Djerdap National Park

Djerdap National Park – Iron Gate

National Parks and Nature Reserves of Serbia
Djerdap National Park – Iron Gate

Djerdap National Park – Iron Gate

The Djerdap National Park is located on the right shore of the Danube River and it stretches along the river course of 100 km from the Golubac Fortress to the ancient Diana fortress in Karatas. The surface of the Djerdap National Park is 636 sq km, which makes it the biggest national park in Serbia. As for its natural beauties and culture, Djerdap National Park is significant on a European level and provide visitors embrace variety of its preserved natural heritage.

The Djerdap National park got its name after the most beautiful and the most prominent gorge in the entire course of the Danube River. The Đerdap, or Iron Gate region encompasses the banks of the Danube River from Golubac fortress (Roman Cuppae) to the mouth of the river Timok (Roman Timacus) with its immediate hinterlands.

The Djerdap Gorge is one of the largest gorges in Europe and consists of four gorges and three ravines in the following order: ”Golubacka klisura”, ”Ljupkovska kotlina”, ”Gospođin vir klisura”, ”Donjomilanovacka kotlina”, ”Veliki kazan klisura”, ”Mali kazan klisura”, ”Orsavska kotlina” and ”Sipska klisura”. The most beautiful gorges are ”Mali kazan” and ”Veliki kazan’, where the Danube narrows at only 140 meters and reaches the depth of 90 meters, so its bottom is for about 30 meters under the sea level of the Black Sea.

Let us take you to know the Iron Gate /Djerdap Gorge/ where the untouched stunning nature of the National Park of “Djerdap” covering 63.608 hectares and protected zone of 93.968 hectares of exceptional flora and rare fauna will renew your mind, exploration of the hugest Natural and Archaeological Museum in Europe will refresh your spirit and the gentle Danube breezes will blow your cares away. Due to its unique geographical position at the Gates of Europe, the Iron Gate Gorge had played significant role during the prehistory in the birth and evaluation of civilizations in Europe and around the Mediterranean. “Today the Sarmatians, Dalmatians, Panonians and Tribali tribes are reluctantly and fearfully considered as the Proto-Serbs of which the Sarmatians live around the Danube, while the others live beneath the Danube and the Sava Rivers”. Dragoslav Srejovic

Starting from Golubac settlement, ideal place for those who enjoy sailing thanks to the Danube River width and constant winds blowing here, visiting the magnificent Golubac Fortress built in 14th century, featuring nine impressive towers, you get to the largest penetrating river gorge in Europe. You will be excited to meet the 96,5 km long Danube “Iron Gate” gorge of magnificent beauty with its spectacular Lepenski Vir, Padina and Vlasac Mesolithic Archaeological highlights dating back over 10000 years !!!

In Djerdap Gorge there is one of the largest river depth /82 meters/ while the Danube River in the part by Mali and Veliki Kazan /Small and Large Basins/ is narrowed down to 150 meters. Besides four beautiful gorges, two remarkable canyons featuring breathtaking views from 800 meters cliffs in the Large Basin and three large valleys of the Djerdap National Park, there are over 1000 caverns and caves spread across 150 km of the area. Some 11000 plant species and many diverse animal and fungi species are found in the Djerdap National Park.

‘In preparation for his second invasion of Dacia, the Emperor Trajan built a bridge across the Danube. This bridge was one of the marvels of Roman engineering. It was 1,135 meters (3,724 feet) long and 15 meters (49 feet) wide. The deck stood about 19 meters (62 feet) above the surface of the river. Trajan’s bridge was designed by his favorite architect, Apollodorus of Damascus, who was also responsible for Trajan’s column, Trajan’s forum and several other monuments. Dacia flourished as a Roman province for nearly two hundred years. Aurelian demolished Trajan’s bridge in A.D. 275 to prevent it from being used by barbarian invaders. A few vestiges of Trajan’s bridge can be seen on the banks of the Danube, however. Brick piers at the approaches to the bridge in Kladovo on the Serbian side and Drobeta on the Romanian side still stand’. Source www.chi-rhogroup.com

Miroc Mountain, dominating over the Danube River course, and concealing natural wonders and many secrets of nature represents a true paradise for those who love untouched nature, as well as for adventurers, fishermen and hunters. There are large perch and catfish at the Danube river depths, deer, roebuck, chamois, wild boar, rabbits and mallard, thick coniferous and deciduous forests, crystal clear air and the tranquility of the eagle heights. The lynx population is restricted to only several areas of the Iron Gate Gorge special protection. Mammals are represented in the Djedap National Park with around fifty species, including natural rarities and endangered species such as: lynx (Lynx lynx), wildcat (Felix sylvestris), bear (Ursus arctos), wolf (Canis lupus), jackal (Canis aureus), otter (Lutra lutra), squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris), fox (Vulpes vulpes), beech marten (Martes foina), pine marten (Martes martes), badger (Meles meles), chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra), deer (Cervus elaphus), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) etc.

All along the Danube Flow in Serbia there are magnificent Prehistorical and Roman sights and mighty fortifications and it’s hard to pick a favorite. So, for a while be as courageous and handsome as Emperor Traian or Tiberius and many Roman heroes from this region ! Take the truly lasting memories of the exciting “gold mining” in Pek River and exploration of 2304 meters long Rajkova Pecina /Rajko’s Cave/ or the “mysterious magical ritual” connecting the spirits of the living and the dead in combination with unique home-made food served in heart of the nature or in rustic ambiance of an Serbian household. That is simply beyond expectations !