# Sulina

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Sulina
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Sulina.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulina
> Source revision: 1353320603
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

For the Brazilian municipality, see [Sulina, Paraná](/source/Sulina%2C_Paran%C3%A1).

Town in Tulcea, Romania

Sulina Town Coat of arms Location in Tulcea County Sulina Location in Romania Coordinates: 45°9′34″N 29°39′10″E / 45.15944°N 29.65278°E / 45.15944; 29.65278 Country Romania County Tulcea Government • Mayor (2024–2028) Maria Bălan[2] (PSD) Area 329.56 km2 (127.24 sq mi) Elevation 4 m (13 ft) Population (2021-12-01)[1] 3,118 • Density 9.461/km2 (24.50/sq mi) Time zone UTC+02:00 (EET) • Summer (DST) UTC+03:00 (EEST) Postal code 825400 Area code (+40) 02 40 Vehicle reg. TL Website www.primaria-sulina.ro

**Sulina** (Romanian pronunciation: [\[suˈlina\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/Romanian)) is a town and [free port](/source/Free_port) in [Tulcea County](/source/Tulcea_County), [Northern Dobruja](/source/Northern_Dobruja), [Romania](/source/Romania), at the mouth of the [Sulina branch](/source/Sulina_branch) of the [Danube](/source/Danube). It is the easternmost point of Romania.

## History

During the mid-[Byzantine](/source/Byzantine_Empire) period, Sulina was a small cove, and in the 14th century, a [Genoese](/source/Genoese_colonies) port inhabited by a handful of sailors, pirates and fishermen. In the 18th century, the [Ottomans](/source/Ottoman_Turks) built a lighthouse there in order to facilitate communication between Constantinople (Istanbul) and the Danubian Principalities, the main breadbaskets for the Ottoman capital.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

Thanks to the signing of the [Treaty of Adrianoupolis (Edirne)](/source/Treaty_of_Adrianople_(1829)) on September 2, 1829, that unfettered the Danube [grain trade](/source/Grain_trade), Sulina, by then under Russian control, became an important port. Great sailing boats could not sail fully loaded to [Brăila](/source/Br%C4%83ila) and [Galați](/source/Gala%C8%9Bi), which were the main export centers of Wallachia and Moldavia, because of the shallow waters of the river; therefore, they had to transship at least part of their cargoes to smaller riverboats (shleps). The owners and crew of these shleps were almost always Greek.

Even greater development occurred after the signing of the [Treaty of Paris (1856)](/source/Treaty_of_Paris_(1856)), which ended the Crimean War. One of the treaty's terms determined the establishment of the [European Commission of the Danube](/source/Commissions_of_the_Danube_River) (CED), which would conduct infrastructure works on the mouth of the river in order to make it navigable for larger ships as well. The technical works allowed entrance to the Danube for a great number of "foreign", i.e. non-Greek ships, leading to a higher level of competition. River trading, however, largely remained in Greek hands. The declaration by the Ottoman administration of Sulina as a free port in 1870 also boosted its development.

The [Russo-Ottoman war of 1877–1878](/source/Russo-Turkish_War_(1877%E2%80%931878)) led to many changes as well. The city was initially put under Russian control and after the signing of the [Berlin Treaty](/source/Treaty_of_Berlin_(1878)) was annexed to Romania, as was the whole [Dobruja](/source/Dobruja) area.[3] According to an 1878 estimate, the town then had a total population of 800, consisting of 350 [Greeks](/source/Greeks), 150 [Turks](/source/Turkish_people), 50 [Romanians](/source/Romanians), 50 [Russian Old Believers](/source/Old_Believers) and 200 others.[4] During [World War I](/source/World_War_I) the city served as base for the Romanian cruiser *[Elisabeta](/source/NMS_Elisabeta)*, whose actions kept the [Danube](/source/Danube) Delta under Romanian control throughout the war.[5]

In November 1916, the German submarine *[UC-15](/source/SM_UC-15)* was sent on a minelaying mission off Sulina and never returned, being sunk by her own mines.[6][7] This was probably caused by an encounter with the Romanian torpedo boat *[Smeul](/source/NMS_Smeul_(1888))*, whose captain surprised a German submarine near Sulina in November 1916, the latter reportedly never returning to her base at [Varna](/source/Varna%2C_Bulgaria). This could only have been *UC-15*, whose systems most likely malfunctioned after being forced to submerge in the shallow waters, upon encountering the Romanian torpedo boat.[8]

In [World War II](/source/World_War_II), the [Soviet M-class submarine](/source/Soviet_M-class_submarine) *M-59* was sunk by mines laid off Sulina by the Romanian minelayers *[Amiral Murgescu](/source/NMS_Amiral_Murgescu)*, *Regele Carol I* and *Dacia*.[9]

## Climate

Sulina has a [cold semi-arid climate](/source/Cold_semi-arid_climate) ([Köppen climate classification](/source/K%C3%B6ppen_climate_classification): *BSk*).

Climate data for Sulina (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1961−2020) Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Record high °C (°F) 13.8 (56.8) 17.9 (64.2) 24.5 (76.1) 23.2 (73.8) 29.3 (84.7) 33.8 (92.8) 34.5 (94.1) 34.4 (93.9) 32.6 (90.7) 26.2 (79.2) 22.2 (72.0) 16.6 (61.9) 34.5 (94.1) Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 3.5 (38.3) 4.3 (39.7) 7.7 (45.9) 12.8 (55.0) 19.1 (66.4) 24.1 (75.4) 26.7 (80.1) 26.5 (79.7) 21.7 (71.1) 16.1 (61.0) 10.5 (50.9) 5.6 (42.1) 14.9 (58.8) Daily mean °C (°F) 0.9 (33.6) 1.8 (35.2) 5.1 (41.2) 10.4 (50.7) 16.5 (61.7) 21.2 (70.2) 23.6 (74.5) 23.5 (74.3) 18.9 (66.0) 13.6 (56.5) 8.2 (46.8) 3.1 (37.6) 12.2 (54.0) Mean daily minimum °C (°F) −1.3 (29.7) −0.3 (31.5) 3.3 (37.9) 8.6 (47.5) 14.5 (58.1) 18.8 (65.8) 20.9 (69.6) 20.9 (69.6) 16.4 (61.5) 11.5 (52.7) 6.0 (42.8) 0.9 (33.6) 10.0 (50.0) Record low °C (°F) −17.7 (0.1) −17.8 (0.0) −15.6 (3.9) −0.7 (30.7) 4.4 (39.9) 9.3 (48.7) 12.1 (53.8) 10.5 (50.9) 4.4 (39.9) −1.0 (30.2) −8.0 (17.6) −11.5 (11.3) −17.8 (0.0) Average precipitation mm (inches) 16.0 (0.63) 11.9 (0.47) 17.4 (0.69) 14.0 (0.55) 20.3 (0.80) 28.3 (1.11) 18.9 (0.74) 23.5 (0.93) 21.5 (0.85) 24.3 (0.96) 22.7 (0.89) 21.7 (0.85) 240.5 (9.47) Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 3.6 3.3 4.0 3.8 4.0 3.7 2.7 2.3 3.2 3.5 3.8 4.7 42.6 Average relative humidity (%) 84 82 80 77 76 73 72 74 76 79 83 84 78 Average dew point °C (°F) −1.6 (29.1) −1.2 (29.8) 1.7 (35.1) 7.0 (44.6) 12.3 (54.1) 16.2 (61.2) 18.0 (64.4) 17.8 (64.0) 14.7 (58.5) 10.0 (50.0) 5.3 (41.5) 1.4 (34.5) 8.5 (47.2) Mean monthly sunshine hours 75.9 103.1 148.3 204.2 278.9 305.1 334.7 308.5 229.7 159.8 90.0 73.4 2,311.6 Source 1: NOAA (dew point 1961–1990)[10][11] Source 2: Danish Meteorological Institute (humidity, 1931–1960)[12]

## Demographics

‹ The [template](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Template) *[Historical populations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Historical_populations)* is being [considered for merging](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Templates_for_discussion/Log/2026_June_24#Template:Infobox_demographics). ›

Historical population Year Pop. ±% 1900 5,612 — 1912 7,347 +30.9% 1930 6,399 −12.9% 1948 3,373 −47.3% 1956 3,622 +7.4% 1966 4,005 +10.6% 1977 4,911 +22.6% 1992 5,484 +11.7% 2002 5,140 −6.3% 2011 3,663 −28.7% 2021 3,118 −14.9% Source: Census data

According to the [2021 census](/source/2021_Romanian_census), the town has 3,118 inhabitants. At the [2011 census](/source/2011_Romanian_census), 82.82% of the population were [Romanians](/source/Romanian_people), 11.43% [Lipovans](/source/Lipovans), 1.8% [Greeks](/source/Greeks), 1.29% [Ukrainians](/source/Ukrainian_people), and 2.3% of other or undeclared ethnicity. At the 2002 census, 93.0% spoke [Romanian](/source/Romanian_language) and 5.7% [Russian](/source/Russian_language) as their first language. 94.3% were [Orthodox](/source/Eastern_Orthodox_Church), and 5.1% [Old Believers](/source/Old_Believers).

At the 1930 census, 47.2% were Romanians, 20.8% Greeks, 17.7% Lipovans, 3.3% Serbs, 3.0% Turks, 1.6% Jews, 1.0% Germans, and 5.4% others.[13]

## Notable people

- [Romulus Bărbulescu](/source/Romulus_B%C4%83rbulescu) (1925–2010), science-fiction writer

- [Manya Botez](/source/Manya_Botez) (1896–1971), pianist and children's music teacher

- [George Georgescu](/source/George_Georgescu) (1887–1964), conductor

- [Vahan Malezian](/source/Vahan_Malezian) (1871–1966), writer, translator, poet, and social activist

- [John R. Palandech](/source/John_R._Palandech) (1873–1959), entrepreneur, publisher and politician

- [Ionel Petrov](/source/Ionel_Petrov) (born 1934), rower

- [Ștefan Tarasov](/source/%C8%98tefan_Tarasov) (born 1943), rower

## Sightseeing

- [Lighthouse of the European Commission of the Danube](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lighthouse_of_the_European_Commission_of_the_Danube&action=edit&redlink=1) [[ro](https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farul_Comisiei_Europene_a_Dun%C4%83rii_de_la_Sulina)]

- [Cathedral of Sf. Alexandru and Sf. Nicolae](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cathedral_of_Sf._Alexandru_and_Sf._Nicolae&action=edit&redlink=1) [[ro](https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catedrala_Sf%C3%A2ntul_Alexandru_%C8%99i_Sf%C3%A2ntul_Nicolae_din_Sulina)]

- Cemetery of the European Danube Commission

The waters of the Danube, which flow into the Black Sea, form the largest and best preserved of Europe's [river deltas](/source/River_delta). The [Danube Delta](/source/Danube_Delta) hosts over 300 species of birds as well as 45 freshwater fish species in its numerous lakes and marshes.[14]

## Gallery

		- The Palace of the Danube Commission

		- The Lighthouse

		- Sulina from space (2011)

		- Sulina from space (2022)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["2021 Romanian census"](https://www.recensamantromania.ro/rezultate-rpl-2021/rezultate-definitive-caracteristici-demografice/). National Institute of Statistics. 1 December 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Results of the 2024 local elections"](https://prezenta.roaep.ro/locale09062024v2/). Central Electoral Bureau. Retrieved 7 January 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [Encyclopedia of Greater Hellenism, article "Sulina".](http://blacksea.ehw.gr/Forms/fLemmaBody.aspx?lemmaid=11602)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [Kemal Karpat](/source/Kemal_Karpat) (1985), [Ottoman Population, 1830-1914, Demographic and Social Characteristics](https://kupdf.net/downloadFile/59e4a7b908bbc56144e653d7), [The University of Wisconsin Press](/source/The_University_of_Wisconsin_Press), p. 199

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** *Warship International Volume 21*, p. 166

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** R.H. Gibson, Maurice Prendergast, *The German Submarine War 1914-1918*, Periscope Publishing, 2002, p. 135

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** *United States Naval Institute Proceedings, Volume 64*, United States Naval Institute, 1938, p. 73

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Cristian Crăciunoiu, *Romanian navy torpedo boats*, Modelism Publishing, 2003, p. 24

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Mikhail Monakov, Jurgen Rohwer, *Stalin's Ocean-going Fleet: Soviet Naval Strategy and Shipbuilding Programs 1935-1953*, p. 266

1. **[^](#cite_ref-NOAA9120_10-0)** ["Sulina Climate Normals 1991-2020"](https://web.archive.org/web/20230817042244/https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Romania/CSV/Sulina_15360.csv). [National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration](/source/National_Oceanic_and_Atmospheric_Administration). Archived from [the original](https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Romania/CSV/Sulina_15360.csv) on 2023-08-17. Retrieved August 17, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-NOAA6190_11-0)** ["Sulina Climate Normals 1961-1990"](https://web.archive.org/web/20201024175940/ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_VI/RO/15360.TXT). [National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration](/source/National_Oceanic_and_Atmospheric_Administration). Archived from [the original](ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_VI/RO/15360.TXT) on 2020-10-24. Retrieved July 9, 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-DMI_12-0)** Cappelen, John; Jensen, Jens. ["RUMÆNIEN - BUCURESTI/IMH"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130427173827/http://www.dmi.dk/dmi/tr01-17.pdf) (PDF). *Climate Data for Selected Stations (1931-1960)* (in Danish). Danish Meteorological Institute. p. 216. Archived from [the original](http://www.dmi.dk/dmi/tr01-17.pdf) (PDF) on April 27, 2013. Retrieved August 29, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** "Populația pe Neamuri". *Recensământul populației din 1930*. Institutul Central de Statistică. p. 480.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** From the [UNESCO](http://www.unesco.org/) website

## Bibliography

- [Constantin Ardeleanu, International Trade and Diplomacy at the Lower Danube: The Sulina Question and the Economic Premises of the Crimean War (1829-185), Editura Istros, 2014.](https://books.google.com/books?id=FVvXAgAAQBAJ&dq=sulina+greeks&pg=PA219)

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Sulina](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Sulina).

- [The Danube Delta Biosphere Reservation](https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/588/)

- [Chisholm, Hugh](/source/Hugh_Chisholm), ed. (1911). ["Sulina"](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica/Sulina). *[Encyclopædia Britannica](/source/Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica_Eleventh_Edition)* (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.

v t e Tulcea County, Romania Cities Tulcea (county seat) Towns Babadag Isaccea Măcin Sulina Communes Baia Beidaud Beștepe C.A. Rosetti Carcaliu Casimcea Ceamurlia de Jos Ceatalchioi Cerna Chilia Veche Ciucurova Crișan Dăeni Dorobanțu Frecăței Greci Grindu Hamcearca Horia I.C. Brătianu Izvoarele Jijila Jurilovca Luncavița Mahmudia Maliuc Mihai Bravu Mihai Kogălniceanu Murighiol Nalbant Niculițel Nufăru Ostrov Pardina Peceneaga Sarichioi Sfântu Gheorghe Slava Cercheză Smârdan Somova Stejaru Topolog Turcoaia Văcăreni Valea Nucarilor Valea Teilor

v t e The Danube Countries Germany Austria Slovakia Hungary Croatia Serbia Bulgaria Romania Moldova Ukraine Cities Ulm Ingolstadt Regensburg Passau Linz Vienna Bratislava Győr Komárno Esztergom Budapest Vukovar Novi Sad Belgrade Smederevo Vidin Ruse Silistra Brăila Galați Reni Izmail Kiliia Tulcea Tributaries Iller Lech Regen Isar Inn Morava Váh Hron Ipeľ/Ipoly Drava Tisza/Tisa Sava Timiș/Tamiš Great Morava Timok Jiu Iskar Vit Olt Osam Yantra Vedea Argeș Ialomița Siret Prut Canals Rhine–Main–Danube Canal Danube–Black Sea Canal See also Breg Brigach Source Danube Bend Danube Delta List of islands in the Danube List of crossings of the Danube Internationalization

Authority control databases International VIAF GND National Czech Republic Israel Other IdRef Yale LUX

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Sulina](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulina) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulina?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.