Fagaras Mountains

Hello and welcome back for a new geography lesson. The presentation for today will be longer becouse this part deserve this.

Fagaras Mountains are a mountain range which forms part of the Southern Carpathians, and is the highest mountain peak in Romania, Moldoveanu Peak 2544 meters. By Negoiu interwar period, with an altitude of 2536 meters, was considered the highest peak in the Carpathians, Tatras peaks exception.

Fagaras massif from east to west measured in a straight line, approximately 70 km from north to south and about 45 km. Fagaras mountains like a huge backbone oriented from east to west with ridges oriented north and south. Peaks in the north are much shorter and more abrupt than those of the south, which are long and smooth.

Fagaras Mountains are bounded on the west by the Olt Valley and east of the river Barsa Grosetului and Dambovita River. To the north are separated by a large tectonic steep, the Fagaras depression, also known as the Land of Olt. To the north, a distance of only 8-10 km, difference in reach over 2,000 meters. South, delimitation is much less pronounced, was made after long ridges 30-40 km (tiles, enslaved, Scarisoara, sand, ŽARNIĆ, etc..), The string depressions Campulung Bradetu, Arefu and Jiblea.

The total area covered by the Fagaras Mountains is more than 2,400 km ², being, for comparison, about 7.5 times the Bucegi Mountains. Throughout the extent of Fagaras there are eight peaks over 2,500 m: Moldoveanu 2,544 m, 2,535 m Negoiu with, Vistea Great 2527 m, 2522 m Caltun-Lespezi with, Hunt Buteanu to 2507 m, Cornu Caltun to 2510 m, Hartopu to 2506 m, 2501 m there with Dara also with 42 peaks over 2,400 m and more than 150 peaks over 2,300 m.

These peaks are separated by deep saddles, some down to below 2000 m (saddle ŽARNIĆ: 1932 m).

This density peaks, slopes, peaks and heights have attracted massive and called Transylvanian Alps, French scholar Emmanuel expression attributed to Martonne.

Detach from the ridge to the north and south, strong like stone buttresses, a large number of loins extend (up the mountain) located almost perpendicular to the ridge. They have different lengths and especially appearances as face north or south. Northern branches are mostly steep and rocky near the ridge, just below the mantle appease the coniferous forests that occur immediately falls below 1,700 m height Another feature of these branches is their appearance and sometimes very narrow edge serrated (eg edge Albota).

In striking contrast to the northern branches, which shall break the backs south ridge (Muntenia) are long and slow, partly covered by pastures.

Main ridge of Fagaras and northern branches subjected to the action of currents and disintegration caused by freezing and thawing stitching forming in some places very narrow, notched saddles such as: Port Arpasul the Dragon window, saddles of Serbota valleys (north), springs Scale and Negoiu (south).

Another feature of this is the numerous glacial mountains and alpine lakes located at high altitudes. Some of these lakes are fed by underground springs.

Lower valleys to the north (Transylvania), is mostly a direction nearly perpendicular to the ridge line, and their waters are forced - due to very inclined slope - to descend into jumps, forming numerous waterfalls. Among the most picturesque valleys are: valleys midwives, Serbota, Bale, Brezcioarei, Ucei Great and Ucisoara, Saturday.

Fagaras mountains are crisscrossed by the highest road in Romania, Transfagarasan.

Fagaras massif nature reserves are less than the wealth of endemic plants and beautiful landscape areas.

Baldea alpine and lake. With an area of ​​120.45 hectares, the reserve covers an area south of peaks guarded Buteanu Hunt (2508 m), Capra (2450 m) and Paltinu Mare (2480 m) on the western flank of Buteanu edge and on the eastern Balea edge. Reserve includes glacial Balea glacial lake of the same name, the largest glacial lake of Fagaras Mountains.

Reserve Arpasel. With an area of ​​736 ha reserve is located on the northern slope Arpasel the Fagaras Mountains, including alpine, subalpine and upper mountain from 2,500 m to 1,000 m altitude.

limestone from Turnu Red. Located near the village Turnu Red, comprises a strip of limestone superimposed on crystalline schists. Included in these limestones rich deposits of fossils, scientifically interesting.

Clothes Vegetable Fagaras Mountains is a very rich and varied. Compact forests cover the mountain slopes up to a height of about 1,700 m, and large meadows and glades - adorned with all kinds of flowers - span the banks of valleys, forest clearings or wavy lands under forest belt of the mountain.

Beyond the meadows begin beech forest region that covers much of the mountain foot. Beech grows here strong, tall and straight, forming forests really great. For the beauty of silver beech forests of the valley Bale as for other tourist values ​​that are over them (rocks, lakes and waterfalls), this valley was declared by the Commission for the protection of natural monuments nature reserve. In beech forest clearings and banks that water meets capreasca willow, birch, aspen, alder, raspberries, blackberries.

At the top of the forest, mixed with beech tree that is quite rare. Instead, his place is taken by spruce woodland occupying the entire region, from 1,100 to almost 1,700 m altitude.

Apart from these two representatives of conifers, in Fagaras still meet other resinous essences. Thus, larch and larch (Brezcioarei Valley) pin (Valley House, Mountain Slope), yew (in greater numbers Edge midwife) zambru rare specimens, and quite often juniper (Santa Edge). Of these, larch, yew and Zambra species are protected by law.

Above molidisului alpine start, often interrupted by numerous clusters of juniper trees, juniper, blueberry and cranberry. Is mainly alpine meadows covered (especially on the southern slope of the mountain) providing abundant food numerous flocks of sheep. Also in this area meet various species of flowers, some beautiful and interesting than others: smirdar, Campanu (bells dwarfs), gentiene, forget-me-not, panseaua mountain, Russian, Garofita mountain tribute. Of flowers protected by Law: Sunflower Queen, also known as "Edelweiss" brave blood, white ivy. In mid-June, up in the alpine mountain peony blossoms, which takes the form of a fragrant flowers, a bright red blanket enveloping the mountain as seen from a great distance, and when the wind blows feeling that burning mountain . Locals on the last Saturday in June used to climb, young and old, the peony festival.

Fagaras Mountains chain contains a rich fauna, both in subalpine areas, mostly covered by vast forests and alpine areas. Among mammals Carpathian bear (protected by law) is the most representative, maintaining shelters in many parts of the upper coniferous forests. In lower elevation forests, wild boars offers another precious game in both northern mountain lands and in the south. Marten and lynx are found less frequently. Instead, squirrel appears everywhere in the way of hiking in forest regions where the mainstay is the fox. Deer and deer forests give charm to the hem. Wolf is also present in these places.

Many birds beautifies forest life: meet scissors, finches, mountain cojoaice, woodpeckers, thrushes, wagtails berries, honey. Grouse and grouse are nestled in thickets. Of birds of prey living in heavily: eagles, hawks, eagles or griffins forest, wind, and rarely eagles rock. Many reptiles, some harmless as lizards mountain and batracienii gusterii such as salamanders, teeming with carpets of dead foliage. In some places, the slopes oriented towards the sun, inhabit and vipers. Many mountain streams and alpine lakes are now restocked with trout. Lives atop chamois, protected by law.

And with this we are finished for today! God bless you!