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Văcărești Natural Park, Bucharest

A 'delta' out of nowhere

Location and access

Văcărești Natural Park is located in the perimeter circumscribed by Splaiul Unirii, Calea Vacaresti, Soseaua Oltenitei and Calea Vitan- Barzesti. It has two entrances: from Gladitei Street, from Mihai Bravu Passage, and from Savinesti Street, on the opposite side. The first can be reached by public transportation: lines 133, 313 and 381 station Sos. Mihai Bravu, line 1 under the underpass, but also by subway lines M1, M3, station Timpuri Noi. The second can be reached by line 610, 102 station Stadion, but also by subway line M2 station Piata Sudului. The park is open non-stop.

About Văcărești Natural Park

Văcărești Natural Park is Bucharest's largest urban natural area. Here, you can meet, depending on your luck, hundreds of species of plants and animals in an ecosystem formed "from nothing" or correctly said, 100% natural. The park covers about 185 hectares.

The communist regime expropriated the inhabitants of the area in 1988 in order to develop Lake Vacaresti. The lake was to be fed gravitationally over a distance of 27 km with water brought (piped) from the Arges river. In '89, the project was abandoned and water was pumped from the Dambovita, but several neighboring areas were flooded. The "stop game!" followed.

It went into action Mother Nature. Left in nobody's care, the area was wet and marshy, vegetation developed naturally, then birds and animals chose to live here. The specilaists organized in 2012 in the Vacaresti Natural Park Association have realized the natural potential of the born ecosystem. In 2016 it was declared a Natural Park.

Life in Văcărești Natural Park

The flora is specific to lowland wetlands. We find poplars, poplars, rockroses, willows, ash, elms, elms, mulberries, shrubs such as poplars, elder, elderberry, in total over 300 species, some of which are of interest to specialists. They are not highlighted and presented as I expected.

Fauna is rich. Obviously, there are insects - dragonflies, crickets, bees, spiders, butterflies -, fish - charas, perch, baboon -, amphibians - newts, frogs -, reptiles - turtles, snakes, newts -, birds of the pond - swans, pigeons, starlings, ducks, cormorants, cormorants, fishermen - mammals - mice, foxes, otters.

1. The path of urban biodiveristy

In the park there are several places for observation and rest. Several theme trails criss-cross this natural area. I invite you on "The path of urban biodiveristy"which runs through a quarter of the park. It is also the most popular trail in this protected area. It is 3 km long with meadows, reedbeds, lakes and observation points. There is also the "Down in the valley" and the "On the embankment" trail. Access by bicycle is allowed.

Entering from the overpass, we climbed the stairs on the embankment and chose "The path of urban biodiveristy". At first we walked along the upper path on the embankment, according to the map at the entrance and the one on the mapy, then we went down the sloping concrete bank inland to the left. Thus we entered "nature". The path passes a few points where explanatory panels are installed, in my opinion few and inconclusive. In the middle of the park, the main pots meet in a cross. We turn left again. An observation point invites us to see this world from above. The perspective is better from here, we can see one of the lakes and "life on the lake". We'll close the rectangular path to the left to exit the same way we entered.

You can find a map of the proposed route here.

Butterfly trail

the dike in the area where we lowered it

the panel at the entrance from the passage

map

flora

pool

delta landscape

stuf

delta flora

butterflies

Conclusion

Văcărești Natural Park disappointed me, as much as I love nature. I went with high expectations after watching a TV report and reading various reviews.

All the best!

Steps:

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