Motto: Nature and legend  in the region of Hercules

 

Weather now in Herculane:

 

 

 

        

     

            The karstic relief within the Domogled-Valea Cernei National has an unequal distribution due to the unequal spreading of the limestone.  Therefore, these characteristics are among the main highlights of the national park.

            The caves located in Cerna's superior basin are of small sizes (rarely more than 100 m in total length), with one entrance, low amounts of mineral deposits, and generally are hard to access. These caves don't represent a great tourist attraction.

            On the whole surface of the national park there are more than 300 caves, in addition to some cavities, which can't be named caves due to their small sizes.

            The thermal caves within the national park, in Cerna Mountain, are unique and rare in Romania and the rest of the world. The environmental conditions inside the caves are similar to a tropical climate (35⁰-45⁰ air temperature).  Due to this fact the fauna, stalactites and stalagmites have a unique character.  An example of such a cave is Adam's cave, which could be declared a scientific reserve for the conservation and study of unique tropical oasis conditions in Romania, for warm air spaces, bat colonies and jellied stalactites.

Another interesting thermal cave is the “Steam Grotto” (14 m in length), in which hot, sulphurous steam (52⁰  - 56⁰ C)  comes to  surface from below ground, through a break in a rock. The sounds created by the sulphurous emanations pull our imagination into a complex and curious world.

These conditions are satisfying for a species of moss – Philonotis schliephackei – which can be found only here.   The gypsum crusts are also very rare in the park’s caves.  These are stalactites and stalagmites on large surfaces, which can be found in the park’s Ion Barzoni cave.

            In Mehedinti Mountains are the most beautiful karstic relief in the park. The endokarst in this area, or caves containing little mineral deposits, represent a comparatively small land area.  The exception is “Pestera mare de la Soroniste”, in which impressive stalagmitic pillars can be found. Other caves in this area which can be visited are: “Pestera de sub Sarban” and “Gaura Ungurului”, which is important due to calcitic stalactites/stalagmites and bat colony.