DOMOGLED – CERNA VALLEY NATIONAL PARK

Location: Romania - Caraş-Severin County, Gorj County, Mehedinţi County

Coordinates: 45°05′35″N 22°37′26″E

Area: 61.211 hectares

By road: national road DN6, European road E70

FACTS:

  • Domogled –Cerna Valley the biggest National Park in Romania having 61.211 hectares;
  • Natura 2000 site;
  • Cerna Valley characterized by a unique geological phenomenon – Cerna fault – with Jurassic calcareous rocks.

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS

The Domogled-Cerna Valley National Park is a protected natural area developed to protect and preserve the ecosystems as well as to promote and foster the recreational activities.

This national park is also a Natura 2000 site – being part of the network of protected natural areas in the European Union. The endangered habitats and species within these areas are protected and preserved based on the Directives on Habitats and (Wild) Birds.

Two Natura 2000 Sites are overlapped in the Domogled-Cerna Valley National Park:

  • ROSPA0035 Domogled-Cerna Valley – protection of wild birds;
  • ROSCI0069 Domogled-Cerna Valley – protection of the habitats and species of Community interest.

Domogled-Cerna Valley National Park has 11 natural reserves.

These are: Domogled, Coronini - Bedina, Iauna - Craiova, Belareca, Ion Bârzoni’s Cave in Caras-Severin County; Stan’s Peak and Ţesna Valley in Mehedinti County, and Piatra Cloşanilor (including Cloşani caves and Cioaca cu Brebenei), Ciucevele Cernei, Martel Cave, Corcoaiei Gorge in Gorj County. Among these, three reservations are located on the administrative territory of Cornereva village, namely: Iauna - Craiova, Belareca, Ion Barzoni Cave.

Touristic objectives in the Domogled-Cerna Valley National Park

  • Rich flora and fauna: submediterranean species (flowering ash, hornbeam, Eurasian smoketree, lilac, ivy, Turkish hazel, Black Pine of Banat);
  • Astonishing panoramas with calcareous landscapes;
  • Mesozoic calcareous mountains with the Black Pine of Banat;
  • Moara Dracilor (Devil’s Mill)– located in the Tesna reserve, the water mill’s wheel spins counterclockwise, this is the reason for its name;
  • Cheile Corcoaiei (Corcoaia Gorges) – major carstic touristic attraction, whose appearance is explained by the legend of the mythical hero Iovan Iorgovan, who split the mountain in two with his sword;
  • Hamlets – located in the Cerna Mountains, where there is a possibility to connect with the local culture, traditions and traditional way of life in harmony with nature;
  • “Piatra Puşcată” (The Shotted Stone) - it is maintained the old border guard trail from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, carved in a cliff, and in this area there are also two thermal water springs on the right side of the Cerna river;
  • Cerna’s springs – it is considered the most powerfull stream in Romania, having 1,5-1,6 cubic meter flow rate per seconds;
  • Caves – more than 400 caves including thermal caves which are unique in Romania and very rare on the globe; where the climate conditions are similar with the ones in the tropical climate, with the air temperature between 350-450 C;
  • Astonishing panoramas with calcareous landscapes;
  • Waterfalls – spectacular ones like, “Vânturătoarea Waterfall”- the water descends from 40 m high and “Cociu Waterfall” – the water descends from 120 m high and it is considerred the highest waterfall, after some writings.

Domogled-Cerna Valley National Park is characterized by several unique natural phenomena, namely:

  • Cerna Valley totally integrates itself into the mountain landscape and separates two rows of mountains which are different in composition and landscape. It is a typical longitudinal valley which follows the tectonic line between Vâlcanului and Mehedinţi mountains on the one hand and Massif Godeanu and Cerna Mountains on the other.
  • Cerna Valley is characterized by a unique geological phenomenon called Cerna Fault with Jurassic limestone.
  • The massive presence of limestone favored the formation of unique ecosystems.
  • Thermal caves which are unique in Romania and very rare in the world rule for millennia this area of rare beauty,
  • The existence of rare species of flora and fauna, endemic and Mediterranean.
  • There are over 1500 butterflies species, 45 % of Romania's butterfly fauna is concentrated here.