Natural attraction

Located at an altitude of approximately 300 meters, Ochiul Beiului Lake is a place of story in the middle of a glade of legend. It is a lake of karst origin, known as the lake that never freezes because it is fed by an underground karst spring that keeps the water temperature constant. The lake is part of the Cheile Nerei National Park, on the Bei river valley, where it meets the Beușnița river. The turquoise color and clear water annually attract tourists of all ages who come in search of a moment of peace at the edge of the lake. According to legend, the special color of the lake has a supernatural explanation where several hundred years ago, the lake would have changed its shade of blue following a tragic love story. The legend tells the story of the son of a wealthy drunk who met a beautiful shepherdess while hunting in these lands. He falls in love with her at first sight and used to meet the girl every day. Tragedy befalls the couple when the drunk finds out about the two and decides to send an executioner to kill the girl. Grief-stricken, the drunkard's son retreated to the edge of the lake where he shed all his tears. The young man filled with his sadness the lake that today bears his name; the lake that still reflects the color of his eyes. photo source: https://planiada.ro/

The Poiana Marului Lake and the Poiana Marului resort are only 25 km far from Otelu Rosu city located in a picturesque landscape dominated by coniferous and deciduous forests.  Poiana Marului resort is located at an altitude of 500 m and the access to the resort is made by DN68 Caransebes - Haţeg, by passing near Zăvoi village.     

Lake Rusca-Teregova, located on the Hideg River, is an artificial lake, built in 2006, with a modern "double arch" dam, an opening of 400 m and a height of 75 m. When completely filled, the lake covers an area of ​​7 km. The place offers an impressive landscape, and you can reach it nearby on the thematic route Gugulanilor Land. source

Lake Secu is a reservoir with an area of ​​734 hectares and a length of about 6km. The Secu dam was built between 1961-1963, on the Bârzava river, just a few kilometers upstream from the municipality of Reșita. This is the first concrete dam with buttresses in Romania, with a height of 41 m. Its main role is to defend against floods and supply water to the municipality of Reșita. source

The Văliug lake is a reservoir built on the Bârzava, being framed by the Gozna and Secu reservoirs. Located at the foot of Mount Semenic, the lake is at an altitude of 600m, being an attraction for any tourist passionate about nature, fishing and water sports. It has an area of ​​almost 12,6 ha, and was built in 1909 for the water supply of the area and for the production of electricity. photo source: https://urlaub-in-rumänien.de

Balta Nera in Banat is a protected natural area, with an area of ​​ten hectares, located in Socol commune in Caraș-Severin county, at the mouth of the Nera river in the Danube, where the microdelta is formed. The reservation is included in the Iron Gates National Park, and tourists who arrive here can admire the diverse flora and fauna of these places. Here you can see seagulls, egrets or otters. source

Old Moldova Island is located on the Danube, being a spectacular tourist attraction that attracts tourists with its naturalness. Ostrovul Moldova Veche with an area of ​​1,627 hectares (of which 345 ha is the island proper land area), is declared a protected natural area, being included in the Natural Park Portile de Fier. Also, inside the island there are two lakes, without connection to the Danube, which occupy the largest area. The main attraction of the island, in addition to the diversity of flora and fauna, is the presence of over 50 wild horses, the descendants of those abandoned on the island in the 1970s, by the locals of Old Moldova. They could no longer be caught, and over time they multiplied, becoming wild. Here we also find the mound of earth, being the highest point on the island and which is said to be the tomb of Attila, also called the "Whip of God", the most powerful leader of the Huns who reigned between 433-453 .

The "Izvoarele Nera" nature reserve represents one of the largest virgin forests in Europe, being an area protected by law. The reserve was established in 1973 initially as a "forest reserve", and from 2000 it became a "nature reserve". The virgin ecosystems of pure beech trees are representative of the reservation, the trees are over 50m high, and some of them are over 400 years old. In 2017, the Izvoarele Nerei Nature Reserve was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site "Primary streams from the Carpathians and other regions of Europe". Source

Caraș-Severin abounds in natural attractions, special landscapes and an air you can't get enough of breathing, having numerous areas where the degree of air purity is among the highest in the country and in Europe. And if you are among the fans of hiking and relaxing in the heart of nature, we have for you a top of the most spectacular attractions of the county.

The Şuşara Stream is found on the road to the Şuşara Waterfall, on which road we also meet the Former Turkish Mill. All these natural attractions are located in the town of Sasca Montană, being a special area for any hiker looking for peace and natural landscapes. source

The entrance to Boilor Cave is located on the left slope of the Nera Gorges, formed by Carsiile Dese, at an altitude of 210 meters and 7 meters above the river. The cave measures 126 meters and is carved on a system of joints and pressure tunnels. Descending sections alternate with ascending ones. The entrance, quite large (4 meters in height), leads through a small corridor into a high hall of 7 meters, illuminated through a crack in the wall (the Window) with a diameter of 2 meters. This hall communicates with the main gallery through a labyrinth of narrow, partly inaccessible corridors, which are reached by climbing a 3-meter threshold. The main gallery, generally narrow, 2-4 meters high, and without branches, presents along its course enlargements through collapses, natural bridges, erosion rings, pressure tunnels with oval section, and siphon arrangements. Otherwise, the gallery, constantly turning to the right, becomes narrow and wide; it suddenly descends 3 meters and ends with a permanent siphon lake. During strong floods, water infiltrated through cracks in the massif forms an underground stream that appears through the siphon lake and is evacuated through sinkholes and swallow holes in the floor, only occasionally managing to exit through the cave's mouth and reach the Nera River. Traces of water are visible everywhere: potholes, lapies, blades, hieroglyphs, and spoon formations. Here and there, the beginning of cave concretion can be observed. The cave is of interest not only for karst hydrology but also for biospeleology. Remarkable terrestrial species of crustaceans, pseudoscorpions, and wingless insects live here, and in the marmites and siphon lake, typically subterranean species of microscopic crustaceans. The cave is located within the protected area of the Nera-Beușnița Gorges Reserve, part of the national park with the same name. It is not developed and does not show signs of degradation. Although it is a cold cave, with small puddles, walls carved by water, and lacking the calcite beauties that usually attract tourists, being near the trail, it should not be bypassed. Equipped with a flashlight (temperature around 10 degrees Celsius and maximum humidity), a protective helmet, and rubber boots (after prolonged drought, hiking boots also work), the entire cave can be traversed round trip in just half an hour. Pay attention to the two 3-meter thresholds. Source

The Comarnic Cave is located in the Anina Mountains, a magical place famous for the richness of the forests but also the soil that hides precious coal deposits. The rivers Carașul, Nera and Minișul furrow wild gorges deep in the rocky walls that open the way to impressive and mysterious caves. Many other smaller rivers are lost in limestone that have carved their way through galleries formed over millennia. The Comarnic and Popovaţ caves were formed by the delicate force of the Ponicova stream, which is about half way between Reşita and Anina. The monumental halls and the massiveness of the stalagmite formations have placed the Comarnic Cave in the top of the most beautiful in Banat. Located within the radius of the village of Iabalcea, it is one of the largest and most impressive caves in Romania and represents a hydrological breakthrough of the Ponicova stream in the limestones that make up Cleanţul Putnata. The galleries and rooms discovered so far total 5,229 m. The Comarnic entrance is located on the left side of the Comarnic valley, about 200 m from the Comarnic forestry Canton (440 m alt.). The entrance to Ponicova can be found in a large clearing, near the Reşita-Anina road, 3.5 km away from the canton in the direction of Anina at 470 m altitude.

In the Caraș-Severin county, close to the town of Anina, hidden by the karst relief of the Minișului Valley, there is the Cave of Bones, consisting of a system of 12 interior galleries, where human remains over 35,000 years old have been discovered . Initially, cavers thought the bones were just the remains of several animal species, but human remains were unearthed among them, including a Homo Sapiens mandible with five molars. Learn more about the discoveries in the Cave of Bones HERE. Source

Gaura cu Muscă Cave is a place full of legends and history in the Danube Gorge. The cave is located 12 km downstream from Moldova Nouă, Caraș-Severin county, approx. 30 m above the level of the Danube. The entrance to the cave is on the left side of the Danube Gorge, in the great calcareous cliff located near the Babacaia rock in the Danube bed, 3 km downstream from Coronini. Altitude 92 m (28 m above the water of the Danube). The widely spread legend of Iovan Iorgovan "arm of mace" is connected to the cave, who defeated the dragon with 12 heads and the dove-vampire fly.

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

It is located in the Locvei Mountains, about 3 km from the Moldova Nouă town, being within the Valea Mare reservation area. The cave is active, being two main galleries, speleological equipment is necessary in order to visit the cave.             

The Cave of the Devil's Lake is a remarkable tourist attraction, long recognized by the local community. It was extensively investigated between 1962 and 1966 by A. Negrea, Șt. Negrea, and V. Sencu. However, a significant discovery occurred in the spring of 1981 when the cave was explored by scuba divers from the GESS-Bucharest group, consisting of Cristian Lascu, I. Povară, C. Vânău, and Ș. Sârbu. They explored the lake's bottom and found a gallery at a depth of 12 meters. This gallery led into the heart of the limestone massif, traversing an underwater corridor 25 meters long until they reached an impressive underground chamber. In this chamber, white and washed limestone alternates harmoniously with layers of black flint, creating a spectacular sight. Source

The Bats Cave is located on Cheile Carasului, near Carașova commune. Access to the cave is through a hole with a diameter of approximately 10 meters, it is necessary to cross the Caraș river by water and climb a rock wall of approximately 4-5 meters. For amateur climbers, access to the cave can also be done by descending from above the cave. source

Ponor Cave – Dry is also known as Ponor Cave, Crivina Cave or Brădețe Cave. Proceeding into the cave and passing a strait, the gallery rises to 15 m. The temperature in the cave is 6.5°C – 8.3°C at the extremities and it is humid (95-100%). These temperature variations are due to openings, which allow air currents to enter. text source:  cnitpanina.ro photo source: speologie.org, pressalert.ro

The cave is found at the base of a limestone cliff and has a large entrance and a length of 108 m. It consists of three Halls. At the entrance you can still see traces of archaeological excavations and treasure hunters. In the first room, the large blocks collapsed from the ceiling must be climbed. To the right is a short gallery that opens above the chasm. On the left, after a slight slope, you enter the second room, then the third, where concretionary ornaments are found. The cave is easily accessible and visible, especially in the first room, the others are much darker and specific equipment is necessary. Text & Photo Source: https://www.turistmania.ro/

The Stones of Scorilo represent a true pagan altar of the Dacians, situated at an altitude of 1,200 meters on the northern slope of the Muntele Mic massif. The area was the preferred hunting ground of the Dacians, being in the mountains and having rich fauna. On this current tourist route, Muntele Mic – Poiana Mărului, passing through the Scorilo Valley, legend has it that King Scorilo, the father of Decebal, hid a treasure. This is confirmed by the inscription found at Sarmizegetusa: "Decebalus per Scorilo." This route is of rare beauty, enchanting even the most discerning tourist. Also part of the legend passed down through centuries are the clues to the exact location of the treasure: Scorilo is said to have hidden the treasure in a cave located on a straight wall of the Scorilo Rock (somewhere in the center, 40 meters from the base and 40 meters from the summit), a cave situated where the first ray of sunlight falls over the ridge called Buza Nedeii on the summer solstice, on June 21st each year. The existence of a cave in a rock formed of crystalline schists is hard to accept, as such rock does not naturally form caves. Through more thorough research of the rock, only a side room that appears to have been carved into the rock by humans, as a shelter for shepherds ascending Muntele Mic, has been found. It has a canopy-like shape, like a niche. The locals and shepherds don't speak much about the place itself, considering it a sacred area that not many should know everything about. In the past few decades, many have searched for the treasure, but without success. No one has conducted detailed research of the area. Furthermore, according to the legend, the Tomb of Scorilo is on this tourist route, somewhere in the Scorilo Valley, which seems credible, especially since Ulpia Traiana Sarmizegetusa is located beyond the hill. The Stones of Scorilo, Cleanţul Scorilo, and Cioaca (Crest) Scorilo are old names that have remained in the vocabulary since the time of the Dacians, transmitted along with the belief that there is a Dacian treasure here. Text & photo source

The Natural Bridge of Cărbunari is a wonderful natural attraction located in this locality. This natural bridge, formed over time through natural processes, impresses with its unique shape and structure. Nestled in the midst of the natural landscape, this bridge stands out due to its distinct geological architecture. Photo source

Located on the edge of the forest, Poiana Golului is an exceptional viewpoint over the city of Resita, but also a place where festivals and shows are organized for those interested in a unique experience at a higher plane.

The tourist route starts from where Nera makes a 90-degree bend and goes towards Lacul Dracului. On the route, after about an hour you will reach Poiana Meliugului, also called Poiana lui Trifu. It is a large clearing, with several crops, on the right is the last household on the route. Here, the road forks, one going to the left, on the Suspension Bridge, and the other straight ahead, but both leading to the lake. Photo source Text source

Prolazul (”trecătoare” în limba caraşovenilor) este o depresiune pitorească situată în Cheile Caraşului. Cu sălaşe, livezi şi înconjurată de abrupturi calcaroase,  poiana este deosebită în orice anotimp.

The suspended bridge in the Sasca Montană commune is built of wood and is an attraction for any hiker who arrives in the area.  It is located in the middle of nature, in an area that offers fairytale landscapes throughout the year. photo source: Google Maps - Agenția 360 România

The tourist route that passes by the Suspended Bridge starts from where Nera makes a 90 turn, going towards Lacul Dracului. After about an hour's walk, on the bank of the Nera is Poiana Meliugului, also called Poiana lui Trifu, on the right is the last farm on the route. Here, the road forks, one going left on the Suspension Bridge and the second continuing straight ahead, but both reaching the lake. The road on the Suspended Bridge is quite special, always climbing and reaching a clearing with fruit trees, near the Untan Mill. Cross the water, enter the forest on a steeply uphill path and then reach a crossroad where you can see the sign to Lacul Dracului. Source: turism.cjcs.ro

Balta Nera – Dunăre is a nationally protected area corresponding to the IUCN category IV (mixed natural reserve), located in Caraș-Severin County, on the administrative territory of the Socol commune. The natural area, covering 10 hectares, is situated at the western extremity of Caraș-Severin County, at the foothills of the Locvei Mountains (a mountain group in the Banat Mountains belonging to the Western Carpathians), at the confluence of the Nera River into the Danube, in the Danube Gorge (a geographical region on the northern bank of the Danube). The natural reserve, included in the Iron Gates Natural Park, was declared a protected area through Law No. 5 of March 6, 2000 (approving the National Land Management Plan – Section III – protected areas) and represents the confluence area of the Nera River with the Danube (water bodies, lakes, marshes, peat bogs, with shrubs, reed beds, and rushes) with flora and fauna specific to wetland areas. The reserve has various types of habitats, including oligotrophic standing waters, eutrophic lakes with a significant content of dissolved minerals in the water, areas covered with bulrush and reed, and water with abundant vegetation developed on the lake bottom. The natural area provides food and living conditions for several species of birds (migratory, passage, or sedentary), mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and fish. The flora of the natural reserve consists mostly of hydrophilic and hygrophilic vegetation with tree species such as white poplar (Populus alba), white willow (Salix alba), and purple willow (Salix purpurea). Herbaceous plants include floating fern (Salvinia natans), four-leaf clover (Marsilea quadrifolia), yellow flag iris (Iris pseudacorus), water lily (Butomus umbellatus), as well as reeds, bulrush, and sedges. Birds: marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus), little egret (Egretta garzetta), pygmy cormorant (Phalocrocorax pygmeus), little bittern (Ixobrychus minutus), Eurasian bittern (Botaurus stellaris), great egret (Egretta alba), barn owl (Tyto alba, a species that hunts rodents), or common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis); Mammals: gray wolf (Canis lupus), wild boar (Sus scrofa), red fox (Vulpes vulpes crucigera), European otter (Lutra lutra), and European ground squirrel (Spermophilus citellus); Amphibians and reptiles: European green toad (Bufo viridis), European tree frog (Hyla arborea), common toad (Bufo bufo), European fire-bellied toad (Bombina bombina), European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis), Aesculapian snake (Elaphe longissima), and dice snake (Natrix tessellata); Fish: weatherfish (Misgurnus fossilis), asp (Aspius aspius), European chub (Umbra krameri, a predatory fish species), gudgeon (Gobio kessleri), and spined loach (Cobitis elongata). Source: text & photo

The reserve is located on the administrative territory of the city of Moldova Nouă, being declared a protected area included in the Iron Gates National Park and having an area of ​​1176 hectares The reserve is located in the Văia Mari hydrographic basin, a particularly beautiful area, with a diverse relief made up of gorges, caves, ravines, sinkholes, outcrops and boulders. There are 45 caves and avenues here, including the Gaura Haiduceasca cave, with a length of 1370 m, but also Avenul Roşu (149 m difference in level), the reserve being the ideal place for hiking and relaxing in nature. The waterfalls in Valea Mare are some of the most important tourist attractions of the Danube Gorge. For example, the Burăul Mare waterfall, with a steep and abundant fall of water of particular beauty, a perfect, cool and comforting place on a hot summer day. Then, the Modăvița waterfall, with a height of over 20 meters, is one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Banat, being considered the sister of the Bigăr waterfall.

The Banat Sphinx is located in Toplet commune, just 8 km away from Băile Herculane and is part of a natural reserve of national interest. The sphinx can best be seen in spring and autumn when the vegetation is less dense. It can be seen from the DN 6 road, more precisely from km 377. The megalith is the second such monument on Valea Cernei, and it is said that Hercules/Iovan Iorgovan once again defeated the hydra and cut off its head, the Toplet Sphinx being erected precisely to mark the victory.

Nicknamed the "Lonely Crag of the Danube", the Babacaia rock has a height of 7 m above the water. Its name comes from a legend. A Serbian voivode allegedly tied his unfaithful wife to a rock, telling her "babo kaise" (repent wife).

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

The Tunnel of Love in Glimboca is located on the railway that connects Caransebeș and Băuțar, linking the localities of Obreja and Glimboca. The tunnel was discovered accidentally by two amateur photographers, Florin Avramescu and Mihai Tămăşilă. Following this discovery, an increasing number of people have come to explore the beautiful tunnel. Known as the "Tunnel of Love," it is one of the most romantic places in the country. It is also listed among the hidden treasures of the European Union, published on the European Parliament's website. This natural gem in Caraș-Severin is highly appreciated by photographers and couples who come here in significant numbers to capture romantic photographs. Source: Text & Photo

În Nera Gorges, from Sasca Română, the tourist trail marked by red band goes through seven spectacular tunnels carved in the rock. The longest tunnel is the last one, also called the Big Tunnel, which has 40 meters long. Located at a height of about 15 m above the Nera River, “To  Tunnels” area offers remarkable landscapes.       

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