The Danube branches into three main distributaries into the delta, Chilia, Sulina, and Sfântul Gheorghe(Saint George). The last two branches form the Tulcea channel, which continues as a single body for several kilometers after the separation from the Chilia. At the mouths of each channel gradual formation of new land takes place, as the delta continues to expand.
Chilia, in the north, the longest, youngest, and most vigorous, with two secondary internal deltas and one microdelta in full process of formation at its mouth (to Ukraine).
The Chilia or Kilia branch (Romanian: Braţul Chilia; Ukrainian: Кілійське гирло) is a distributary of the river Danube, that contributes in forming the Danube Delta. It is named after the two towns having this name, located on its two shores: Kiliya, on the northern, Ukrainian bank and Chilia Veche on the southern, Romanian bank.
The Chilia branch begins at the Ismail Islet, and is 104 km long. The flow at the entrance into the delta is of 6,350 m3/s; the Chilia branch carries between 58 and 60 percent of this flow.
Sulina, the central and thus the shortest arm, which consequently led to its extensive use for traffic and severe transformation. At its mouth is located the main port and the single settlement with urban characteristics of the Romanian part of the delta. Because of the alluvium deposited at its mouth, a channel gradually advancing into the sea (presently it has 10 km), was built in order to protect the navigation.
Sfântul Gheorghe (Saint George in English), in the south, is the oldest and more sparsely populated. Itsalluvium has led to the creation, beginning with 1897, of the Sacalin islands, which today measure 19 km in length.
Sulina City - 1870 Lighthouse
