Ada Kaleh was a small Romanian island on the Danube. It was sunk in 1970, during the construction of The Iron Gates hydroelectric plant.
In the background of the illustration is the silhouette of the island as it was before it was covered by water.
Below is the reference photo I used.
The island was know for its roses. Islanders produced Turkish delight, rose water and rose oil.
The great bustard is a large, spectacular bird, and was a common sighting in mainland southern Romania. It was believed to be extinct for decades, until a nest was found in 2020.
The illustration depicts this bird as a mythical creature, embodying the spirit of Ada Kaleh.
