„Valley of the Legions” Zoological Nature Reserve

Pajiste verde intinsa din Rezervatia Naturala Zoologica Valea Legiilor, cu dealuri line si vegetatie variata, intr-un peisaj natural linistit si deschis

The natural area is located in the eastern extremity of Cluj county, in the western part of Geaca village and the eastern part of Legii village, being an avifauna type reservation.

The protected area is represented by areas with wet meadows, water gloss and swamps, meeting plants such as reeds and rushes; and includes the southern end of the Law Valley, the Law Lake, the Law Valley, the Mill Valley and the western part of Geaca Lake.

In the area of ​​the reservation of over 120 hectares, nest several species of migratory birds, among which: egret, grey heron, pond owl (Botaurus stellaris), wagtail, pond hen, coot and several species of ducks.

“Corabia Pit” Geological Nature Reserve

Formațiuni stâncoase expuse în Rezervatia Naturala Geologica Cariera Corabia, cu straturi de roci sedimentare și vegetație rară pe vârf, într-un peisaj geologic impresionant.

Corabia Pit nature reserve is located in Someșu Rece village, Gilău commune. The protected area represents a perimeter of two hectares in the forested area of ​​Corabia Hill. The name of the hill comes from the special shape it has.

The area was declared natural reservation due to the metamorphic rocks, which appeared as a result of some transformation processes in the mineralogical structures of the earth’s crust. The uncovering of the slope and the erosion phenomena that followed, led to the revelation of a very interesting geological structure, which takes place vertically. The predominant metamorphic rocks here, are crystalline schists, rocks found mainly in the Meridionali Carpathians.

Access to this protected area is not difficult at all, it is within the reach of everyone, even for the least experienced hikers.

“Gypsum from Leghia” nature reserve

Clădiri în apropierea Rezervației Naturale Gipsurile de la Leghia, cu păduri dense pe fundal, oferind un cadru pitoresc și rustic în zona protejată.

It is located in the northwest part of Cluj County, at the exit from Leghia village to Aghireşu and covers an area of ​​ 1 ha.

Until it became a protected area in 2000, the Leghia Gypsums were in surface mining for decades, in order to serve at the manufacture of various items: vases, inkpots, ashtrays, etc.

Within the “Gypsums from Leghia” reservation you can admire natural alabaster deposits, a variety of gypsum. Around Leghia, especially on the hills to the right of the Leghia stream, the gypsum deposits reach a thickness of 30 meters.

“Cluj Hayfields” Botanical Reserve

Peisaj din Rezervația Botanica Fanatele Clujului, cu dealuri înverzite și vegetație diversă, oferind o priveliște naturală liniștită și pitorească.

Cluj Hayfields represents an area of ​​botanical and faunal interest near the city of Cluj-Napoca, on both sides of the Hayfield Valley. It is among the first protected areas in Romania, since 1932.

The surface of the Cluj Hayfields reservation is approximately 75-80 hectares and is divided into two parts known as Copârșaie and Craiu Valley. In the Copârșaie area (hungarian name meaning coffin) there are some atypical mounds of earth, called glimee. The largest is about 400 meters long and 35 meters high. These are the result of landslides and erosion.

The novelty of the area is given by the steppe vegetation, similar to the Asian and Eastern European vegetation. The floristic variety is supported by the very rough relief and the local microclimatic peculiarities, with several temporary ponds where various reptiles species have their home, such as the common newt, the crested newt, the frog, the green toad, the house snake. Also here are some rare species of butterflies, protected at European level.

The steppe vegetation is dominated by associations of colilia, bluegrass, fescue, bearded, bromus. The botanical relicts that bring the fame of  Cluj Hayfields are numerous: the tendril, the Transylvanian steppe iris, the Cossack, the steppe pesma, the steppe toad. Among the plant species protected at European level we find the little finger, the jaundice, the snake’s head, the hodolean.

Baciu Gorge mixed nature reserve

Peisaj natural din Rezervația Naturală Cheile Baciului, cu o pajiște verde și dealuri împădurite, sub un cer senin cu nori ușori.

Baciu Gorge is a mixed nature reserve of national interest, located in the immediate vicinity of Cluj-Napoca. With an area of ​​3 ha, it is located in the north of the famous Hoia forest, being crossed by the Lungă and Popești valleys.

The protected area of Baciu Gorge is an area of ​​gorges dug in limestone, of geological, paleontological (fossiliferous deposits), floristic and landscape importance.

cheile baciului
cheile baciului
cheile baciului

“Făgetul Clujului” mixed nature reserve

Peisaj vast din Rezervația Naturala Fagetul Clujului, cu dealuri împădurite și pajiști verzi, sub un cer albastru senin, oferind o priveliște liniștitoare.

It is located in the eastern part of Feleacu village and the southern part of Cluj-Napoca, extending over an area of ​​approx. 10 ha. It was declared a natural reservation in 1974.

Among the protected habitats from this area are: forest habitats (sessile oak, beech, hornbeam) and swamp habitats, with floristic, faunal and landscape importance. Through the protected plant species we find the liparis loeselii, variegated horsetail, cabbage the mountain, the bell. Regarding the fauna, we find especially butterflies (moth catax, red swamp butterfly) as well as mammals (marten, squirrel, deer, wild boar) and birds (nightingale, finch), etc.

padurea Făget Cluj Napoca
Făget
padurea Făget Cluj Napoca

Tureni Gorge mixed nature reserve

Rezervația naturală Cheile Turenilor, un peisaj spectaculos cu versanți abrupți, acoperiți parțial de vegetație, ideal pentru drumeții și explorare.

Tureni or Turului Gorge is a mixed natural reservation (floristic, faunal, landscape), spread over approx. 25 ha, located at a short distance from Cheile Turzii. It has a length of about 2 km, and the walls, 100-150 m high, are decorated with different karst forms: waterfalls, pots, caves, etc. It was dug by the Racilor stream in jurassic limestone.

Regarding the flora, there are a series of plants such as stone flowers, mountain carnation, hawthorn shrubs, hazelnut, rosehip, etc. The fauna is represented by insects, amphibians (pond owl, Transylvanian newt), birds (raven, gray stone-Oenanthe oenanthe), etc.

From an archaeological point of view, more than 50 housing complexes have been discovered here, dating from the Middle Neolithic.

The route through the gorges is narrow and rough, and to facilitate access, in 2018, the Salvamont-Salvaspeo Cluj Service equipped the left slope with metal foot clamps and steel cables. With the help of a minimum equipment, consisting of mountaineering harness, bars and climbing helmet, anyone can walk the route on the water’s edge.

Cheile Tureniului
Cheile Tureniului
Cheile Tureniului

The Turzii Gorges mixed nature reserve

Rezervația Naturală Cheile Turzii oferă peisaje spectaculoase și trasee de drumeție.

Due to its scientific importance and wild beauties, the Turzii Gorges have acquired, at national level, since 1938, the status of natural reserve, later being included in the U.N.E.S.C.O.’s lists, among the most important nature’s monuments. It is a naturally complex reservation – geological, faunal, floristic, archeological and speleological.

The Turzii Gorges extend over approx. 3 km and have a wall height of up to 300 m. It is located at the eastern limit of the Trascăului Mountains, being carved by the Hășdate river. Tourists visiting this nature reserve are impressed by the wide variety of karst relief forms with over 60 caves, scree, rocky corners, passages from smooth paths to steep walls, from rock and scree to abundant vegetation.

The flora of the region includes over 1000 floristic species, among which the white carnation, the thyme, the variegated tulip, the bull’s eye, etc. Regarding the fauna, there are species of bats, fish (spined loach, chub), amphibians and reptiles (pond ox, crested newt, common viper), over 55 species of birds (nightingale, woodpecker), etc.

The Turzii Gorges are connected by a series of routes to other tourist attractions, such as Tureni Gorges, Ciucaș Waterfall or Borzești Gorges. Also, the gorges are famous for the many mountaineering and climbing routes, covering all levels of difficulty.

Website: www.turism-cheile-turzii.ro

Cheile Turzii
Cheile Turzii
Cheile Turzii

Mixed type natural protected area “Apuseni Natural Park”

Cascadă impresionantă într-un peisaj montan din Parcul Natural Apuseni.

The first initiatives in order to form a park in this area belong to Emil Racoviţă, but the Apuseni Natural Park was established only in 1990. It extends over three counties (Alba, Cluj and Bihor). In 2009, during the “EDEN” Awards Gala in Brussels, the Apuseni Natural Park was awarded as tourist destination of excellence.

Apuseni Natural Park is a mountain area with varied relief forms, peaks, rocky cliffs, gorges, valleys, sinkholes, potholes, caves.

The vegetation is mostly specific to mountain habitats, with coniferous or deciduous forests, mixed forests, shrubs bush and meadow herbs or rocky grasses.

The fauna of the park is diversified and well represented by several species of mammals (bear, deer, black goat, wolf, otter, squirrel, hedgehog, field mouse, bat), birds (mountain rooster, mountain eagle, raven, hawk) fish (trout, nase, chub), reptiles and amphibians (lizard, viper, salamander).

Inside the park, on the Cluj county area, we meet some tourist objectives, such as The Bride’s Veil Waterfall, The molhas from the Izbucelor Valley, Beliș-Fântânele Resort.

Website:  www.parcapuseni.ro

Parcul Natural Apuseni
Cascada Vălul Miresei

Ciurila Lakes

lacuri cluj

In Ciurila commune, at about 20 km from Cluj-Napoca we find several lakes, the most important being Pădureni and Sutu lakes, known under the generic name as the lakes from Ciurila. They are populated with species of sturgeon, carp, crucian, catfish, pikeperch, perch and pike. Fishing is done for a fee, and for sturgeon catches is the catch and release system.