Șapte Scări Canyon

Șapte Scări Canyon is a gorge carved by the Șipoaia stream into Jurassic limestone on the western side of the Piatra Mare Massif, Brașov County, at an altitude of 948 m. It is 160 m long with a 58 m difference in elevation, and its rocky walls exceed 50 m in height in the narrowest sections. The name derives from the seven successive steps formed by slope breaks, ranging in height from 2.5 to 15 m, which turn into waterfalls when the stream's flow increases — the highest waterfall reaching 35 m. The geological process that generated the canyon is epigenesis: the accelerated downcutting of the stream first through Cretaceous conglomerates and subsequently into the underlying Jurassic limestone, with the formation of erosion potholes at the base of each waterfall. The temperature inside the canyon is 10–15°C lower than outside, due to permanent shade and high humidity. The flora includes ferns, mosses and lichens typical of damp limestone walls, while the local fauna comprises fire salamanders and amphibian species characteristic of gorge environments. The canyon is traversed via a system of nine metal staircases and walkways renovated in 2013, with no specialist equipment required. The canyon is managed by Regia Publică Locală a Pădurilor Săcele. In the immediate vicinity operates a zip-line with approximately 4,000 m of cable and 23 routes, considered the longest in Romania.