1) The Semenic – Caraş Gorges National Park is located in the centre of Mountainous Banat, in the northern area of the Anina Mountains and the eastern area of the Semenic Mountains. With an area of 36,365 hectares, the park includes some natural beauties with special value, included in the 10 nature reserves:
Nr.crt | Reservation | Locality | Type |
1 | Caraș Gorges | Caraşova | Mixed |
2 | Nera Springs | Prigor | Forestry |
3 | Garlişte Gorges | Anina and Goruia | Mixed |
4 | Caraş Springs | Anina | Mixed |
5 | Buhui-Mărghitaş Lakes | Anina | Mixed |
6 | Comarnic cave | Caraşova | Speologic |
7 | Popovăţ Cave | Caraşova | Speologic |
8 | Buhui Cave | Anina | Speologic |
9 | Groposu | Reşiţa | Forestry |
10 | Barzavita | Văliug | Forestry |
The Caraş Gorges Natural Reserve, stretched on 3089.9 ha, contains the most spectacular karstic phenomena, such as: the valleys (plateau, slope and valley), the creeks and the caves.
The Caraş Gorges impress by its length (19 km), but also by its wildness. It lies between Comarnic Valley and Caraşova.
In the perimeter of the Caraş Gorges there is the highest concentration of caves in Romania, about 300 identified so far.
Currently, the following caves are known: Comarnic (6.2 km), Popovăţ (1.2 km), Ţolosu (1.85 km) and Buhui (4 km). The Gârliştei Gorges Nature Reserve, spread over 823 hectares, is also an area rich in numerous karstic beauties that deserve to be visited. Above these gates lies with a distinct beauty the historical route of the railway Oraviţa -Anina, built during 1861-1863.
The Nera Springs Forestry Reserve, spread over an area of 4852.8 hectares and situated on the southern slope of the Semenic Mountains, is the most sought after objective of foresters and ecologists from Romania and from the European countries due to its unique forests of natural virginbeech trees, spindlesimpressingby their age (over 350 years) and by their huge size, the trees having a heights of over 50 m and diameters of 1.5 m. It is the largest and compact ecosystem of secular forests existing in Europe. The park is also rich in groundwater courses and the occurrence of strong eruptions. The most spectacular of them is the Caraş Spring, unique in Romania through its flow. Also, the Pothole of theHole’s Glade, in the Aninei Mountains, between Reșița and Crivaia, is one of the deepest vertical caves in Romania, having a depth of 236 m.
The Semenic – Caraş Gorges National Park is a land that also offers a rich biodiversity from botanical and faunistic point of view. The specific colour of the flora is given by the large number of exotic species: lilac, Semenic flower, crocus etc. The species from the Carpathian fauna increase the charm and attractiveness of the area.