The Bigar Cascade

by Ana Andronic

What is this place? Where is it?

The “Bigar Cascade” is situated in the picturesque Anina mountains. This is a natural
wonder characterised by its unique and captivating formation. The waterfall descends
over moss covered rocks, creating a mesmerizing veil of water that seems to defy
gravity. What sets Bigar Cascade apart is the captivating semicircular shape and the
rich green nature that surrounds it. The hidden gem is one of the many enchanting
landscapes that Romania has to offer, a true invitation to tourists and local visitors.

Photo source: earth.google.com Photo source: romaniaexperience.com

What was it like?

The Bigar Cascade is a natural formation in the art of and all forest. Approaching the
waterfall feels a lot like stepping into a magical world. The air is filled with a
refreshing mist, whilst its gentle roaring creates a soothing melodic sound. The
greenery and the crystal clear water surrounding the waterfall completes the image of
a natural wonder.

How did it get like this?

The unique formation of the Bigar cascade was created by many environmental
factors. Although Bigar Cascade was not part of an extensive research expedition,
waterfalls, in general, form as a result of the erosion of rock layers by flowing water.
However, in Bigar’s case, the type of rock, the direction of water flow, and the
surrounding vegetation contributed to its distinctive semi-circular shape.

Over the years, as the cascade became more popular, thousands of tourists contributed
to the unnatural shaping of the waterfall. Tourist trails, disturbed water ponds, and
garbage are among the modern elements of the waterfall.

How is this place changing?

The Bigar Cascade formed over thousands of years, however it was a blink of an eye
that changed the most unique waterfall into a pile of debris. On a sunny day in June,
the hanging semi-circular formation broke off and fell to the ground. The place was
packed with tourists, who were shocked to witness the horrifying incident.

The society blamed human intervention. However, the National Agency of Romanian
Forests calmed the social frustration. They claimed the collapse resulted due to
growing limestone and moss covering the rock, eventually causing it to collapse under
its own weight. That has not calmed the environmentalists, infuriated by the
possibility that human error led to the loss of Bigar.

Left side is the waterfall before the (literal) fall of it. Photo: Ovidiu / stock.adobe.com Right side is the waterfall after the fall. Photo: hecke71 / stock.adobe.com

Nonetheless, no one can deny that human intervention sped up the process of the
Bigar Cascade erosion. Tampering with nature can have unpredictable results.

Today the place continues to be a tourist attraction. The environmental processes that
continue to shape the Bigar Waterfall are primarily natural and include erosion,
weathering, and the ongoing flow of water. We must take precautions so that
tourism-related impacts, including littering and improper waste disposal do not affect
the ecosystem. Luckily, the Bigar surroundings were declared protected by the Cheile
Nerei-Beusnita National Park in the year 2000.
Who is affected and how do they feel about the changes?

Bigar ecosystem affects not only tourists but also locals. On one hand, tourism can
boost the local economy, yet, they risk losing the natural wonder. The mixed feelings
about the changes brought by increased tourism, raised consciousness about the
environmental impact, such as littering and changes of the natural landscape, affecting
their connection to the place.

What might happen next?

In the possible future, increased awareness of environmental changes could lead to

responsible tourism near the Bigar Cascade. People might learn about taking care of
the environment around the Bigar Cascade, making sure tourism doesn't harm it. It's
likely that people will learn to build infrastructure that can cohabitate with the natural
environment. It would be preferable if the local community would work together to
protect the area, keeping it healthy and beautiful for a long time. Then, it is very
probable that in 100 years, if effective measures are taken, the beauty of the
mesmerising waterfall could still be savoured and admired.

Word Count: 690

Bibliography

https://trekhunt.com/en/article/bigar-falls-romania-transylvania/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Izvorul_Big%C4%83r
https://www.romaniaexperience.com/this-is-the-bigar-waterfall-in-romania-plus-the-w
ater-mills-in-rudaria/
https://3seaseurope.com/bigar-waterfall-collapse-romania/
https://stirileprotv.ro/stiri/actualitate/cascada-bigar-s-a-prabust-din-cauze-naturale-vid
eo.html