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The Văratic gorge is a geological or paleontological natural monument in the Riscani district of the Republic of Moldova and has an area of 21.3 ha, according to more recent measurements.
It is located in the northern region, close to the Costești-Stânca Lake and the Duruitoarea gorge and caves, which can be visited on the same day.
The Văratic gorge was formed over several hundred thousand years by the action of the Ciuhureț stream, a tributary of the Ciuhur river.
At its base is a reef mass of Badenian age, made up of coral skeletons, foraminifera, molluscs, algae, lithotathams and other aquatic organisms.
There are several artificial caves and grottoes in the reef slopes.
Some of them, such as the “Căsoaia” cave, which also has a spring, contain traces of Paleolithic and Eneolithic humans.
Three waterfalls, 1.5 m, 2.5 m and 3.5 m high, have formed on the river.
The gorge near the village of Văratic is very picturesque also thanks to the abundance of grasses and flowers.
Suta de Movile, with its highest peak (30 m) – Movila țiganului, is a protected area near the Prut River, located between the villages of Braniște (Riscani district) and Cobani (Glodeni district).
The objective was taken under state protection by the Decision of the Soviet of Ministers of the MSSR of January 8, 1975, and the protected status was reconfirmed by Law No. 1538 of February 25, 1998 on the Fund of State Protected Natural Areas.
The land owner of the natural monument was, at the time of the publication of the 1998 Law, the Duruitoarea village hall, but in the meantime it has passed to the balance of the Văratic village hall.
The Văratic gorge has been part of the “Rediscover Moldova” project for several years.
The project is financed through the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), with the financial support of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic, implemented by the North Regional Development Agency (RDA) in partnership with the Slovak company PRO4CE.
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