Transylvanian Mountains
Encyclopedia
Transylvanian Mountains is the general name of the mountain
system that surrounds the Transylvania
n highland
or plateau
on all four sides, and forms the southeastern and southern continuation of the kiskity mountains the mouths of the Vişeu River and the Golden Bistriţa River, where the Eastern or Wooded Carpathians end, the range of mountains divides and sends ramifications in two directions, to the south and to the west. These chains which enclose Transylvania, giving it the general aspect of a great natural fortress, are the most eastern offshoots of the mountain system of Central Europe
, and guard the approach from the east to the great Hungarian
plain
. They slope gently towards the interior of Transylvania, but rather abruptly towards the rest of Romania
, and while the western wall possesses several large and easy passes, the eastern and southern walls are much more difficult to cros. Many people go here for tourist attractions.
The eastern wall of the Transylvania quadrilateral
is composed of two parallel ranges of mountains divided by the valleys of the Mureş and Olt. The outer range is composed of the following groups: the Giurgeu Mountains (including the Călimani range) with the highest peaks Căliman (6,600 ft.) and Pietrosu (6,908 ft); the Ciuc Mountains with the highest peaks Hăşmaş (5,900 ft.) and the volcanic Biids (3,300 ft.); and the Breţcu Mountains with the highest peak Lakcza (5,830 ft.). The inner range is composed of the following groups: the Gorgny Mountains with the highest peak Mezhavas (5,826 ft.); the Harghita Mountains
with the highest peak Harghita (5,900 ft.); and the Baraolt Mountains
with the highest peak Havad (5,120 ft.). Near the mouths of the Mureş and the Olt are situated the celebrated Giurgeu valley, one of the most beautiful in the whole of Transylvania, and the famous Borsec valley with its mineral spring
s.
The southern wall of the Transylvanian highland is occupied by the Transylvanian Alps. They have a length of 230 miles, and are the highest and wildest mountain range of the whole Transylvanian system, resembling the High Tatra in their bold and high peaks, their beautiful scenery, and their flora. The Transylvanian Alps rise to an altitude of 7,200 ft. above the level of the Danubian
(Romanian) plain, and are divided into a considerable number of groups. From east to west these groups are: the Buzău Mountains with the highest peak Ciucas (6,424 ft.); the Bârsei Mountains with the beautiful peaks of Bucegi (8,230 ft.), Piatra Craiului (7,352 ft.) and Postavaru (5,910 ft.); the high Fǎgǎraş group, extending to the Turnu Roşu pass, and containing Negoi (8,345 ft.), the highest peak in the Transylvanian mountains, Butyan (8,230 ft.) and Surul (7,482 ft.).
West of the Turnu Roşu pass the Transylvanian Alps are also known under the name of the Haţeg Mountains, and consist of the following groups: the Cibin Mountains with the highest peak Cindrel (7,366 ft.); the Paringul Mountains with the highest peak Mandra (8,260 ft.); the Vulcan Mountains, and the Haţeg Mountains proper with the beautiful peak Retezatu (8,125 ft.). The southwestern part of the Transylvanian Alps is formed by the Cserna or Ruscă Mountains with the highest peak Vârfu Petri (8,140 ft.) whose offshoots, of a mean altitude of 3,200-4,700, known as the Banat Mountains
, fill the Banat. The southern part of the Cernei Mountains extend to the Danube, and together with the Miroch Mountains, on the right side of the Danube, and belonging, therefore, to the Balkan system, form the famous gorge
of the Iron Gate
near Orşova
.
Mountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
system that surrounds the Transylvania
Transylvania
Transylvania is a historical region in the central part of Romania. Bounded on the east and south by the Carpathian mountain range, historical Transylvania extended in the west to the Apuseni Mountains; however, the term sometimes encompasses not only Transylvania proper, but also the historical...
n highland
Highland (geography)
The term highland or upland is used to denote any mountainous region or elevated mountainous plateau. Generally speaking, the term upland tends to be used for ranges of hills, typically up to 500-600m, and highland for ranges of low mountains.The Scottish Highlands refers to the mountainous...
or plateau
Plateau
In geology and earth science, a plateau , also called a high plain or tableland, is an area of highland, usually consisting of relatively flat terrain. A highly eroded plateau is called a dissected plateau...
on all four sides, and forms the southeastern and southern continuation of the kiskity mountains the mouths of the Vişeu River and the Golden Bistriţa River, where the Eastern or Wooded Carpathians end, the range of mountains divides and sends ramifications in two directions, to the south and to the west. These chains which enclose Transylvania, giving it the general aspect of a great natural fortress, are the most eastern offshoots of the mountain system of Central Europe
Central Europe
Central Europe or alternatively Middle Europe is a region of the European continent lying between the variously defined areas of Eastern and Western Europe...
, and guard the approach from the east to the great Hungarian
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
plain
Plain
In geography, a plain is land with relatively low relief, that is flat or gently rolling. Prairies and steppes are types of plains, and the archetype for a plain is often thought of as a grassland, but plains in their natural state may also be covered in shrublands, woodland and forest, or...
. They slope gently towards the interior of Transylvania, but rather abruptly towards the rest of Romania
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...
, and while the western wall possesses several large and easy passes, the eastern and southern walls are much more difficult to cros. Many people go here for tourist attractions.
The eastern wall of the Transylvania quadrilateral
Quadrilateral
In Euclidean plane geometry, a quadrilateral is a polygon with four sides and four vertices or corners. Sometimes, the term quadrangle is used, by analogy with triangle, and sometimes tetragon for consistency with pentagon , hexagon and so on...
is composed of two parallel ranges of mountains divided by the valleys of the Mureş and Olt. The outer range is composed of the following groups: the Giurgeu Mountains (including the Călimani range) with the highest peaks Căliman (6,600 ft.) and Pietrosu (6,908 ft); the Ciuc Mountains with the highest peaks Hăşmaş (5,900 ft.) and the volcanic Biids (3,300 ft.); and the Breţcu Mountains with the highest peak Lakcza (5,830 ft.). The inner range is composed of the following groups: the Gorgny Mountains with the highest peak Mezhavas (5,826 ft.); the Harghita Mountains
Harghita Mountains
The Harghita Mountains is a volcanic mountain range of the Căliman-Harghita Mountains in Harghita County of Romania, part of the Inner Eastern Carpathians....
with the highest peak Harghita (5,900 ft.); and the Baraolt Mountains
Baraolt Mountains
The Baraolt Mountains is a mountain range, entirely in Covasna County of Romania.Geologically the Baraolts are part of the Căliman-Harghita Mountains, of the Inner Eastern Carpathians...
with the highest peak Havad (5,120 ft.). Near the mouths of the Mureş and the Olt are situated the celebrated Giurgeu valley, one of the most beautiful in the whole of Transylvania, and the famous Borsec valley with its mineral spring
Mineral spring
Mineral springs are naturally occurring springs that produce water containing minerals, or other dissolved substances, that alter its taste or give it a purported therapeutic value...
s.
The southern wall of the Transylvanian highland is occupied by the Transylvanian Alps. They have a length of 230 miles, and are the highest and wildest mountain range of the whole Transylvanian system, resembling the High Tatra in their bold and high peaks, their beautiful scenery, and their flora. The Transylvanian Alps rise to an altitude of 7,200 ft. above the level of the Danubian
Danube
The Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
(Romanian) plain, and are divided into a considerable number of groups. From east to west these groups are: the Buzău Mountains with the highest peak Ciucas (6,424 ft.); the Bârsei Mountains with the beautiful peaks of Bucegi (8,230 ft.), Piatra Craiului (7,352 ft.) and Postavaru (5,910 ft.); the high Fǎgǎraş group, extending to the Turnu Roşu pass, and containing Negoi (8,345 ft.), the highest peak in the Transylvanian mountains, Butyan (8,230 ft.) and Surul (7,482 ft.).
West of the Turnu Roşu pass the Transylvanian Alps are also known under the name of the Haţeg Mountains, and consist of the following groups: the Cibin Mountains with the highest peak Cindrel (7,366 ft.); the Paringul Mountains with the highest peak Mandra (8,260 ft.); the Vulcan Mountains, and the Haţeg Mountains proper with the beautiful peak Retezatu (8,125 ft.). The southwestern part of the Transylvanian Alps is formed by the Cserna or Ruscă Mountains with the highest peak Vârfu Petri (8,140 ft.) whose offshoots, of a mean altitude of 3,200-4,700, known as the Banat Mountains
Banat Mountains
The Banat Mountains are a number of mountain ranges in Romania, considered part of the Western Romanian Carpathians group.The Banat Mountains consist of:* the Banat Mountains per se, which include:...
, fill the Banat. The southern part of the Cernei Mountains extend to the Danube, and together with the Miroch Mountains, on the right side of the Danube, and belonging, therefore, to the Balkan system, form the famous gorge
Canyon
A canyon or gorge is a deep ravine between cliffs often carved from the landscape by a river. Rivers have a natural tendency to reach a baseline elevation, which is the same elevation as the body of water it will eventually drain into. This forms a canyon. Most canyons were formed by a process of...
of the Iron Gate
Iron Gate (Danube)
The Iron Gates The gorge lies between Romania in the north and Serbia in the south. At this point, the river separates the southern Carpathian Mountains from the northwestern foothills of the Balkan Mountains. The Romanian, Hungarian, Slovakian, Turkish, German and Bulgarian names literally mean...
near Orşova
Orsova
Orșova is a port city on the Danube river in southwestern Romania's Mehedinți County. It is one of four localities in the county located in the Banat historical region. It is situated just above the Iron Gates, on the spot where the Cerna River meets the Danube.- History :The first documented...
.