A Great Canyon On The Danube River
The Iron Gate, also known as the Đerdap Gorge, is situated between Romania and Serbia and is one of the most scenic stretches along the Danube river. The Iron Gate is a natural gorge formed by the Carpathian Mountains on the Romanian side and the Balkan Mountains on the Serbian side. It stretches for about 134 kilometers and offers stunning views of cliffs, caves, and and rock formations.
The Iron Gates consist of narrow gorges and wide basins, making it one of Europe’s most significant natural features. While an important stretch of the navigable Danube it was actually very dangerous with challenges posed by the river’s rapids and many whirlpools. The construction of the Iron Gate Dam was crucial for controlling navigation. Construction of a dam began in 1977 as a joint project between Romania and Yugoslavia and was considered an engineering marvel. Completed in 1984 with hydroelectric generation from 16 units generating a total capacity of 432 MW.
A number of archaeological sites in the gorge have provided evidence of early human occupation. Classified as the Iron Gates Mesolithic culture they are dated between 13,000 and 6,000 years ago, shedding light on hunter-gatherer lifestyles in Romania and Serbia.
The Intentional Travelers 