Opposite Orsova lies the small island Ada-Kaleh, with its little Turkish colony, its bazaar, and the ruins of a fortress -- a piece of the Orient in Hungary. Below here, begin the famous cataracts of the Iron Gates, which have a length of 3 kilometres. This part of the Danube is not very beautiful; but the colossal work of regulation, especially the great canal, 1700 meters long, cut in the river bed, arouses our interest and admiration. Through this work, executed in the years 1890 to 1896, the Hungarian Government has overcome the obstacles which hindered the navigation in the Kazan Pass and to the Iron Gates, and has thus assured a regular shipping service on the Lower Danube.

Near to Orsova, in the romantic, rocky basin of the Cserna, lies the well-known watering-place Herkulesfurdo, with hot healing springs, and magnificent bathing establishments. These baths belong to the Hungarian State, and are much frequented, especially by Romanians.

The situation is superb, and the mountains surrounding the town and reaching an altitude of 1106 meters, offer the tourist beautiful excursions, while well-cared-for paths, lead the more indolent visitors to charmingly beautiful observation points.

Herkulesfurdo is quite near to the Romanian frontier, in a range of mountains which adjoins the Retyezat mountains of Transylvania.

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Adapted from Illustrated Description of Hungary and its Capital