The Carpathian Mountains
Nature has been generous with the land of Romania, characterized by variety, proportion and harmony. The Carpathians can be a great experience as you can walk or climb just about anywhere you like, both during winter and summer time, as well as in spring or autumn. And let's not forget about the large range of opportunities for hiking, mountain climbing and winter sports or about the natural therapeutical conditions or the coziness offered by the resorts which lie on this itinerary.
The Carpathian Mountains are the eastern wing of the great Central
Mountain System of Europe, forming an arc roughly 1,500 km (932 mi) long
across Central and Eastern Europe, making them the second-longest
mountain range in Europe (after the Scandinavian Mountains, 1,700 km
(1,056 mi)).They consist of a chain of mountain ranges that stretch in an
arc along the borders of Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland,
Ukraine, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro and northern
Hungary.
Romania contains by far the largest area of the Carpathians, and forms the
eastern and southern boundaries of the region.
55.2% of the Carpathian region is located within Romania.
The highest range within the Carpathians is the Tatras, on the border of
Slovakia and Poland, where the highest peaks exceed 2,600 m (8,530 ft).
The second-highest range is the Southern Carpathians in Romania, where
the highest peaks exceed 2,500 m (8,202 ft).
The Romanian Carpathians are divided into three major parts:
Eastern Carpathians, Southern Carpathians and Western Carpathians.
The highest peaks are in the Southern Carpathians - Moldoveanu
(2544 m/8,346 feet) and Negoiu (2535 m/8,316 feet).
The Carpathians' ensemble is characterized by its varied landscape owing
to the different types of relief particularities (glacial, karstic, riverine,
structural-lithological), the alternation of mountainous and depressions
units, gorges and valleys and the diversity and configuration of the
vegetation.
They provide the habitat for the largest European populations of brown
bears, wolves, chamois and lynxes, with the highest concentration in
Romania (with estimates of over 6000 brown bears, 2500 wolves and
some 1750 lynx living in the region), as well as over one third of all
European plant species.
he Carpathians and their foothills also have many thermal and mineral
waters, with Romania having one-third of the European total.
Romania is likewise home to the largest surface of virgin forests in Europe
(excluding Russia), totaling 250,000 hectares (65%), most of them in the
Carpathians, with the Southern Carpathians constituting Europe’s largest
unfragmented forested area.
Romania’s national and natural parks, displaying a unique variety of
landscapes, vegetation and wildlife, protect some of the largest remaining
areas of pristine forest in Europe. Grasslands, gorges, subterranean caves,
volcanic lakes, and extensive river network add to the richness of the park
system that also includes the Danube Delta, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve
and Europe’s largest wetland.
Romania’s natural parks also play an important role in preserving local
customs, traditional crafts, historical settlement patterns, and regional
architecture.
Most of Romania’s national parks have arrangements for outdoor activities
with a network of marked paths and trails and overnight accommodation
in either staffed lodges or local guesthouses.
In vulnerable areas where it is desirable to limit the impact of visitors,
paths and accommodation are minimal.
The Romanian Carpathians represent an
exceptional tourist attraction.
