Iron Gate II Hydroelectric Power Station, Hydroelectric power station on the Danube between Romania and Serbia
Iron Gate II Hydroelectric Power Station is a dam and power station spanning the Danube between Romania and Serbia. The complex features a long row of water gates and concrete piers at water level, with low white buildings behind them and tall lattice towers and yellow gantry cranes rising above.
Construction began in 1977 as a joint project between Romania and Yugoslavia and was completed in 1984. The Romanian side was later modernized with additional units, and a border checkpoint opened in 2011.
The dam is a shared landmark between Romania and Serbia, and its name refers to the Iron Gates, a gorge on the Danube. Locals on both sides know it as a place where the river is harnessed for power, and the reservoir behind it has become a spot for fishing and riverside walks.
The dam is best viewed from the Romanian bank near Gogoșu, where you can see the structure stretching across the river. A border checkpoint nearby allows cars and light vehicles to cross between the two countries, making it a convenient stop if you are traveling through the region.
The power station uses bulb turbines, a type that is rare at this scale, and it is the largest of its kind in Europe. Some of the electricity pylons here are among the tallest in the world and are listed in the Guinness Book of Records.
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