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
The Carpathian Mountains or Carpathians () are a range of mountains forming an arc across Central Europe. Roughly long, it is the third-longest European mountain range after the Urals at and the Scandinavian Mountains at . The range stretches ...
located between 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.Timiș and
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:
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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 the ...
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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-western ...
*
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
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 ...
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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, Go ...
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
The Paleozoic (or Palaeozoic) Era is the earliest of three geologic eras of the Phanerozoic Eon.
The name ''Paleozoic'' ( ;) was coined by the British geologist Adam Sedgwick in 1838
by combining the Greek words ''palaiós'' (, "old") and '' ...
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 Cretaceo ...
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.
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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 t ...
s.
**
Bucegi Mountains
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 ...
(''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")
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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'')
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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.
**
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 the ...
(''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-western ...
(''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 ...
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")
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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 ...
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 th ...
(''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 ( ...
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").
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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
See also
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Romanian Carpathians
The Romanian Carpathians ( ro, Carpații românești) are a section of the Carpathian Mountains, within the borders of modern Romania. The Carpathians are a "subsystem" of the Alps-Himalaya System and are further divided into "provinces" and " ...
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Divisions of the Carpathians
Divisions of the Carpathians are a categorization of the Carpathian mountains system.
Below is a detailed overview of the major subdivisions and ranges of the Carpathian Mountains. The Carpathians are a "subsystem" of a bigger Alps-Himalaya S ...
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Iron Gates
The Iron Gates ( ro, Porțile de Fier; sr, / or / ; Hungarian: ''Vaskapu-szoros'') is a gorge on the river Danube. It forms part of the boundary between Serbia (to the south) and Romania (north). In the broad sense it encompasses a rou ...
, at the South-Western end
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Prahova Valley
Prahova Valley (Romanian: ''Valea Prahovei'') is the valley where the Prahova river makes its way between the Bucegi and the Baiu Mountains, in the Carpathian Mountains, Romania. It is a tourist region, situated about north of the capital cit ...