near the villages of Slobozia Mare and Văleni. On its basis, the "Prutul de Jos" natural reserve was created, which is a corner of heaven for waterfowl, fish, animals and plants, a good part of which are included in the Red Book of the Republic of Moldova.
Lake Beleu occupies 628 ha or 1/3 of the area of the Prutul de Jos reserve. This is a relic of the Danube and is more than 5-6 thousand years old, being over time the source of survival for the locals. Its depth varies between 0.5 - 2 m, length - 5 km, width - 2 km. The lake is a stopover for many migratory water and wading birds. The fauna of the lake is represented by about 198 species of animals and 140 species of birds. Among the rare species of mammals found here, we can mention the otter, the wild cat, the white-bellied shrew, the ermine, the European mink, etc.
Lake Beleu is actually a miniature Danube delta, with a lot of water and vegetation, having the status of a wetland of international importance.
A really special phenomenon is when several thousand pelicans come for about 2-3 weeks. Flocks of common pelicans make their annual appearance on Beleu, which consume large quantities of fish from the lake. After stopping here for a while, the pelicans continue their way to the Danube Delta. With the pandemic, many visitors from all over the country "noticed" as if suddenly this oasis of peace and wilderness, becoming an important tourist attraction.
