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Iron Gate Dam, Locks and Gorge

Iron Gate, Danube River, Serbia - 2022 Danube River cruise. The Iron Gates of the Danube River were a series of rapids situated in four narrow gorges and three wide basins spread over several miles of the river dividing Romania and Serbia. The Rapids were submerged with the completion of the Iron Gate I Hydroelectric Power Station in 1972. It is the largest dam on the Danube River and one of the largest hydro power plants in Europe. The dam has two sets of double locks, one on the Serbian side and one on the Romanian side of the river. They are the largest locks on the Danube, each of the four lock chambers is 310 metres (1017 feet) long by 34 metres (111 feet) wide and lift or lower boats almost 14 meters (45 feet). Once through the locks we headed upriver though the Iron Gate Gorge with spectacular towering cliffs on either side of the river.
Approaching the Iron Gate I Hydroelectric Power Station, Danube River, Serbia
A goat herder on the banks of the Danube, Serbia
The lower entrance to the Serbian Iron Gate lock, Danube River, Serbia
The spillway for the Iron Gate I Hydroelectric Power Station, Danube River, Serbia & Romania
The Avalon Passion entering the first (lower) lock, Serbian Iron Gate lock, Danube River
The spillway for the Romanian Iron Gate lock, Danube River
Looking down river from the first (lower) lock which is almost full, Iron Gate lock, Danube River, Serbia
The gate between the lower and upper locks is been lowered so we can enter the upper lock, Iron Gate lock, Danube River, Serbia
The upper lock partially filled, Iron Gate lock, Danube River, Serbia
A memorial to Tito, the former ruler of Yugoslavia, Danube River, Serbia
The gate between the upper lock and the river is been lowered so we can enter the dam lake, Iron Gate lock, Danube River, Serbia
Looking down river from the second (upper) lock 14 meters (45 feet) higher. Iron Gate lock, Danube River, Serbia
Entering the Iron Gate Gorge, Danube River, Serbia
The Tabula Traiana marker originally erected by the Roman emperor Trajan over 2000 years ago. It was moved to its current location in 1972 before it could be…
This huge face carved into the Romanian side of the Danube River celebrates the Romanian hero Decebalus, who fought many battles with the Romans. Iron gate…
The Mraconia Monastery, Iron Gate Gorge, Danube River, Romania
A statue of a sitting mammoth beside the cruise ship docks is the unofficial mascot of the town of Donji Milanovac, Serbia