Zaghen Lake is situated in the Zaghen polder, covering an area of 180 hectares and holding a volume of 937,000 cubic meters. The lake is currently undergoing ecological restoration on 200 hectares of its surface, located on the lower Danube at the confluence with the Danube Delta. It is part of the Danube floodplain. In the past, human activities heavily impacted the lake, leading to the degradation of natural habitats, a decline in population numbers, and a reduction in species diversity.

The lake faces issues such as sediment accumulation, residues from livestock, household waste, nutrient enrichment, and consequent algae blooms.

Zaghen Lake has significant tourist, ecological, and economic potential due to its proximity to Tulcea city and its capacity to enhance ecosystem services in a culturally and socially unique area.

Restoration efforts began in 2012, aiming to restore the area’s natural functions by reconnecting the polder with the Danube through a 3 km channel equipped with two pumping stations. Past restoration activities include rehabilitating the connecting channel and pumping stations (which have reversible functions), dredging the channel, constructing a perimeter dike along the northeast, north, and east sides of the lake, modifying the collecting channel’s route at the lake’s inlet, and managing the reed areas. As a result, Zaghen Lake serves as a knowledge support site (KSS) for the Brates Lake demonstration site.