2013-7-9 - Cruise day through the Kazan stretch, Iron Gate region and locks

"The Dnube begins in Germany's Black Forest & wends its way through 10 European countries to the Black Sea. Along much of its course the river moves lazily through wide valleys, but as t approaches the boarder between Romania & Serbia its banks narrow into a series of high cliffs. Here, the river carved a passage through the Carpathian & Balkan Mountains, creating a series of four steep gorges that are collectively called the Iron Gates.  

 

 Approaching the 1st Lock

Hydroelectric generators
 

 

"Before 1972, the current through the Iron Gates was so strong that it scoured out the riverbed to an amazing depth of 130 ft & produced rapids & whirlpools that made navigation difficult...In fact, most ships were dragged  upstream by locomotive. The waters were finally tamed with the completion of the first dam in 1972 & a second in 1984, quadrupling the annual tonnage of shipping. Two hydroelectic power stations (see them in above picture) were also built providing energy for both countries...the construction of these dams caused a rise in the water level that displaced 17,000 people & had a major impact on the environment as well."

  

Our captain navigating into the lock - I believe we went up 45' in the 1st lock then another 45' in the 2nd one

  

 

The giant gates open after the boat rises 45'

  

"As we sailed through the Iron Gate Region, we suddenly came upon something that looks like it's from the The Lord of the Rings: a 40 meter-tall statue of a heroic face.  It depicts the Dacian emperor Decebalus, who took on the Roman Empire. Though his conquests were in 88, 102 & 106 A.D., Decebalus is still a national hero &  a legend to his people & a national hero for more than 1,900 years...He had the sheer audacity to take on an ivincible enemy-the Roman Empire- fighting three wars against two different Roman emperors & winning the grudging admiration of his ememies. During the 1990's, a team of 12 sculptors carved the face from a stone outcrop near the city of Orsova, Romania, completing Europe's largest stone sculpture in 2004." 

 

 

 

"A Roman memorial plaque (Tabula Traiana), 4 meters wide & 1.75 metres high, commemorating the completion of Trajan's military road is located on the Serbian side facing Romania near Ogradina. In 1972, when the Iron Gate I Hydroelectric Power Station was built, the plaque was moved from its original location, and lifted to the present place."  

 

Tabula Traiana

 

 

 Tourists can get up close & personal via boats

Narrowist point



An old monestary in the narrow part of the Danube

 

 

  

Medieval fortress

 

 

One of many look out points

 

 

 

Interesting, we saw roads IN the villages, but no visible roads TO the villages
 





 

Boats on achor - something we didn't expect to see

 

Tourist launch area (but how do they get down to it??)

 

Caves on the Danube- this cave can hold 700 people (wonder how they know that?)

Peaceful fisherman - I knew I should have taken my fishing gear

 

 

We enjoyed this peaceful day & especially the commentary from the bridge explaining all the sights.  We sampled snacks from the Balkan region, had a wheelhouse tour, learned how to make an original apple strudel, set our watches back an hour & joined in the fun of the Liars Club game - we won a bottle of champagne too!