Cheile Cernei

Cheile Cernei is a protected natural area of national interest, of mixed type, located in the Munții Poiana Ruscă, within the commune of Lunca Cernii de Jos, Hunedoara County. The gorge is formed by the Cerna river, also known as Cerna Hunedoreană or Cerna Ardeleană, which rises in the Munții Poiana Ruscă and, after a course of approximately 73 kilometres, flows into the Mureș river near Deva. Upstream of Lacul Cinciș, at the entrance to Lunca Cernii de Jos, the river has carved its bed between tall slopes of crystalline schists covered with ancient forests, forming one of the most spectacular gorges in the western part of the country. The gorge stretches for more than six kilometres, and its sheer walls reach heights of around 200 metres in places, while the reserve itself covers approximately two hectares. One of the most remarkable features of the gorge is Bolta Apei, a natural rock arch carved by the river's currents. The formation of this relief is linked to the erosion exerted by water on the hard rocks of the Poiana Ruscă massif, mountains that were tectonically uplifted beginning in the Pliocene. The area is part of Ținutul Pădurenilor, a distinct ethnographic region characterised by villages scattered across sunny ridges, and stands out for its wild character, the biodiversity of the surrounding forests, and its exceptional scenic value. Access to the area has been made easier by the construction of a road and a tunnel carved through the rock above the gorge, which serves as a gateway to the villages of the commune of Lunca Cernii de Jos.