Карстово ждрело Чернелка, Natural monument in the Pleven Heights, Bulgaria

Chernelka Karst Gorge is a canyon cut by the Chernyalka River, a right tributary of the Vit, between the villages of Gortalovo and Kartozhabene about 12 km from Pleven. Along 6.5 km the river has carved a passage 60 to 200 m wide through Upper Cretaceous limestones and clayey-sandy rocks, with rock walls 10 to 35–40 m high. The gorge lies in the southern foothills of the Pleven Heights, and its forest fund covers 300 hectares.

The gorge was carved by water flowing through limestone rock over millions of years. In 1969, it received protected status as a natural monument to preserve this geological formation.

The gorge is used by local communities and visitors as a place to experience the natural limestone landscape firsthand. The walking path connecting two villages demonstrates how people integrate this geological site into their daily routines.

A walking trail with bridges runs through the gorge and is relatively easy to navigate. The path allows visitors to move through the canyon at their own pace while experiencing the landscape up close.

The gorge shelters over 200 bird species, along with 9 fish, 5 amphibian and 11 reptile species. Until 2000 the canyon was crossed only at numerous natural and artificial fords; after summer 2001 Pleven Municipality built an eco-trail with 18 bridges.