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.

Belgrade, Serbia

Belgrade, Serbia

Belgrade is the capital of the country and located on the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers. It has a long and tumultuous history and has seen many changes of power. Its population is 90% Orthodox Christian. The city's name means White City and was founded by Celts, awarded city status by the Romans and settled by Serbians from the 600.s onwards.

It has seen 140 wars and has been under the control of Roman, Goth, Hun, Frankish, Bulgarian, Hungarian and Serbian rulers. In 1521, Belgrade was captured by the Ottoman Empire but changed hands several times coming under Austrian control until its first taste of independence when Serbia became a sovereign state in 1841 although part of Belgrade remained part of the Austro-Hungarian empire until 1918. It was independent for a while but became part of Yugoslavia under Tito until it regained its independence in 2006.

Bulbar Revolucije, Boulevard of the Revolution, at 7.5 kilometres long  is the longest street in the capital although it has had many names over time but got its current name curtesy of the communists after the end of the Second World War.

The entrance to the fortress.

Through the gate and a view of the look out tower.

Some of the 18th century brick work overlooking the noat.

A detail of the fortress.

The inner gate.

The inside of another inner gate.

The gate below the look out tower.

The fortress also has a military museum with some exhibits displayed in the moat...

...artillery and tanks...

...and smaller artillery items on top of the walls.

Behind the inner wall is a large area laid to grass.

Looking along the top of the wall.

The view from the walls of the Sava river to the left and its confluence with the Danube in the centre of the photo.

A view across the Sava and part of Belgrade but the island over the river to the right is a nature reserve.

A statue to commemorate the French who helped the Serbians during the First World War.

The Orthodox church in Belgrade.

The main entrance.

The huge space inside.

A detail of the roof.

A view of the choir balcony above the entrance.

                                                       

Another orthodox church...

...and its inside decoration.

A restored art nouveau building...

...and another example.