Ceahlau Massif
Encyclopedia
The Ceahlău Massif is one of the most notorious mountains of Romania
. It is part of the Bistriţa Mountains
range of the Eastern Carpathians division, in Neamţ County
, in the Moldavia
region. The two most important peaks are Toaca (1904 m altitude) and Ocolaşul Mare (1907 m altitude). It is bounded to the east by the Bistriţa River
and Lake Bicaz
, to the south by the Bicaz River
. From the south, the main access point is the village of Izvorul Muntelui, located 12 km north from the town of Bicaz
. To the north, Mount Ceahlău is also accessible from Durău
.
There are many legends about the Ceahlău Massif and speculations regarding its possible reverence for the ancient Dacians
; as a consequence it is often called "The Romanian Olympus
."
Ceahlău National Park shelters a large variety of flora and fauna; some of the species are endemic or rarely seen elsewhere in Romania.
destination in Romania. There are seven main marked trails built for hikers and tourists. There are entering fees for visiting Ceahlău National Park. and fines for non respecting park's regulations.. The park is monitored by local rangers
and there is also a mountain rescue service (Salvamont).
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
. It is part of the Bistriţa Mountains
Bistrița Mountains
The Bistrița Mountains are mountain ranges in northern central Romania.Geologically these ranges are considered part of the Inner Eastern Carpathians group of the Eastern Carpathians...
range of the Eastern Carpathians division, in Neamţ County
Neamt County
Neamț is a county of Romania, in the historic region of Moldavia, with the county seat at Piatra Neamț. It has three communes, Bicaz-Chei, Bicazu Ardelean and Dămuc in Transylvania.-Demographics:...
, in the Moldavia
Moldavia
Moldavia is a geographic and historical region and former principality in Eastern Europe, corresponding to the territory between the Eastern Carpathians and the Dniester river...
region. The two most important peaks are Toaca (1904 m altitude) and Ocolaşul Mare (1907 m altitude). It is bounded to the east by the Bistriţa River
Bistriţa River (Siret)
Bistrița is a river in the Romanian region of Moldavia. Near Bacău it flows into the Siret River. It flows through the counties Suceava, Neamț and Bacău...
and Lake Bicaz
Lake Bicaz
The Lake Izvorul Muntelui, also known as Lake Bicaz is the largest artificial lake on the interior waters of Romania; it was created after the completion of a dam built on the Bistriţa River. The dam is located a few kilometers north of the town of Bicaz.The dam was built between 1950 and 1960 and...
, to the south by the Bicaz River
Bicaz River
The Bicaz River is a tributary of the Bistriţa River in Romania. It starts at junction of headwaters Veleşchia and Hăghimaş in the Lacul Roşu...
. From the south, the main access point is the village of Izvorul Muntelui, located 12 km north from the town of Bicaz
Bicaz
Bicaz is a town in Neamţ County, Romania situated in the eastern Carpathian Mountains near the confluence of the Bicaz and Bistriţa Rivers and near Lake Bicaz, an artificial lake formed by the Bicaz Dam on the Bistriţa. Bicaz used to be a border town until 1918...
. To the north, Mount Ceahlău is also accessible from Durău
Durau
Durău is a ski resort located in north-eastern Romania, in Neamţ County, Moldavia at the proximity of Ceahlău Massif...
.
There are many legends about the Ceahlău Massif and speculations regarding its possible reverence for the ancient Dacians
Dacians
The Dacians were an Indo-European people, very close or part of the Thracians. Dacians were the ancient inhabitants of Dacia...
; as a consequence it is often called "The Romanian Olympus
Olympus
-In antiquity:A total of nineteen mountains were referred to as Olympos or Olympus in antiquity. Some of these mountains are:Greece...
."
Activities
Ceahlău National Park shelters a large variety of flora and fauna; some of the species are endemic or rarely seen elsewhere in Romania.
Hiking
Mount Ceahlău is a popular hikingHiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
destination in Romania. There are seven main marked trails built for hikers and tourists. There are entering fees for visiting Ceahlău National Park. and fines for non respecting park's regulations.. The park is monitored by local rangers
Park ranger
A park ranger or forest ranger is a person entrusted with protecting and preserving parklands – national, state, provincial, or local parks. Different countries use different names for the position. Ranger is the favored term in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Within the United...
and there is also a mountain rescue service (Salvamont).
Camping
Camping is permitted only in a few designated places: in Durău, near Dochia Chalet and in Izvorul Muntelui.Chalets and refuges
- Izvorul Muntelui Chalet (757 m of altitude, basecamp), near BicazBicazBicaz is a town in Neamţ County, Romania situated in the eastern Carpathian Mountains near the confluence of the Bicaz and Bistriţa Rivers and near Lake Bicaz, an artificial lake formed by the Bicaz Dam on the Bistriţa. Bicaz used to be a border town until 1918...
- Dochia Chalet (1750 m, near Toaca Peak)
- Fântânele Chalet (1220m, near DurăuDurauDurău is a ski resort located in north-eastern Romania, in Neamţ County, Moldavia at the proximity of Ceahlău Massif...
) - Ceahlău - Toaca weather stationWeather stationA weather station is a facility, either on land or sea, with instruments and equipment for observing atmospheric conditions to provide information for weather forecasts and to study the weather and climate. The measurements taken include temperature, barometric pressure, humidity, wind speed, wind...
Notable sights and places
- Duruitoarea waterfallWaterfallA waterfall is a place where flowing water rapidly drops in elevation as it flows over a steep region or a cliff.-Formation:Waterfalls are commonly formed when a river is young. At these times the channel is often narrow and deep. When the river courses over resistant bedrock, erosion happens...
- Panaghia rock
- Piatra Lată din Ghedeon rock formation
- Ocolaşul Mic Peak
- Dochia RockRock (geology)In geology, rock or stone is a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals and/or mineraloids.The Earth's outer solid layer, the lithosphere, is made of rock. In general rocks are of three types, namely, igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic...
- Turnul lui Butu Stone
- Poiana Maicilor (engl: Nuns' gladeGlade (geography)A glade or clearing is an open area within a woodland. Glades are often grassy meadows under the canopy of deciduous trees such as red alder or quaking aspen in western North America. They also represent openings in forests where local conditions such as avalanches, poor soils, or fire damage have...
) - Poiana Stănile
- Poliţa cu crini protected area
- Gardul Stănilelor
Other uses of the name
- Ceahlăul Stadium, in Piatra NeamţPiatra NeamtPiatra Neamț , , ; is the capital city of Neamţ County, in the historical region of Moldavia, eastern Romania. Because of its privileged location in the Eastern Carpathian mountains, it is considered one of the most picturesque cities in Romania...
- FC Ceahlăul Piatra Neamţ, a Romanian soccer team