Đerdap national park, National park along Danube River in eastern Serbia
Đerdap is a national park covering 64,000 hectares along the Danube River in eastern Serbia, forming a system of gorges and wide valleys. Limestone cliffs rise up to 800 meters (2,600 feet) above the water, creating steep slopes and forested ridges that line the riverbanks.
The park was established in 1974 to protect the Iron Gates gorge, a natural boundary along the river for thousands of years. People settled on these riverbanks more than 8,000 years ago, as shown by remains found throughout the region.
The medieval Golubac Fortress, positioned at the entrance of the Iron Gates gorge, features nine defensive towers constructed to control river navigation.
Several hiking trails connect the main overlooks and archaeological sites inside the park, including the path to Mali Štrbac with views over the Danube gorge. The best months to visit are between April and October, when trails are dry and easier to walk.
The park shelters plant species from the Pliocene era that no longer grow elsewhere, including the Djerdap tulip. This species grows only in this protected area and recalls a time millions of years ago when the climate here was warmer.
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