Cheile Sohodolului

Cheile Sohodolului form a protected area of national interest, of mixed type, located in Gorj County, on the territory of the commune of Runcu, at the northern boundary of the county with Hunedoara, in the Munții Vâlcan — a mountain group belonging to the Retezat-Godeanu chain of the Southern Carpathians. Covering an area of approximately 350 hectares and extending over a length of roughly 12 kilometres, the reserve comprises a gorge carved into Cretaceous limestone by the waters of the Sohodol River (also known as Jaleș), and was declared a protected area under Law no. 5/2000. The landscape is dominated by a spectacular and varied karst relief: sinkholes, canyons, limestone pavements, potholes, rocky escarpments and numerous caves. Along the gorge lie natural formations with picturesque names, shaped by water and wind over millennia — the Nările (the best known, resembling a pair of giant nostrils carved into the rock), Fusteica, Inelul and Cuptorul. A site of great interest is Peștera Popii, renowned for its cave paintings depicting anthropomorphic silhouettes in black, testifying to the ancient human presence in the area. The vegetation shelters over 300 plant species typical of the Southern Carpathians, some of them rare, alongside centuries-old chestnut trees, and during summer the temperature inside the gorge is approximately 10°C lower than in the surrounding area, owing to the shade of the rock walls and the cool of the river. Cheile Sohodolului are also an important centre for adventure sports: the rocky walls host over 120 established climbing routes, and the area plays host to a climbing festival each year. The wild beauty of the location has also attracted the film industry — scenes from the celebrated Romanian film "Mărgelatu", starring Florin Piersic, were shot here. Through its combination of spectacular karst relief, rich flora and opportunities for hiking and climbing, Cheile Sohodolului remain one of the most highly regarded natural destinations in Oltenia.