4) The Iron Gates Natural Park is the largest park from Romania and spreads over the territory of two counties: Mehedinti and Caraș-Severin. It has an area of 115 655 ha, of which approx. 60 000 ha are in Caraş-Severin County, and includes 14 scientific reserves with full protection, along the Danube Strait, from Baziaş to SchelaCladovei. In Mountainous Banat, along the Danube Gorge, the park has 10 nature reserves, 5 in Mehedinti County and 5 in Caraş-Severin County:
Nr.crt | Reservation | Locality | Type |
1 | Big and Small Cauldrons | Dubova | Mixed |
2 | Alion | Dubova | Mixed |
3 | Tescovăţ | Sviniţa | Mixed |
4 | Cioaca Borii – Tricule | Sviniţa | Mixed |
5 | Sviniţa Fossils | Sviniţa | Fossil |
6 | Ostrov | Old Moldova | Bird areas |
7 | Great Valley | New Moldova and Padina Matei | Mixed |
8 | Martins’ Ravine | Pojejena | Mixed |
9 | Nera Pond-Danube | Socol | Mixed |
10 | Baziaş | Socol | Mixed |
The Danube Strait from Baziaş to Orşova is the most spectacular European strait, by the alternation of narrowing and depression sectors, through the varied and unique karstic relief, by the rare and endemic species of plants and animals, and by the remarkable historical vestiges.
The natural touristic attractions, situated on the Danube Gorge, from Baziaş to Iuti ( the most southern point of Banat) are the following : Nera Pond – between Baziaş and Socol, Great Valley–New Moldova, Ostrov / Island – Old Moldova, Babacaia Rock at Coronini, Fly Hole Cave (254 m), Buffaloes from Tescovat, Tescovăţ Vulcanic Neck, Jurasic Fossils at Sviniţa and CioacaBorii – Tricule near Svinita.
The Danube Cauldrons begin at Iuti – the most spectacular part of the strait, where you can see the Big Cauldrons, the Small Cauldrons, the Tabula Traiana on the Serbian Right Bank, the Statue of Decebalus in the Mraconia Gulf and the Ponicova Cave(1.67 km).