DANUBE VALLEY & THE NATIONAL PARK OF PORTILE DE FIER (Iron Gate)

DANUBE VALLEY

Danube, the second river from Europe (2857km.) after Volga, in length as well as in debit, has as source Padurea Neagra Mountains (Germany) and disgorges in Black Sea trough its three channels: Chilia, Sulina si Sf Gheorghe. In its way, passes several mountains, eight countries (Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria, Ukraine) and three capital cities (Vienna, Budapest and Belgrade). In our country enters from western Buzias and until the disgorging in the Black Sea has a length of 1075km, which means more than a third from the total length. Danube Valley is an important and frequented touristic area. Here it is practiced transit tourism, nautical tourism on Danube and on the reservoir. The defile develops on a length of around 144km. from Bazias until Gura Vaii. Between these limits are a series of sectors of narrow valley as the ones from Pescani, Cazanele Mari, Cazanele Mici, Porile de fier, as well as the sectors of large valley (depressions) at Moldova Veche, Dubova, Svanita, Orsova. The most picturesque areas are the ones from “Cazanele” and “Portile de Fier”. This is the reason why the reservoir that stretches along the defile is narrower in gorges and larger in basins and depressions. The abrupt discharges and the rocks from the defile were covered by the lake’s waters, today not being a barrier for navigation. In the places where limestone and dolines appear, the caves have enchanting aspect. In this way, near Pescari locality is Alibeg cave, and in Cazane area – Pestera Liliecilor ( “the cave of the bats”) that present scientific interest trough its fauna. In Danube Defile natural reservations are met at Cazane, Varciorova, Gura Vaii, Monuments of nature protected by law because of the beauty of the relief, flora and fauna of Mediterranean type: wild lilac, flowering ash, Turkish hazel, scorpion, horned viper, tortoise.
Next to the exit from the defile at Gura Vaii was built the dam of the hydro-energetic and of navigation complex Portile de Fier which abolished all lacks. The construction of the hydro-energetic and of navigation system created more stable levels of water, in the accumulation perimeter and possibilities of touristic arrangements to emphasize the picturesque landscape of Danube Defile. From Gura Vii until Calarasi begins trough a portion with the most accentuated slope where the floodable meadow is missing, appearing only some islets such as: Simian, Ostrovul Corbului. Danube meadow individualizes only downstream Gruia, but the area does not present touristic interest.

Follows another sector, without touristic interest, between Baltile Ialomitei and Brailei (sloughs), covered by a web of trellis and lakes trough which, here and there, higher lands appear. The two sloughs attracted people from ancient times owed to the fertile land, the richness of fish, forests and hunt. The embankment and draining projects done in the flooded meadow of Danube, brought to the disappearance of some swamps, fleets, sloughs on the places where different plants were cultivated.

At Cernavoda was constructed the railway bridge and the road that goes to Constanta. Also here is the edge from Danube of the Danube-Black Sea channel that shortened a lot the way to the sea. Also the bridge crosses the river in the right of the Ialomita mouth, between Giurgeni – Vadu Oii, serves the road from Bucharest to Constanta.

As soon as it passes Braila, Danube shifts to the north Dobrogea highlands going straight to the sea. At Patlageanca and than at Tulcea, the flow of Danube ramifies in three, forming on the newest land of our country, of a rare beauty, that it built before going into the sea – Danube Delta.

Trough the beauty of the valley, especially Portile de Fier and in Delta, Danube has a great touristic interest. In the past, when our ancients, Dacians, were strongly opposing to the Roman’s assaults, on the times of Traian and Decebal, on the shore of the Danube exists Drobeta fortress, that became a road junction of the most important commercial ways to north and south. Meanwhile the two wars with the Dacians, 101-102 and 105-105, Romans hurry to assure a direct communication with Dacia and to make easier the transport of Dacia’s richness to Rome. A great obstacle for fulfilling their purposes was Danube. To conquer this, Traian emperor talks to the greatest architect of those times – Apolodor from Damask. He built the bridge in 103-105. From written antic sources we find out about the constructions and dimensions of the bridge, 1135m long, 15m wide, 19m high, made from crossed wood girders, sustained by pylons buried in the river’s tub, but it is not known about the way it was constructed. At the end of Roman domination in Dacia, is destroyed several times. Today we can see only the foundation of the bridge, settled in the shore of Danube. Despite few marks that were preserved from the Bridge of Apolodor from Damask, it remains an important accomplishment of the Antiquity.

THE NATIONAL PARK “PORTILE DE FIER” (Iron Gate)

When we pronounce the words “Portile de Fier” we think almost from relax at the famous hydro-central from the Danube, but few of us know that “Portile de Fier” is also the name of a national park from the area, that offer unique and spectacular landscapes, the southern line of the park is on the flow of Danube, the western is near Bazias locality, the eastern at Drobeta-Turnu Severin; to north the park spreads until the southern flanks of Locva mountains. The beauty of the landscape and the unique ecosystems make from this park a real natural treasure. The forms of relief remarkably spectaculars, with abrupt versants, narrow valleys, caves and rocky walls. Everything is covered by abundant vegetation that gives the impression of a virgin territory. The landscape is determined also by the climate with sub-Mediterranean nuances that offer favorable conditions to the development of some plants and animals that are not met in other parts of Romania (Tartar maple, tortoise, horned viper).

The beauty and the uniqueness of the area impose measures of conservation and protection, especially because the hydro-energetic system “Portile de Fier” is near. The effects of the neighborhood are already felt, trough the filling of the reservoir; Ada-Kaleh island at 3 km downstream Orsova was completely flooded. In this was a “specific biotope” disappeared, more specific, a pleasant place for God, where on a stretched land one can meet a great amount of Mediterranean trees: cypress, almond tree, chestnut with comestible fruits.

The effects of the dam were felt also by the human communities along the defile: some localities have been moved in another place (Orsova, Isalnita). The fortress from Ada-kaleh Island has been moved on Ostrovul Simion, and others have been completely flooded.

We can organize Tours including this objective.

So do not hesitate to Contact Us if you want to visit them, or take a look in the Tours page and for sure you’ll find an interesting tour.

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