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How does the Danube River split into channels in its delta?
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Danube River
The Danube River basin and its drainage network.
Near the city of Tulcea, approximately 50 miles from the Black Sea, the Danube River begins to spread out into its delta and splits into three primary channels:1
- Chilia Channel: The northernmost branch, which carries 63 percent of the total river runoff.1
- Sulina Channel: The central branch, accounting for 16 percent of the runoff. This is the only channel used for navigation, as it has been straightened and dredged.1
- SfĆ¢ntu Gheorghe (St. George) Channel: The southernmost branch, which carries the remainder of the runoff.1
Between these main channels lies a complex network of smaller creeks and lakes, separated by oblong strips of land known as grinduri.1