Dolj, Romania · Europe
Smârdan sits on the route: 10 minutes from Ciupercenii Vechi, 41km from Belogradchik Rocks.
Smârdan is a town located in Dolj, Romania. With a population of 1,540, it is an important destination in Europe.
On a road trip, Smârdan sits in Romania, where you drive on the right. It's in the Europe/Bucharest time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Smârdan to your route.
The Oltenian Sahara (Romanian: Sahara Olteniei) is a name given to an area in the Romanian region of Oltenia covering the territory between the city of Calafat and the town of Dăbuleni, spanning an area of about 80,000 hectares (200,000 acres), or 6% of Dolj County. In 2023, the desertified area has spread north to beRead more
within 20km of Craiova.
The sandy areas in the region have extended because of deforestation events that occurred in the 1960s, during the Communist period. Under the leadership of Nicolae Ceaușescu, 26% of Romania's water was drained for farmland, including all five of Oltenia's natural water bodies. One such body of water was the 47 km (29 mi)-long Potelu Lake (near Potelu village), now completely dry. Another village on the lake's shore was Grojdibodu; locals recall how people survived by fishing, and the air was humid and clean, before the communist authorities built dams and a pumping station to dry out the lake. According to Dan Popescu, the head of the local "Rebirth of the Forest" association, 13,000 hectares (32,000 acres) of forest were cut down and replaced with acacia trees to stop the wind and the sand. The "Băltărețu" wind (which was warm and humid and brought rain) disappeared; in summer, air temperatures would rise over 30 °C (86 °F) and sand temperatures to over 70 °C (158 °F).
Conditions deteriorated further after the Romanian Revolution of 1989. The land was returned to private hands, but the landowners cleared out 30,000 hectares (74,000 acres) of forest, including the acacia canopies, and grew whatever they wanted, overwhelming the irrigation system. In the early 2000s, some farmers sought to irrigate the fields by themselves, but without state support, those attempts failed, and the system was eventually torn down by scrap iron thieves.
Due to the sudden desertification in the area, the name "Oltenian Sahara" quickly caught on among the locals. Dăbuleni has likewise gained the nickname the "capital" of the Oltenian Sahara, and it is the only place in Europe where a sand museum exists. Despite some modest attempts to prevent further desertification in the area, the process is still ongoing at a rate of 1,000 hectares (2,500 acres) per year. It is unlikely to stop unless more drastic measures are taken.
In July 2025, Romania's Ministrul Mediului (minister of the environment), Diana Buzoianu, announced that "Romania is facing a serious environmental problem in the south of the country: over 100,000 hectares have turned into desert or are about to become desert." The obvious solution underway is afforestation and reforestation. In the previous 2 years, approximately 9,000 hectares of trees were planted, and in 2025-6 the goal is to plant another 18,000 hectares.
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Smârdan offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.
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Smârdan is located in Dolj, Romania, Europe. The coordinates are 43.9338 latitude, 22.9659 longitude.
Smârdan has a population of approximately 1,540 people, making it a town in Romania.
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Essential numbers in Romania
Rovinieta (road tax sticker) required for all national roads.
Full driving guide for Romania2 notable places within an hour's drive.
landmark
A ghost-town-like complex of some 270 stone wine cellars built by the villagers of Rajac between the 18th and early 20th centuries, near Negotin close to the Bulgarian border. Several cellars still pour local Tamjanika and Bagrina.
38 km · about 45 min drive
natural wonder
Bizarre sandstone rock formations towering up to 200 meters high, sculpted over 200 million years into fantastical shapes alongside a dramatic fortress.
41 km · about 50 min drive
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