Cheile Nerei-Beușnița National Park

About

The Nera Gorge-Beușnița National Park (Romanian: Parcul Național Cheile Nerei-Beușnița) (national park category II IUCN) is a protected area situated in Romania, in Caraș-Severin County.

The Natural Park is located at the south-west limit of the country, in the south of the Anina Mountains [ ro ] (a mountain group included in the Banat Mountains ), in Caraș-Severin County, on the middle course of Nera River and on the upper Beu River.

Nera Gorge-Beușnița National Park with an area of 36,758 ha (90,830 acres) was declared natural protected area by the Law Number 5 of March 6, 2000 (published in Romanian Official Paper Number.152 on April 12, 2000) and represents a mountainous area ( mountain peaks, cirques, crevasses, caves, valleys, canyons, waterfalls ) that shelters a large variety of flora and fauna; some of the species are endematic or very rarely.

Protected areas included in the park: Nera Gorge-Beușnița, Șușara Gorge, Ducin, Izvorul Bigăr, Izvoarele Nerei, Lisovacea, and Valea Ciclovei-Ildia.

Climate is a temperate continental, with moderate winters, warm summers, low thermal amplitude, with rich rainfall, with Mediterranean influences.

The hydrological network includes the Nera River and its tributaries : Coșava, Bănia, Beu, Ducin, Miniș, Nergana, Nerganița, Prigor, Rudăria, and Șopotu.

is a temperate continental, with moderate winters, warm summers, low thermal amplitude, with rich rainfall, with Mediterranean influences.

The hydrological network includes the Nera River and its tributaries : Coșava, Bănia, Beu, Ducin, Miniș, Nergana, Nerganița, Prigor, Rudăria, and Șopotu.

On the territory of the protected area it has been identified several species of flora with European elements, Central European and Euro-Asian.

Tree and shrub species include: English oak ( Quercus robur ), Common hornbeam ( Carpinus betulus ), European beech ( Fagus sylvatica ), European ash ( Fraxinus excelsior ), Turkey oak ( Quercus cerris ), Sessile oak ( Quercus petraea ), Black alder ( Alnus glutinosa ), European yew ( Taxus baccata ), Manna ash ( Fraxinus ornus ), Turkish hazel ( Corylus colurna ), European cornel ( Cornus mas ), Eurasian smoketree ( Cotynus coggygria ), Ruscus (species of: Ruscus aculeatus or Ruscus hypogllosum ), and Lilac ( Syringa vulgaris ).

Herbaceous plants include: orchid Himantoglossum caprinum, fritillary Fritillaria montana, yellow linum ( Linum uninerve ), Asplenium ceterach ( Ceterach officinarum ), Cephalaria ( Cephalaria laevigata ), monkey orchid ( Orchis simia ), fragrant orchid ( Gymnadenia conopsea ), corydalis ( Corydalis pumila ), and yellow crocus ( Crocus flavus ).

Species of mammals : brown bear ( Ursus arctos ), deer ( Cervus elaphus ), roe deer ( Capreolus capreolus ), gray wolf ( Canis lupus ), wild boar ( Sus scrofa ), European otter ( Lutra lutra ), lynx ( Lynx linx ), wildcat ( Felis silvestris ), pine marten ( Martes martes ), badger ( Males males ), pygmy shrew ( Sorex minutus ), Blasius's horseshoe bat ( Rhinolophus blasii ), and lesser mouse-eared bat ( Myotis blythii ).

Species of birds : golden eagle ( Aquila chrysaetos ), lesser spotted eagle ( Aquila pomarina ), common kingfisher ( Alcedo athis ), hazel grouse ( Bonasa bonasia ), hen harrier ( Circus cyaneus ), Eurasian eagle-owl ( Bubo bubo ), short-toed snake eagle ( Circaetus gallicus ), red-breasted flycatcher ( Ficedula parva ), European honey buzzard ( Pernis apivorus ), European nightjar ( Caprimulgus europaeus ), grey-headed woodpecker ( Picus canus ), Ural owl ( Strix uralensis ), corn crake ( Crex crex ), barred warbler ( Sylvia nisoria ), red-backed shrike ( Lanius collurio ), ortolan bunting ( Emberiza hortulana ), European roller ( Coracias garrulus ), Montagu's harrier ( Circus pygargus ), and middle spotted woodpecker ( Dendrocopos medius ).

Species of reptiles, amphibians, and frogs : common adder ( Vipera berus ), green lizard ( Lacerta viridis ), smooth snake ( Coronella austriaca ), fire salamander ( Salamandra salamandra ), alpine newt ( Triturus alpestris ), common toad ( Bufo bufo ), and yellow-bellied toad ( Bombina veriegata ).

Species of fish : Danube gudgeon ( Gobio uranoscopus ), Mediterranean barbel ( Barbus meridionalis ), Sabanejewia aurata, streber ( Zingel streber ), Balkan loach ( Cobitis elongata ), Kessler's gudgeon ( Gobio kessleri ), and Amur bitterling ( Rhodeus sericeus amarus ).

On the territory of the protected area it has been identified several species of flora with European elements, Central European and Euro-Asian.

Tree and shrub species include: English oak ( Quercus robur ), Common hornbeam ( Carpinus betulus ), European beech ( Fagus sylvatica ), European ash ( Fraxinus excelsior ), Turkey oak ( Quercus cerris ), Sessile oak ( Quercus petraea ), Black alder ( Alnus glutinosa ), European yew ( Taxus baccata ), Manna ash ( Fraxinus ornus ), Turkish hazel ( Corylus colurna ), European cornel ( Cornus mas ), Eurasian smoketree ( Cotynus coggygria ), Ruscus (species of: Ruscus aculeatus or Ruscus hypogllosum ), and Lilac ( Syringa vulgaris ).

Herbaceous plants include: orchid Himantoglossum caprinum, fritillary Fritillaria montana, yellow linum ( Linum uninerve ), Asplenium ceterach ( Ceterach officinarum ), Cephalaria ( Cephalaria laevigata ), monkey orchid ( Orchis simia ), fragrant orchid ( Gymnadenia conopsea ), corydalis ( Corydalis pumila ), and yellow crocus ( Crocus flavus ).

Species of mammals : brown bear ( Ursus arctos ), deer ( Cervus elaphus ), roe deer ( Capreolus capreolus ), gray wolf ( Canis lupus ), wild boar ( Sus scrofa ), European otter ( Lutra lutra ), lynx ( Lynx linx ), wildcat ( Felis silvestris ), pine marten ( Martes martes ), badger ( Males males ), pygmy shrew ( Sorex minutus ), Blasius's horseshoe bat ( Rhinolophus blasii ), and lesser mouse-eared bat ( Myotis blythii ).

Species of birds : golden eagle ( Aquila chrysaetos ), lesser spotted eagle ( Aquila pomarina ), common kingfisher ( Alcedo athis ), hazel grouse ( Bonasa bonasia ), hen harrier ( Circus cyaneus ), Eurasian eagle-owl ( Bubo bubo ), short-toed snake eagle ( Circaetus gallicus ), red-breasted flycatcher ( Ficedula parva ), European honey buzzard ( Pernis apivorus ), European nightjar ( Caprimulgus europaeus ), grey-headed woodpecker ( Picus canus ), Ural owl ( Strix uralensis ), corn crake ( Crex crex ), barred warbler ( Sylvia nisoria ), red-backed shrike ( Lanius collurio ), ortolan bunting ( Emberiza hortulana ), European roller ( Coracias garrulus ), Montagu's harrier ( Circus pygargus ), and middle spotted woodpecker ( Dendrocopos medius ).