Belene Island (Шаблон:Lang-bg, ostrov Belene) or Persin Island (остров Персин, ostrov Persin) is the biggest island in Bulgarian waters. The island is formed by the Danube River splitting into two branches passing north and south of it. The international frontier between Bulgaria and Romania follows the north branch of the river and therefore Belene Island is part of the Bulgarian territory. The island is Шаблон:Convert long and reaching Шаблон:Convert in width; it is located in the Danube, north of the town of Belene. Belene Island is the fourth biggest Danube island: during an average tide it is Шаблон:Convert in area. During a high tide, parts of the island are submerged. The island is connected to the town of Belene with a pontoon bridge.
The island is infamous for the Belene concentration camp, which held political prisoners between 1949–1953 and 1956–1959. The Belene Prison is still operating as a penitentiary in the western part of the island, while the eastern part is a managed natural reserve.
A battle took place on neighboring Cinghinarele Island in early October 1916, during World War I.
