The Nera Gorge-Beușnița National Park (Romanian: Parcul Național Cheile Nerei-Beușnița) is a protected area classified as IUCN category II. It is located in Romania, within Caraș-Severin County.

Location

The Natural Park is located in the southwest part of the country, in the southern area of the Anina Mountains (a mountain range that is part of the Banat Mountains), within Caraș-Severin County. It lies along the middle part of the Nera River and the upper part of the Beu River.

Description

Nera Gorge-Beușnița National Park covers an area of 36,758 hectares (90,830 acres). It was designated as a protected area by Law Number 5 on March 6, 2000 (published in the Romanian Official Paper Number 152 on April 12, 2000). The park is a mountainous region featuring peaks, cirques, crevasses, caves, valleys, canyons, and waterfalls. It is home to a wide variety of plant and animal species, some of which are endemic or very rare.

The park includes the following protected areas: Nera Gorge-Beușnița, Șușara Gorge, Ducin, Izvorul Bigăr, Izvoarele Nerei, Lisovacea, and Valea Ciclovei-Ildia.

The climate is temperate continental, with mild winters, warm summers, small temperature changes, and high rainfall influenced by the Mediterranean.

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

Flora and fauna

In the protected area, scientists have identified many plant species that are native to Europe, Central Europe, and parts of Asia.

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 hypoglossum), and Lilac (Syringa vulgaris).

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

Mammal species include: 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 lynx), wildcat (Felis silvestris), pine marten (Martes martes), badger (Meles meles), pygmy shrew (Sorex minutus), Blasius's horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus blasii), and lesser mouse-eared bat (Myotis blythii).

Bird species include: golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), lesser spotted eagle (Aquila pomarina), common kingfisher (Alcedo atthis), 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).

Reptiles, amphibians, and frogs include: 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 variegata).

Fish species include: 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).

Access

National Road DN57B connects Oravița to Sasca Montană, passing through Șopotu Nou, Cărbunari, Bozovici, and ending in Anina. National Road DN57B connects Reșița to Carașova, passing through Anina.

Gallery

• Wildcat
• Coracias garrulus
• Fraxinus ornus
• Vaioaga waterfall
• Beușnița (Beu) river bed
• Beușnița (Beu) river bed
• Beușnița (Beu) river bed
• Cascade Beusnita (Beușnița)