The Forgotten Beauty of Padiș

Student: Emanuela DANCE, Xth A grade; Coordinating teacher: Alina POPA; School: “Samuil Vulcan” National College

The Padiș Plateau, found in the Apuseni Natural Park,situated at the crossing of three Romanian counties: Alba, Cluj and Bihor, is a “festival of pure nature”, as someone beautifully expressed it.

 The Ponor Glade

There are over 1500 caves in the Apuseni Natural Park and many underground glaciers. The top three biggest underground glaciers in Romania are all here: Scărișoara Glacier, Borțig Vertical Cave and The Cave of the Living Fire. Also, the tallest cave entrance – The Fortresses of Ponor, 76 m – and the largest one – Coiba Mare, 54x45m – are found in the same area.

From the multitude of hiking trails available, some of the most beautiful and famous are: The Galbena Keys, The Fortresses of Ponor and The Lost World.

Waterfall from the Galbena Keys route

The Galbena valley, which is contained in the longest route in Padiș – The Galbena Keys -acts like a drainage path for the majority of waters coming from the Padiş Basin in their way toward the Beiuş depression. The Galbena valley has formed narrow gorges throughout its length, with vertical walls and steep slopes, and with many waterfalls all of which make them very difficult to pass through. The upstream sector is the most spectacular, between the Galbena karst spring and the confluence with Luncşoara valley, resulting in a narrow canyon with over 100 m vertical walls. (www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=2778497)

Declared a natural reservation in 1952, The Fortresses of Ponor is a natural monument of a rare beauty. The grandeur of it has made it recognized as a nature’s monument, belonging to the Romanian Academy. Although it is quite difficult to hike, once you reach your destination you will definitely forget about the exhaustion and the stunning landscapes and the cold and fresh air of the Apuseni Mountains will turn this short adventure into a memory that will last forever. 

([1]www.wonderfulromania.ro/en/cetatile-ponorului-everestul-speologiei-romane/)

 

The Fortresses of Ponor cave entrance                                                                                                                        Padis Camping 

Accommodation in Padiș usually means camping, but there still are some cabins around. Near the Fortresses of Ponor you can find a 20 roomhostel, with a meal plan available. There are other few cabins in Padiș, some of them have restaurants, wooden walls, floors and furniture, but the most interesting one gives tourists a chance to stay in one of their six small two-bed-barrel-houses, which you can find more about here: www.turistinfo.ro/padis/cazare-padis/cabana_bradet-c54098.html .

Being such a large, beautiful collection of breath-taking views, Padiș is definitely one of the best vacation spots for mountain lovers. Most of the time spent there will give you the impression of living in a naturally beautiful yet magical land. Being surrounded by the wilderness, while exploring the wonders of the world and wandering around the forests may give you the feeling of bonding with nature, but meeting other people which are there for the same purpose and enjoy the same things, creates bonds with human beings, which can bring you a lot of joy and happiness.

Photo credit: Emanuela Dance (article author)

Other sources: 

adevarul.ro/locale/oradea/foto-video-vacanta-romania-platoul-padis-poarta-apusenilor-rai-1_520e40e6c7b855ff56e3249d/index.html

www.ghiduri-turistice.info/ghid-turistic-parcul-national-apuseni-padis