The Călimani National Park ( is a

protected area Protected areas or conservation areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognized natural or cultural values. Protected areas are those areas in which human presence or the exploitation of natural resources (e.g. firewood ...

(

national park A national park is a nature park designated for conservation (ethic), conservation purposes because of unparalleled national natural, historic, or cultural significance. It is an area of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that is protecte ...

category II

IUCN The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. Founded in 1948, IUCN has become the global authority on the status ...

) situated in Romania and located at Northern side of Eastern Carpathians (Bistrita – Nasaud, Harghita, Mures and Suceava counties). In the administrativ territory of counties Mureș (45%),

Suceava Suceava () is a Municipiu, city in northeastern Romania. The seat of Suceava County, it is situated in the Historical regions of Romania, historical regions of Bukovina and Western Moldavia, Moldavia, northeastern Romania. It is the largest urban ...

(35%),

Harghita Harghita County (, and , ) is a county () in the center of Romania, in eastern Transylvania, with the county seat at Miercurea Ciuc. Demographics 2002 census In 2002, Harghita County had a population of 326,222 and a population density of ...

(15%), and Bistrița-Năsăud. It has 64,000 acres.protectedplanet.net – Călimani National Park (location)
; retrieved on June 23, 2012 It protects the

Călimani Mountains The Călimani Mountains (, ) are the largest volcanic complex of the Carpathian Mountains in Transylvania, Romania. Geologically they belong to the Căliman-Harghita Mountains group of the Inner Eastern Carpathians. Maximum height is reached in ...

Description

The park is on a mountain area with diversified landforms: peaks (Pietrosul Călimanului - 2100 m, Gurghiu - 1776 m, Harghita - 1800 m, Lucaciu - 1778 m, 12 Apostoli - 1760 m, Ciomatu - 1301 m), rocky steep cliffs, gorges, valleys, dolines, hillocks, clints, ponors, glades; with natural areas covered with forests, pastures and meadows. The natural area has several habitat types (''Acidophilous Picea abies forests in the mountain region (Vaccinio-Piceetea), Larix decidua and/or Pinus cembra forests in the mountain region, species-rich Nardus mountain meadows, on siliceous substrates, Pinus mugo and Rhododendron myrtifollium shrubs, Shrubs with subarctic Salix species, Herbaceous vegetation on the banks of mountain rivers'') that shelter a diverse range of flora and fauna specific to the Eastern Carpathians. Located in the

and including the largest volcanic crater in Romania with a diameter of about 10 km (currently extinct), the Călimani National Park with a total area of 24.566 ha, includes the nature reserves Doisprezece Apostoli (Twelve Apostles) (with the ''12 Apostles'' Thematic Trail), Jnepenișul cu Pinus cembra (Mountain pine with Pinus cembra) - Călimani and Iezer Lake and overlaps the special avifaunistic protection area of the ''Călimani Mountains'' (SPA site) -

Natura 2000 Natura 2000 is a network of nature protection areas in the territory of the European Union. It is made up of Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas designated under the Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive, respectiv ...

. The former sulphur mining site in the Călimani Mountains is now an enclave within this national park.

References

National parks of Romania Protected areas established in 2000 Geography of Mureș County Geography of Suceava County Geography of Harghita County Geography of Bistrița-Năsăud County Tourist attractions in Mureș County Tourist attractions in Suceava County Tourist attractions in Harghita County Tourist attractions in Bistrița-Năsăud County 2000 establishments in Romania Parks established in the 2000s {{Europe-protected-area-stub

Description

See also

References