The magic land of Fundătura Ponorului

About Fundătura Ponorului

This amazing place is located in Șureanu Mountains at an altitude of 900 meter and it’s included in the Grădiștea Muncelului-Cioclovina Natural Park.

It is a karstic depression with wonderful natural formations, and the stream that crosses the valley disappears underground at the base of the limestone walls. The creek traverses the valley in a very picturesque & photographic way.

The area is crossed by the waters of Ponorului Valley; the waters dug the limestone formed in the Jurassic period and infiltrations appeared in the riverbed, which created the largest known caves in the Șureanu Mountains. Over the years these infiltrations have become the foothills we can see today, the rivers have completely eroded the limestone layer to the substrate formed of crystalline rocks, widening its bed and creating the most spectacular karst depressions in the Șureanu Mountains.

Its course is abruptly cut in the place called Fundătura Ponorului (The Ponor’s dead end) where it continues underground – hence the name of this place.

The few houses that exist here are inhabited by simple people who come here with their cattle to graze during the summer time. A few years ago, the locals used to stay during winter time too, but the rough weather and the state of continuous degradation of houses, made them move back to the village during the cold season.

Also, wildlife is very present in the valley, bears and wolfs are frequently seen and sometimes they even descend from the hills and attack the catle or the sheeps.

There are no guesthouses or places to eat, so make sure you bring everything you need when you’re coming to Fundătura Ponorului. If you want to spend the night or maybe more nights, the only option is to use a tent. There is no camping, but you can pitch your tent basically everywhere, as long as you don’t disturbe the locals.

If you’re planning to stay more than 1 day, there is a spring known by the locals so you can get fresh water, you just have to ask them and they will show it to you.

It’s very important to know that, there is no reception for your mobile phone, only at certain places up oh the hills.

The few houses that exist here are inhabited by simple people who come here with their cattle to graze during the summer time. A few years ago, the locals used to stay during winter time too, but the rough weather and the state of continuous degradation of houses, made them move back to the village during the cold season.

Also, wildlife is very present in the valley, bears and wolfs are frequently seen and sometimes they even descend from the hills and attack the catle or the sheeps.

There are no guesthouses or places to eat, so make sure you bring everything you need when you’re coming to Fundătura Ponorului. If you want to spend the night or maybe more nights, the only option is to use a tent. There is no camping, but you can pitch your tent basically everywhere, as long as you don’t disturbe the locals.

If you’re planning to stay more than 1 day, there is a spring known by the locals so you can get fresh water, you just have to ask them and they will show it to you.

It’s very important to know that, there is no reception for your mobile phone, only at certain places up oh the hills.