Ovidiu

Ovidiu city developed along the national road linking the port of Constanţa to the capital city, in an area favorable to agricultural development. The settlement is located in the eastern part of the county, on the western shore of Lake Siutghiol. Localities belonging to Ovidiu city are: Poiana Village, located at 6 km from the city center, originally called Horoslar and Nazarcea locality, which is located in the north-east of the city. It is situated on Dobrogea Plateau, having a tabular layout, where slopes gently descend towards Lake Siutghiol. This plateau is composed of Mesozoic limestone, laid on marls and of tertiary limestone which is with loess. For this reason, there are separate river valleys which lack of water. The area has a slightly wavy landscape, with spread with isolated mounds.

Ovidiu city area benefits from natural resources, quantified in deposits of limestone, which began to be exploited since ancient times, but more intensely after opening the port in Constanta. Jurassic formations are also found in deposits of dolomite with industrial utility. Physical and geographical conditions of Ovidiu locality ensure the existence of a steppe ecosystem, but also an aquatic ecosystem. The steppe zone includes most of the territory. The territory was fallow and cultivated with cereals, industrial crops and fruit trees: barley, oats, wheat, corn, sunflower, sugar beet, grape, peach and apricot.

Ovidiu has developed from ancient times as a village of farmers and fishermen. The oldest human footprints from the Ovidiu island and the surrounding Siutghiol lake are dated back to the Middle Paleolithic, but research shows that the deepest layer of proves indicating a settlement is the Thracian-Get layer which was overlapped by a Geto-Roman layer. Since the seventh century i.e.n. Greek colonies were founded here and in the south of the city, and on the banks of the lake there were found traces of a Roman camp and an aqueduct which seems to have supplied the settlement on the island. Regarding the name of the island the question is whether there was any connection with the great Latin poet Ovidiu, who was exiled to Tomis in 9-17 years AD.

After one of the legends, the two old oak trees which stand on the island were planted by Ovidiu, and another legend says that the poet's grave might by somewhere on the island. In support of these legends come the archaeological researches which correlate items of material culture of Roman belonging, found on the island, the land of poetic inspiration, which may have been the author refuge "Tristia and Epistulae ex Ponto". The city is bathed by the waters of Lake Siutghiol, and Danube River-Poarta Albă-Midia Channel. Urban projects that were developed in Ovidiu are the Cultural Centre, opened in 2003; the new church of the city, situated along the international road crosses the city (E60), the sports grounds and stadium. Tourist attractions are: the Mosque in Ovidiu, Ovidiu lake.

Ovidiu Island is one of the most unusual places of the Romanian seaside, the only tourist attraction running on a natural island. It has a total area of 26,000 sqm, out of which 10,000 sqm are used for tourism. Local events include the City`s Days and the Folk Music Festival "Elena Roizen".                                                  

Source:

http://www.primariaovidiu.ro/orasul-ovidiu.html

http://www.ghidulprimariilor.ro/business.php/PRIMARIA-OVIDIU/84290/

http://cazare-mamaia-constanta.ro/obiectiveturistice/obiectiv/Insula-Ovidiu-Mamaia