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| Page Type: Custom Object Location: Hungary, Europe Lat/Lon: 47.48125°N / 19.07192°E Object Type: Construction page | Page By: peterbud Created/Edited: Jun 3, 2009 / Nov 17, 2009 Object ID: 518331 Hits: 1051  Loading... Page Score: 86% - 1 Votes Loading... Vote: Log in to vote |
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This is my backyard page for pre-publishment stage works. In other words, PERMANENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION!!! :)
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Previous projects were published here:
Tatras sandbox - outdated Carpathians sandboxThe Carpathian Mountains constitute one of Europe's main mountain systems, whose characteristic arc spans some 1,500 km across, separating the Carpathian Basin from the vast lowlands of Eastern Europe. At both ends, it is cut off from the neighboring mountains – the Alps in the west, and the Stara Planina/Balkan Mountains in the south – by the Danube River (although in geologic terms the Carpathians extend a bit beyond the Danube: further discussion in the SW chapter). The Carpathians run across the political borders between half a dozen countries: the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Ukraine and Romania.
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The Carpathians presented here have been split into five groups: Northwestern, Northeastern, Eastern, Southern (Northeastern and Eastern Carpathians are often classified as one region named the East Carpathians), and finally the Southwestern Carpathians OFF to SW chapter:(although some geologists claim that Apuseni Mountains should not be seen as part of the Carpathians).
COULD BE: Southwestern Carpathians
What we have identified as the Southwestern Carpathians consists of three separate mountain groups. By the Danube River, in the historic province of Banat, sits the last segment of the Carpathian Arc. The mountains of Banat and the northernmost mountains of Eastern Serbia can be seen as parts of the same mountain group - a link between the Carpathian chain and the Balkan (Stara Planina) Mountains - split by the canyon of the Danube. In fact, there are several options for the SW end of the Carpathians:
1 The gorges of the Danube, for which we have opted here.
2 The Juzna (South) Morava and the Timok rivers in Serbia.
3 A couple of valleys between the above two border lines.
4 The Timiş (Temes) and Mehadica rivers in Romania.
Regardless of whereabouts the Carpathians end, the eastern border of the mountains of Banat runs straight north from the Iron Gate proper, along the tectonic fault line which determines the course of the Mehadica and Timiş rivers, between the towns of Orsova and Caransebes.
To the north-east of these mountains, north-west of the Retezat Mountains, lies the massif of Poiana Ruscă - for centuries heavily grazed, and more recently heavily mined for iron. Both the mountains of Banat and the Poiana Ruscă contain fairly low mountains (below 1500 m a.s.l.) and are often regarded as part of the Southern Carpathians.
 Munţii Metaliferi ( Ore Mts) |
Trascău/Torockó Mts |
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Finally, north of the Poiana Ruscă, across the valley of the Mureş (Maros) River, stands the largest and highest (above 1800 m) Carpathian "island" (some geological classifications exclude it from the Carpathians), bounded by Pannonian Plain on the west and separated from the Carpathian Arc by the upland of Transylvania in the east. Romanian people call it Munţii Apuseni, which translates as the Western Mountains (before World War I, they were called the Island Mountains of Eastern Hungary, nowadays Hungarians refer to them as Island Mountains of Transylvania). Among other - surely confusing - terms used to name these mountains are: the Western Carpathians (for Slovaks, Poles and Czechs this stands for what we call the Northwestern Carpathians here) and the Bihor Mountains (after the central massif). The southernmost range of the mountains of western Transylvania - the Ore Mountains (Romanian: Munţii Metaliferi) - is rich in metals, which have been mined for millennia and were one of the reasons behind the Roman occupation of Dacia in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD.
Padiş/Pádis karst plateau |
The Southwestern Carpathians are the lowest and least forested of the five major parts of the Carpathians we have depicted on this page, each in a different chapter. What makes these mountains fascinating is the fact that they embrace vast limestone areas, including the most spectacular karst paradise of all in the Carpathians: the Padiş Plateau in the Bihor Mountains. Some evidence suggests that the ancient core of the Apuseni differs from that of the Carpathian Basin and could have once been part of the Dinarides. On the flanks of the Apuseni, besides limestone plateaus, post-Paleozoic lava (most of the Vlădeasa Mountains) and flysch are also present.
In the tables below, the member ranges of each group are listed from north to south, in the following format: mountain range - highest peak - elevation (in meters). Ranges marked with an asterisk (*) in the tables display spectacular limestone karst.
 Triangles indicate the highest peaks of particular ranges (hover the mouse over them to see the names of the ranges and peaks). Black pentagons indicate major towns with - except Braşov - airports (click to open links).
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Székelykő (Szeklers' Rock) |
From Trascău to Gilău |
Turda/Torda Gorge |
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| Apuseni Mountains (Western Transylvania) |
Northern group
| Pădurea Craiului * | Hodrâncuşa | 1027 |
| Munţii Plopişului / Şes | Măgura Mare | 918 |
| Munţii Meseş | Măgura Priei | 996 |
Central group
Southern group
| Munţii Zarand | Drocea | 836 |
| Munţii Metalliferi | Poieniţa | 1437 |
| Munţii Trascău * | Dâmbău | 1369 |
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| Poiana Ruscă and Mountains of Banat |
| Munţii Semenic | Semenic / Piatra Goznei | 1446 |
| Munţii Aninei * | Leordis | 1160 |
| Munţii Almăjului | Svinecea Mare | 1224 |
| Munţii Locvei | Corhanul Mare | 735 |
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Vlădeasa Mts. |
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 Galbena Gorge(Padiş plateau) |
Turda/Torda Gorge
(Trascău/Torockó Mts) |
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 Râmeţ/Remete Gorge(Trascău/Torockó Mts) |
 Galbena Gorge waterfalls (Padiş) |
Loophole in the walls
of Padiş underworld |
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Romania NP-s sandboxIS:
Map of National and Natural Parks of Romania
There are 12 national parks in Romania. The links below take you to official homepages, with the exception of Ceahlău and Cheile Nerei - Beuşniţa National Parks.
| National Park name | Location | What kind of place |
| Buila-Vânturariţa NP | Central | Spectacular isolated limestone ridge rising above 1800 m. Once, in the Jurassic period, it was a coral reef. Now it is rich in fossils as well as exo- and endokarst formations |
| Călimani NP | North | Extensive massif of volcanic origin, highest of this type in the Carpathian Mountains. A handful of peaks, mostly along the crest of the caldera, exceed 2000 m in elevation (Vf. Pietrosu, 2100 m) and have steep slopes dropping towards the center of the old crater. Interesting rock formations, like the "Twelve Apostles". The "volcanic karst" of these mountains is unique in Europe (sadly, the underground volcanic caves have been destroyed by mindless sulphur mining...). |
| Ceahlău NP | Northeast | Mountain massif made up of sedimentary rocks (mainly sandstone). Erosion left behind stunning rock formations, many of which had inspired mystic legends. |
| Cheile Bicazului - Hăşmaş NP | Northeast | Picturesque limestone area with unique geomorphology and biological diversity. Top attractions: the deep Bicaz /HU: Békás/ Gorge connecting Transylvania with Moldavia; Lacul Roşu /Gyilkostó/ - a lake formed in 1837 by a huge natural rockslide; and the superb rock towers of Piatra Singuratica /Egyeskő/. |
| Cheile Nerei - Beuşniţa NP | Southwest | Unpopulated karst area of the middle section of Nera river. Gorges, caves and sinkholes. |
| Cozia NP | Central | This gneiss massif (south of Făgăras mountains) has small area, but its steep and wild walls give a robust and spectacular appearance. The 15 km long gorge of Olt river is about 1300 m below the top of the massif. Dense forests, except for the rather bald top region. |
| Domogled - Valea Cernei NP | Southwest | Another karst region with high natural value. Its "hot caves" have unique ecosystems. The special mediterranean-like climate of the area enables several rare species (including scorpions and poisonous snakes) to live here. Gorges, waterfalls, rock walls. |
| Munţii Rodnei NP | North | Extensive crystalline massif, the highest in its region. Several peaks are over 2000 m (highest one: Pietrosu Mare, 2303 m). Beautiful and peaceful alpine meadows. The area around Pietrosu Mare is also UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Rodnei Mountains page on SP. |
| Munţii Măcinului NP | East | Hilly region with a special mixture of ecosystems (sub-mediterranean and Balkanic forests with steppe). |
| Piatra Craiului NP | Central | A small, but interesting limestone massif on the eastern end of the Southern Carpathians, near the city of Braşov /Brassó/. Robust karst formations. Piatra Craiului page on SP. |
| Retezat NP | Southwest | Beautiful mountain range with more than 50 peaks over 2000 m (highest one: Peleaga, 2509 m). Rich in tarns (82 altogether), the largest and the deepest one in Romania both can be found here. Retezat NP is also a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Retezat Mountains page on SP. |
| Semenic - Cheile Caraşului NP | Southwest | Semenic Mountains and the area of the Caraş river gorge. Caves. |
In Hăşmaş /Hagymás/ Mts.
Photo by hunkan |
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In Bicaz /Békás/ Gorge
Photo by hunkan |
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In addition to national parks, there are 9 natural parks in Romania, some of them well worth mentioning:
| Nature Park name | Location | What kind of place |
| Apuseni NP | West | Amazing karst region of the Apuseni Mountains /HU: Erdélyi-szigethegység/. Caves, some with underground creeks: Cetăţile Ponorolui /Csodavár/, Cetătea Rădesei /Aragyásza/. Ice caves: Scărişoara /Szkerisóra/, Focul Viu /Eszkimó/ and others. Gorges: Cheile Galbinei /Galbena-kőköz/, Cheile Someşului Cald /Szamosbazár/. |
| Bucegi NP | Central | High mountain massif south from Braşov. Several peaks above 2000 m (highest one: Omu, 2506 m). |
| Munţii Maramureşului NP | North | Extensive unpopulated mountain range north from Rodnei Mountains, south from the Ukranian border. |
| Porţile de Fier NP | Southwest | The "Iron Gate" /HU: Vaskapu/ gorge, where the Danube river exits the Carpathian Basin towards the plains of Wallachia. |
The remaining nature parks: Balta Mică a Brăilei, Comana, Grădiştea Muncelului-Cioclovina, Mureş Floodplain, and Vânători - Neamţ.
While it is neither declared as national, nor nature park, the Danube Delta receives primary protection: it is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Ramsar area and UNESCO Natural World Heritage as well.
COULD BE
Map of National and Natural Parks of Romania
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Hăşmaş-Bicaz NP |
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There are 12 national parks in Romania. The links below take you to official homepages, with the exception of Ceahlău and Cheile Nerei - Beuşniţa National Parks.
| National Park name | Location | What kind of place |
| Buila-Vânturariţa NP | Central | Spectacular isolated limestone ridge rising above 1800 m. Once, in the Jurassic period, it was a coral reef. Now it is rich in fossils as well as exo- and endokarst formations. |
| Călimani NP | North | Extensive Tertiary caldera, highest massif of the volcanic Carpathians (Vf. Pietrosu, 2100 m). Its crest drops steeply toward the inner cone turned into a sulphur mine in C20... Interesting rock formations, such as the Twelve Apostles. Unique volcanic "karst", hard to find elsewhere in Europe (sadly, the caves have been destroyed by mindless mining.) |
| Ceahlău NP | Northeast | Mountain massif made of sedimentary rocks (mainly sandstone). Erosion has created stunning rock formations, many of which have inspired mystic legends. |
| Cheile Bicazului - Hăşmaş NP | Northeast | Picturesque limestone area with unique geomorphology and biodiversity. Top attractions: the deep Bicaz/Békás (HU) Gorge connecting Transylvania with Moldavia; Lacul Roşu/Gyilkostó (Killer Lake/ - formed in 1837 by a huge natural rockslide; and the superb rock towers of Piatra Singuratica /Egyeskő/. |
| Cheile Nerei - Beuşniţa NP | Southwest | Unpopulated karst area in the middle course of the Nera River. Gorges, caves, sinkholes, waterfalls. |
| Cozia NP | Central | This part of the Făgăras mountain group is small in area, but displays spectacular, steep, wild limestone walls. The 15 km long gorge of the Olt River about 1300 m below the summits. Dense forest, except for a rather bare top part. |
| Domogled - Valea Cernei NP | Southwest | Another karstic region of outstanding natural value. Its "hot caves" hide unique ecosystems. The warmer climate, closer to the Mediterranean, enables several rare species (including scorpions and poisonous snakes) to thrive. Gorges, waterfalls, rock walls suitable for climbing. |
| Jiu Defile NP | Southwest | Lower montane forests (beech, hornbeam, linden), resembling those of the Balkans, along the long canyon of the Jiu River. Rich flora and fauna, e.g. the nose-horned viper. |
| Munţii Rodnei NP | North | Extensive crystalline massif, highest in the mountains separating Transylvania from Moldavia (and Ukraine). Several peaks over 2000 m (highest: Pietrosu Mare, 2303 m). Beautiful, peaceful alpine meadows. The area around Pietrosu Mare is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Rodnei Mountains page on SP. |
| Munţii Măcinului NP | East | Hilly region with a special mixture of ecosystems (sub-Mediterranean and Balkanic forests with steppes). |
| Piatra Craiului NP | Central | Royal Rock (Hungarian: Királykő, German: Königstein) - jagged ridge of Jurassic limestone between the Făgăraş and the Bucegi mountains, near the city of Braşov /Brassó/. Impressive karst formations, rich wildlife. SP page: Piatra Craiului. |
| Retezat NP | Southwest | Beautiful mountain range with more than 50 peaks over 2000 m (highest: Peleaga, 2509 m). Rich in tarns (82 altogether), both the largest and the deepest of Romania's tarns can be found here. Retezat NP is also a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Retezat Mountains page on SP. |
| Semenic - Cheile Caraşului NP | Southwest | Semenic Mountains and the gorge of the Caraş River. Caves. |
Călimani /Kelemen/ NP |
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Ceahlău NP |
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Cheile Nerei-Beuşniţa NP |
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In addition to national parks, there are 9 nature parks in Romania, some of them well worth mentioning:
| Nature Park name | Location | What kind of place |
| Apuseni NP | West | Amazing karst region of the Apuseni Mountains /HU: Erdélyi-szigethegység/. Caves, some with underground rills: Cetăţile Ponorolui /Csodavár/, Cetătea Rădesei /Aragyásza/. Ice caves: Scărişoara /Szkerisóra/, Focul Viu /Eszkimó/ and others. Gorges: Cheile Galbinei /Galbena-kőköz/, Cheile Someşului Cald /Szamosbazár/. |
| Bucegi NP | Central | High plateau (above 2500 m: Omu) raised along fault lines, with abrupt walls and jagged spurs (limestone climber's paradise), south of the city of Braşov. |
| Munţii Maramureşului NP | North | Vast, unpopulated mountain range north of Rodnei Mountains, south of the Ukranian border. |
| Porţile de Fier NP | Southwest | The "Iron Gate" /HU: Vaskapu/ gorge, where the Danube River exits the Carpathian Basin to flow out between the plains of Wallachia and the Danubian Plain of Bulgaria. |
The remaining nature parks: Balta Mică a Brăilei, Comana, Grădiştea Muncelului-Cioclovina, Mureş Floodplain, and Vânători - Neamţ.
While it is declared as neither national nor nature park, the Danube Delta receives primary protection: it is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Ramsar area and UNESCO Natural World Heritage as well.
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