Lake Beleu

There are only 57 lakes in Moldova, and most of them are just tiny, with an area of up to 0.2 km2. Against this background, Beleu really looks huge.:

The area is more than 6 square kilometers, and during the spring floods, when the rivers Prut and Danube flood, the entire 20 km2.
The length is 5 km.
The width is 2 km.
The depth varies from 0.5 m to 2 m.

Its waters serve as a habitat for three dozen species of fish. The shores of Beleu are heavily swamped, so European mink and otter, as well as numerous waterfowl, feel great here. In addition, the lake is a transit point for migratory birds: about 200 species of them have been registered in the Beleu area.

In order to preserve the unique ecosystem of Moldova's largest lake, the Prutul De Jos Nature Reserve was established here in 1991. In addition to Beleu itself, it also includes the surrounding territories – about 17 km2 in total. However, instead of protecting the lake and the area around it, oil production began in the reservoir area a few years after the reserve was opened. And although the production volumes were relatively small, nevertheless, Beleu immediately suffered quite serious damage. Another problem of Beleu is poachers. In addition to deforestation and kilometer–long fishing nets, there were cases when birds' nests were literally emptied in order to cook roast chicks. Currently, the northern part of the reserve (where birds nest in colonies) is a strictly protected area, so entry there is limited. In recent years, enthusiasts from the reserve staff have been trying to improve the situation around Beleu. In particular, two tourist routes have been developed to attract tourists – the overland Petru Rares Road and the water route along the Prut River. And in a boarding house in the nearest village of Valen, a program has been prepared for visitors.: They will tell you how to cook and serve bread, and, of course, they will treat you to traditional cuisine.

By becoming a member of the Association of Lake Regions, the Prutul De Jos Nature Reserve will have at its disposal other working methods to preserve and restore the ecosystem of the lake and attract tourists to the region.