The Southern Carpathians (also known as the Transylvanian Alps; ro, Carpații Meridionali ; hu, Déli-Kárpátok) are a group of

mountain range A mountain range or hill range is a series of mountains or hills arranged in a line and connected by high ground. A mountain system or mountain belt is a group of mountain ranges with similarity in form, structure, and alignment that have arise ...

s located in southern

Romania Romania ( ; ro, România ) is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern, and Southeast Europe, Southeastern Europe. It borders Bulgaria to the south, Ukraine to the north, Hungary to the west, S ...

. They cover the part of the Carpathian Mountains located between the

Cerna Cerna may refer to: Populated places * Cerna, Croatia, Vukovar-Syrmia County, Croatia * Černá (Žďár nad Sázavou District), Czech Republic * Černá, Semily District, Czech Republic * Cerna, Tulcea, Romania * A village in Vaideeni Commune ...

Rivers in the west. To the south they are bounded by the Balkan mountain range in eastern Serbia.

Heights

The Southern Carpathians are the second highest group of mountains in the Carpathian Mountain range (after Tatra), reaching heights of over 2,500 meters. Although considerably smaller than the

Alps The Alps () ; german: Alpen ; it, Alpi ; rm, Alps ; sl, Alpe . are the highest and most extensive mountain range system that lies entirely in Europe, stretching approximately across seven Alpine countries (from west to east): France, Sw ...

, they are classified as having an alpine landscape. Their high mountain character, combined with great accessibility, makes them popular with tourists and scientists. The highest peaks are: *

Moldoveanu Peak Moldoveanu Peak ( ro, Vârful Moldoveanu, ; "Moldavian Peak"), at , is the highest mountain peak in Romania.

, 2,544 metres –

Făgăraș Mountains The Făgăraș Mountains ( ro, Munții Făgărașului ; hu, Fogarasi-havasok) are the highest mountains of the Southern Carpathians, in Romania. Geography The mountain range is situated in the heart of Romania, at . The range is bordered in th ...

Negoiu Negoiu Peak ( ro, Vârful Negoiu ; hu, Negoj-csúcs) is a mountain peak in the Făgăraș Mountains of the Southern Carpathians, being located in Sibiu County, Romania, with an elevation of .Parângu Mare Parângu Mare (, "Big Parângu") is a mountain peak in Romania. At 2,519 metres above sea level, it is the highest peak of the Parâng Mountains, located in the Parâng Mountains group of the Southern Carpathians.Parâng Mountains The Parâng Mountains (; hu, Páring-hegység) are one of the highest mountain ridges in Romania and Southern Carpathians, with the highest peak, Parângu Mare, reaching 2,519 m. Description The Parâng Mountains are located in the south-wester ...

Omu Peak Omu Peak ( ro, Vârful Omu) is a mountain peak of the Bucegi Mountains in Romania. It is located in Brașov, Dâmbovița and Prahova counties A county is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposesChambers ...

2,514 metres – Bucegi Mountains *

Peleaga Peleaga (Vârful Peleaga) is a mountain in Romania. It is the highest point in the Retezat Mountains with a summit elevation of above sea level.Retezat Mountains The Retezat Mountains ( ro, Munții Retezat, hu, Retyezát-hegység) are one of the highest massifs in Romania, being part of the Southern Carpathians. The highest peak is Peleaga (Vârful Peleaga), at an altitude of . Other important peaks are ...

Despite the heights, some of the most accessible passages in the Carpathians in Romania are along the rivers, which cross the mountain range (the

Olt River The Olt (Romanian and Hungarian; german: Alt; la, Aluta or ', tr, Oltu, grc, Ἄλυτος ''Alytos'') is a river in Romania. It is long, and its basin area is . It is the longest river flowing exclusively through Romania. Its average discha ...

) or form wide valleys (along the

Prahova River The Prahova is a river of Southern Romania, which rises from the Bucegi Mountains, in the Southern Carpathians. It is a left tributary of the Ialomița. It flows into the Ialomița in Dridu Snagov.Jiu River The Jiu (; hu, Zsil ; german: Schil or Schiel; la, Rabon) is a river in southern Romania. It is formed near Petroșani by the confluence of headwaters Jiul de Vest and Jiul de Est. It flows southward through the Romanian counties Hunedoara, ...

Valley).

Geology

The South Carpathians represent an intricate pile of tectonic nappes, overthrusted from west eastwards during the Austrian (Middle Cretaceous) and Laramian paroxysmal phases, corresponding to various plate fragments. The napes are (from west eastwards): the Supragetic, Getic, Severin and Danubian Units. The Getic Nappe was identified by Murgoci (1905), while the general understanding over the Alpine structure of the South Carpathians was later refined by Codarcea (1940), Codarcea et al. (1961), Năstăseanu et al. (1981), Săndulescu (1984), Săndulescu and Dimitrescu (2004), and Mutihac (1990). The first to apply the global tectonics concepts for the Romanian Carpathians were Rădulescu and Săndulescu (1973).Rădulescu, D. and Săndulescu, M., 1973. The plate-tectonics concept and the geological structure of the Carpathians. Tectonophysics, 16: 155–161. The Supragetic, Getic Nappes as well as the Danubian Units represent units with both a metamorphic basement and a sedimentary cover, while the Severin Nappe includes only a sedimentary sequence. The Getic Nappe and the Danubian Units sediments include a Palaeozoic sequence (Upper Carboniferous, Lower Permian) and a

Mesozoic The Mesozoic Era ( ), also called the Age of Reptiles, the Age of Conifers, and colloquially as the Age of the Dinosaurs is the second-to-last era of Earth's geological history, lasting from about , comprising the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretace ...

sequence (Lowermost Jurassic – Middle Cretaceous). The Supragetic Nappe comprises mainly metamorphosed rocks (gneisses, micashists), while the Severin Nappe includes only Upper Jurassic – Lower Cretaceous sediments.

Mountain ranges

From east to west, four mountain groups can be identified, separated by different river valleys. *

Bucegi Mountains group The Bucegi Mountains (Romanian: ''Munții Bucegi'' ) are located in central Romania, south of the city of Brașov. They are part of the Southern Carpathians group of the Carpathian Mountains. At , '' Omu'' is its highest point. To the east, the ...

– between the Prahova and

Dâmbovița River Dâmbovița can refer to these places in Romania: * Dâmbovița County * Dâmbovița (river) * Dâmbovița Center The Dâmbovița Center (also named Casa Radio) is an unfinished building in Bucharest, Romania, near Cotroceni, on the shore of ...

s. ** Bucegi Mountains (''Munții Bucegi'') **

Piatra Craiului The Piatra Craiului Mountains (german: Königstein, hu, Királykő-hegység) are a mountain range in the Southern Carpathians in Romania. Its name is translated as ''Kings' Rock'' or ''The Rock of the Prince''. The mountain range is located ...

(literally: "Rock of the King") **

Leaotă Mountains The Leaota Mountains are located in central Romania, north of the city Târgovişte. They are part of the Southern Carpathians group of the Carpathian Mountains, and have as neighbours the Bucegi Mountains to the east and Piatra Craiului T ...

(''Munții Leaotă'') *

Făgăraș Mountains group The Făgăraș mountain group is a subgroup of mountains in the Southern Carpathians. It is named after the highest of the mountains in the group, the Făgăraș Mountains. Boundaries The Făgăraș group is bounded: *in the west, by the Olt Rive ...

– between the Dâmbovița River and the Olt River. **

(''Munții Făgărașului'') **

Iezer Mountains The Iezer Mountains ( ro, Munții Iezer / Munții Iezer-Păpușa) are a mountain range in the Southern Carpathians in Romania. It is part of the Făgăraș Mountains group. Its total area is . Its highest elevation is , at Roșu Peak. Location ...

(''Munții Iezer''; literally: "Mountains of the Deep Lake") **

Cozia Mountains Cozia may refer to several places in Romania: * Cozia Monastery, Vâlcea County * Cozia Mountains, Vâlcea County * Cozia National Park, Vâlcea County * Cozia, a village in Cornereva Commune, Caraș-Severin County * Cozia, a village in Cârjiți ...

(''Munții Cozia'') *

Parâng Mountains group The Parâng ( hu, Páring-hegység) mountain group is a subgroup of mountains in the Southern Carpathians. It is named after the highest of the mountains in the group, the Parâng Mountains. Boundaries The Parâng group is bounded: *in the east, ...

– between the Olt River and the Jiu River. **

Parâng Mountains The Parâng Mountains (; hu, Páring-hegység) are one of the highest mountain ridges in Romania and Southern Carpathians, with the highest peak, Parângu Mare, reaching 2,519 m. Description The Parâng Mountains are located in the south-wester ...

(''Munții Parâng'') **

Șureanu Mountains The Șureanu Mountains, (German: ''Mühlbacher Gebirge'', Hungarian: ''Kudzsiri-havasok''), belong to Romania's Parâng range in the Southern Carpathians, with peaks frequently exceeding . The mountains are located north of Romania's Jiu Valle ...

(''Munții Șureanu''/''M. Sebeșului'') ** Cindrel Mountains (''Munții Cindrel''/''M. Cibinului'') **

Lotru Mountains Lotru Mountains ( ro, Munții Lotrului) are a group of mountains that are part of the Southern Carpathians, in Romania Romania ( ; ro, România ) is a country located at the crossroads of Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe. It bo ...

(''Munții Lotrului''; literally: "Mountains of the Thief") **

Căpățână Mountains Căpățână or Căpățînă is a Romanian surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Chesarie Căpățână (1784–1846), Wallachian bishop * Eugen Căpățână (born 1986), Romanian rugby union footballer * Mihai Căpățînă (born ...

(''Munții Căpățânii''; literally: "Mountains of the Skull") *

Retezat-Godeanu Mountains group The Retezat–Godeanu mountain group is a subgroup of mountains in the Southern Carpathians, Romania. It is named after the highest mountains in the group, the Retezat Mountains. Boundaries The Retezat–Godeanu group of mountains is bounded: *i ...

– between the Jiu River and the Timiș and Cerna Rivers. **

Retezat Mountains The Retezat Mountains ( ro, Munții Retezat, hu, Retyezát-hegység) are one of the highest massifs in Romania, being part of the Southern Carpathians. The highest peak is Peleaga (Vârful Peleaga), at an altitude of . Other important peaks are ...

(''Munții Retezat''; literally: "Hewed Mountains") **

Godeanu Mountains The Retezat–Godeanu mountain group is a subgroup of mountains in the Southern Carpathians, Romania. It is named after the highest mountains in the group, the Retezat Mountains. Boundaries The Retezat–Godeanu group of mountains is bounded: *i ...

(''Munții Godeanu'') **

Vâlcan Mountains The Vâlcan Mountains are a chain of mountains in the Southern Carpathians in Gorj County, Romania. They are part of the Retezat-Godeanu Mountains group. They run for approximately and the highest peak is the Vâlcan Peak at . The mountains run ...

(''Munții Vâlcan'') **

Mehedinți Mountains The Mehedinți Mountains ( ro, Munții Mehedinți) are a mountain range in southwestern Romania, part of the Retezat-Godeanu Mountains group. The range represents the highest relief form in Mehedinți County Mehedinți County () is a county ( ...

(''Munții Mehendinți'') ** Cerna Mountains (''Munții Cernei'') **

Țarcu Mountains The Țarcu Mountains are a mountain range in the southwestern Romania, at the western edge of the Southern Carpathians. They are located between the Bistra Valley (to the south), Timiș River (to the east), Godeanu Mountains (to the northwest) and ...

(''Munții Țarcu''; literally: "Pen Mountains"). *

Poiana Ruscă Mountains The Poiana Ruscă Mountains (part of the Western Carpathians) are a Carpathian mountain range in western Romania. The mountains are situated roughly south of the Mureș River, northeast of the Timiș River, and west of the Strei River. The Bega R ...

The first two groups are steepest on the North side, and the last two are steepest on the South side.

Gallery

File:Muntii Bucegi vazuti de pe Postavaru.jpg, Bucegi as seen from Postavaru massif File:Caraiman Cross on Bucegi mountain top.jpg, Caraiman Cross on mountain top File:Bucegi.jpg, Coștila 400 meters high wall File:Caraiman summit.JPG, View from Bușteni File:Vf-scara4.jpg, Scara summit in Bucegi Mountains File:Bucegi Sphinx, Romania.jpg, The Sphinx of Bucegi File:01 Magura, Romania - Piatra Craiului mountains.jpg, Piatra Craiului Mountains File:Bucegi jepiimici.JPG, Jepii Mici Peak in Bucegi Mountains File:BaleaLac4.jpg, Lake Bâlea in Făgăraș Mountains File:Detaliu Custura Saratii.jpg, Challenging hiking trail File:Lake Podragu.jpg, Podragu Lake File:Transfagarasan twisty road.jpg, Transfăgărășan alpine road File:Gory Fogaraskie (Fagaras Mountains) 67.jpg, Regular footpath in Făgăraș Mountains File:Custura Saratii.jpg, Custura Sărătii (in the center of the photo) File:La Zaplaz, Piatra Craiului.jpg, La Zaplaz landmark File:Zarnesti.JPG, Piatra Craiului ridge in winter File:Parang-21.jpg, Landscape in Parâng Mountains File:Parang mountain image 1.jpg, Parâng alpine scenery File:Parang-38.jpg, Shelter in Parâng mountains File:Parang-32.jpg, One of many Parâng glacial lakes File:Jezera v pohoří Retezat.jpg, Glacial lakes in the Retezat Mountains File:Retezat-VfBucura.jpg, Bucura Peak in the distance File:Retezat Mountain - Retezat Peak 04.JPG, Sunset on Retezat Peak File:Chata u Bucury.jpg, Salvamont shelter in Retezat File:Retezat Mountain - Spring Waterfall 02.JPG, Waterfall in Retezat National Park File:Lacul Bucura.jpg, Bucura Lake

References

External links

Pictures and landscapes from the Southern Carpathians
{{Authority control . . Mountain ranges of the Carpathians Geography of Southeastern Europe Geography of Transylvania