The Iron Gorge

The Iron Gorge 

The Danube here forms part of the border between Serbia to the south and Romania to the north and 134 kilometres long. The Romanian side is the Iron Gates National Park and on the Serbian side is the Derdap National Park.

Archaeologists have named the mesolithic culture found in the central Danube region dating between 13,000 to 5,000 years ago after the gorge.

At the far end of the gorge is the city of Orsova, and beyond it is a large hydroelectric power plant, the first plant opened 1972 followed by the second plant in 1984. The dam raised the level of the water by 35 metres.  

                                        

Early morning as we approached the Iron Gates Gorge

Red sky in the dawn.

But it was atmospheric down at the start of the gorge...

...but the sun was rising and burning off the mist

In the gorge.

Part of the gorge where the river widens before entering the next gorge section.

A border police boat cruising along the border.

One of several caves that can be visited but only by boat.

Another view of the gorge.

A distant view o a monastery.

A couple of closer views...

...and a large flag painted on the wall downstream of the monastery.

The rock sculpture of King Decebalus who reigned 87 - 106AD, the last king of Dacia who fought against Roman emperors Domitian and Trajan in order to try to preserve his kingdom. It is Europe's tallest rock relief at 55 metres high and 25 metres wide.

The Ion Gates Dam.

A road bridge across a tributary,

The lock entrance.

A tribute to Tito above the dam.

Two ships followed us into the lock.

And the gate rose into place...

...looking across the dam.

Water flowed out and the lower section of the lock dropped to allow boats to enter the next lock.

And then we were out...

...and steaming away from the dam.

The down stream side of the dam.