Poiana Golului

The natural reserve with an area of 1,865.60 ha, located in the western part of the Anina Mountains, is included in the Cheile Nerei - Beușnița National Park. In this natural area you can find limestone cliffs, sinkholes, boulders, caves such as the Lenuța Cave, the Cave under Padina Popii, the Bijuteri Cave, but also avenes, grottoes, gorges, waterfalls, ponds, meadows and forests. The flora specific to the area is notable for the existence of different shrubs such as the walnut, the Turkish hazel, the Turkish cherry, the dogwood, the thorn and the Banătea peony. Fauna stands out for mammals, birds, reptiles, frogs that are specific to the mountain range of the Banat Mountains. Located near the village of Padina Matei, Gârnic commune, the waterfalls in the natural botanical area Valea Mare are at an altitude of 500-700 meters. The waterfalls on the Mudavița river are also known as "Cascada Bordânc" and "Cascada Modăvița". They are between 15 and 20 meters high. Access to the waterfalls is from the Moldova Nouă – Padina Matei county road. Source Text & Photo: https://www.facebook.com/banatulmontan, https://www.cniptmoldovanoua.ro, http://ocoflo.blogspot.com

Iezerul Bistrei - Sea Eye is the place where the Bistra river originates. This is a dry and sunny place, with grassy vegetation and bushes, where the horned viper can be spotted.  Source Text & Photo: https://alpinet.org, https://muntii-nostri.ro

People who come to buy drinking water at Baile Herculane have 2 sources at their disposal: Domogled 1 and Domogled 2. Locals and tourists come daily to the spring, because the water has extraordinary qualities, being microbiologically pure, trace mineral, alkaline, and due to the small amount of sodium, the still water from the Herculaneum Baths is recommended for those suffering from heart and kidney diseases. source

The Steam Cave in the Cerna Mountains is a narrow fossil cave with a single entrance and a length of 14 meters. The cave exhales hot steam from a thermal spring located at the end of the cave. These steam emissions, ranging from 52 to 56 degrees Celsius, surface through a crack in the rock, and inside the cave, a humidity of 100% is formed. Due to sulfur emanations, the philonotis schliephackei moss, found only here, grows on the cave walls. The warm air in the cave contributes to the formation of gelatinous stalactites, a few centimeters thick. From the resort of Băile Herculane to the Steam Cave, you have to walk for about an hour on mountain trails. On the route, there are several vantage points, providing a good opportunity for short breaks, to breathe in strongly ionized air, and to admire the beautiful mountain landscapes. Legend has it that the cave is over two millennia old, and among its visitors is even the great Dacian king Burebista. The Steam Cave poses a real danger to visitors and speleologists alike. Over time, several people have lost their lives due to gas emissions. Source

Cantonul Damian is a landmark and a stopover for any tourist in the Cheile Nerei (Nera Gorges). This is a wonderful camping spot for tents. From here, climbers set out for the limestone pyramid of Turnul Mare al Begului, where they climb the wall over 200 meters high. Turnul Mare al Begului is continued by Turnul Mic al Begului downstream from the forestry lodge. From Cantonul Damian, downstream, the trail follows the forest road passing under Cârşia Rolului, imposing with its stone towers at the summit, with a height of 270 meters. At the base of the cliff is Peștera Rolului (20 meters above the Nera waters), where the Caraseni haiducs took refuge from the Turkish and Austrian gates. The cave is famous as the refuge of Adam Duma, also known as Adam Neamțu, the last great Banat haiduc, and according to legend, the treasures of the haiducs are also hidden in this cave. The forest road then passes by the ruins of the former medieval fortification "Turnul Mare a lui Alibeg," which "is linked to the legend of a young Banat girl who was kidnapped by the Turkish bey and imprisoned in the tower. However, the girl escaped at night, descending the rock with the help of a rope she braided from her own dress. Out of sorrow, for he was in love with the beautiful girl, Ali Beg cried so much that the Bei River formed from his tears." [Bizerea M., 1971]. Indeed, after 4 km from Cantonul Damian, on the forest road, you reach the confluence of Beiul and Nera, at Podul Beiului. Source: text & photo

The Gârliște waterfall is located on the Garlistei Gorges, perhaps the wildest gorges in Romania, of rare beauty and with an easy route. The waterfall pleasantly impresses any hiker, being in a special natural setting. The gorges have very wild sections, with limestone walls that rise right out of the water of the Garliste river. source

The Calinovăț Island nature reserve is located in the territory of the Western Carpathians, the Banat Mountains sub-region, the Locvei Mountains geomorphological unit. which are part of the group of mountains and calcareous plateaus. However, the immediately adjacent mountainous area is characterized by very low altitudes and granitic rocks. From a geological point of view, the territory is part of the Danubian domain. Vegetation - The territory of the reserve is located in the European biogeographical region, at the confluence of the Nera and the Danube, being characterized by hydrophilic and hygrophilous vegetation, specific to wet areas. The flora is represented by hydrophilic and hygrophilous species, such as Salix spp. (willow species), Phragmites spp. (cane), Carex spp. (sedge), Salvinia natans (sedge), Marsilea quadrifolia (rock clover), Typha spp. Fauna - The island is a real oasis for many species of birds during seasonal migrations or for nesting. Invertebrate fauna is poorly known in the area, but numerous species of butterflies, dragonflies, dragonflies can be found, many species having protection status. The Calinovăț Island nature reserve is part of the Iron Gates National Park. Type of reservation: avifaunistics Area: 24.0 ha Types of habitats: Habitats specific to wetlands The Calinovat Island wetland special avifaunistic protection area includes the Calinovat island located on the Danube river and the water surface bordering the island up to a depth of 2 m. It is located on the administrative territory of Pojejena commune, Caras-Severin county. Calinovăț Island is located on the Danube, approx. 8 km downstream from the river's entry into Romania, being the first Romanian Danube island encountered along its course. Access roads: Orsova-Moldova Noua-Pojejena-Bazias - DN57 up to the town of Pojejena, after which go on DJ57A, in the direction of Pojejena-Bazias. Text source Photo source

The depression area concludes the relief with Mount Rudina (870 m) and the Gabrotu Talva (992 m), under which it descends steeply by 400-500 m into the Almaj Depression, characterized by terraces and hills that compose the local landscape. At a distance of 2.5 km from the entrance to the gorge, the valley widens, forming a clearing where the "Day of the Lilac" was celebrated annually. Among the rocks, lilac shrubs grow, adding a unique charm to this valley. The geological composition of the area consists of crystalline formations crossed by magmatic rocks, with the crystalline formations predominantly represented by amphibolic gneisses, affected by numerous tectonic fractures. Source

The Adam and Eve Rocks in Eftimie Murgu represent a spectacular geological formation situated in this locality. Symbolically named Adam and Eve, these rocks have been shaped over time by the forces of nature, creating a remarkable feature in the local landscape. Photo source