The story of the place
What you'll find when you get here
A geological and floristic reserve northeast of Ștefănești, featuring a karst reef ("Casa Doamnei") that harbors the rare plant *Schivereckia podolica* at the western limit of its global range.
The entire area of the reserve (1 hectare) is managed by ANAR Bucharest – Stânca Hydrotechnical Node. The site is included in its entirety
within the Stânca-Costeşti Lake APSA (Protected Area of National Interest). Stânca Ştefăneşti is a reserve with complex geological
and floristic characteristics, located northeast of the town of Ştefăneşti in Botoşani County. The rock formation appears as a limestone
"spur"—composed of Quaternary loess-like clay deposits reaching a maximum height of 101 meters—known locally as "Casa Doamnei" (The Lady's House).
This karst outcrop harbors a very rare thermophilic plant species on its rocky slopes: *Schivereckia podolica*. This site marks the western limit of the species'
global distribution range. *Schivereckia podolica* is critically endangered, as its habitat was largely destroyed during the construction of the Stânca-Costeşti dam.
Currently, the site holds legally protected status and is monitored by APM Botoşani and the Romanian Academy. The site was designated a natural reserve of national
interest under Law No. 5/2000. No anthropogenic pressures have been identified, as the site is situated near the dam crest within the border zone
(at the Stânca border crossing point).
