (Romanian Insulation Popina ) is part of the core zone of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve. It is located in the north of Razim Lake, on the site of the municipality of Valea Nucarilor, in Tulcea County, Romania. In 1994 she was recognized IUCN guidelines as strict nature reserve / wilderness area.
Description
The Popina Island covers an area of 98 hectares in the northern part of the Razim Lake. It is equipped with a height of 47 meters, the highest village of the reserve. On maps of the 19th century it is also known as " Pochina " to be found.
The Popina Island was 1933-1941 for the first time put under protection. Through the Government Decision No. 248 of 27 May 1994 governing the application of the law number 82 of 1993 on the establishment of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, the Popina Island was reported to the strict nature reserve / wilderness area.
Fauna and Flora
Due to the separation from the mainland, here found rare species of insects and reptiles a suitable habitat, such as the poisonous black widow spider ( Latrodectus tredecimguttatus ) or the giant millipede ( Scolopendra cingulata ). The island is the only place worldwide where the endemic grasshopper Isophya dobrogensis lives.
The Popina Island is an important resting and a place of transit for migratory birds. With the spring migration come nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos ), Black-headed Bunting (Emberiza melanocephala ) and the Calandra Lark ( Melanocorypha calandra ). Here nesting ducks ( Anatidae ) and terns ( Sternidae ). In the winter, the western shore of Lake Razim of one million geese birds ( Anseriformes ), including about 20,000 Rothalsgänsen (Branta ruficollis ), coming from the Arctic Russia populated. The island is an important breeding ground for Shelduck (Tadorna Tadorna ) and Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea ).
Here also grow rare species of steppe plants.
Within the Popina Island were reported to restoration areas for the restoration of the ecological balance of 3,600 hectares.