Lower Prut

Lower Prut
Rezervația științifică Prutul de Jos
IUCN category Ia (strict nature reserve)
Location	Raionul Cahul,  Moldova
Area	1,691 hectares (16.91 km2)
Established	1991 (1991)

Lower Prut (Romanian: Rezervația Prutul de Jos) is a scientific Reserve in Cahul District, Moldova and was founded on April 23, 1991.^[1] It covers an area of 1,691 ha (4,180 acres; 16.91 km²).^[2] It was created in order to preserve and study the ecosystem of lakes and floodplain landscape of the lower course of the River Prut, to create favorable conditions for the reproduction of rare and endangered species of plants and animals.

Located in the Cahul region of Moldova, it includes Lake Beleu, a global wetland protected by the Ramsar Convention. The lake is of interest to bird watchers but the availability of tourist routes depends on the time of the year and the degree of filling of the lake.

The avifauna of Prutul de Jos is represented by more than 196 species, of which 45 species are included in the Red Book of Moldova and are taken under international protection. On the lake, depending on the season, can be spotted herons, cormorants, gulls, ducks, geese, swans, terns, cormorants, as well as colonies of hundreds or even thousands of pelicans.^[3] The site has been designated an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International.^[4]

• Prutul de Jos natural rezervation
• Prutul de Jos - Arii protejate
• Media related to Lower Prut at Wikimedia Commons

45°42′N 28°11′E / 45.700°N 28.183°E / 45.700; 28.183