Uricani
Encyclopedia
Uricani is a town in the Jiu Valley
region of Hunedoara County
, in southern Transylvania
, Romania
. it had a population of 10,307.
Like the other Jiu Valley cities, Uricani's principal economic activities revolve around the region's coal mines, although the city, like the region, is in a period of transition as the mines have been gradually closed and many of the workers made redundant.
, with the geographical coordinates of 23o10’ meridian, east longitude and 45o25’ parallel, north latitude. The city is located in Hunedoara County and adjacent to Mehedinti and Gorj counties. It lies at an altitude of 729 m altitude on the west side of the Petrosani Depression and along the West Jiu River. Its area also contains the smaller waterways of Lazarul, Valea de Pesti, Buta, and Bilugu, as well as the fresh water reservoir which contains the drinking water used throughout Jiu Valley.
Uricani is accessed via the DN 66A, the 27 kilometer long west branch of the DN 66 that connects the cities of Petrosani, Vulcan, Lupeni and Uricani.
The city covers 25,141 hectares, the largest geographical area of all the Jiu Valley cities. The city limits are bordered to the east by Cow’s Valley, to the west by Retezat National Park
, to the north by peaks of the Retezat Mountains
(Custura, Lazarul -2282m, and Tulisa-1782m), and to the south by peaks of the Vâlcan Mountains
(Coarnele-1789m and Siglaul Mare-1682m). The surrounding mountains are part of the Meridional Carpathians (in an area commonly referred to as the Transylvanian Alps).
Jiu Valley
The Jiu Valley is a region in southwestern Romania, in Hunedoara county, situated in a valley of the Jiu River between the Retezat Mountains and the Parâng Mountains...
region of Hunedoara County
Hunedoara County
Hunedoara is a county of Romania, in Transylvania, with its capital city at Deva.-Demographics:In 2002, it had a population of 485,712 and the population density was 69/km².*Romanians - 92%*Hungarians - 5%*Romas - 2%*Germans under 1%....
, in southern 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...
, 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...
. it had a population of 10,307.
History
Uricani is first mentioned in a certified document dated 1818, when the locality was referred to as Hobiceni-Uricani, the name it carried until the union of 1918. The name of Uricani is derived from the name Hobiţa (listed in documents from 1411) and Uric (from 1473) from Haţeg Land. After the union of Transylvania with Romania, the locality's name was changed to Uricani. Over time, the village of Câmpu lui Neag functioned as either a separate commune or as a village belonging to Uricani. In 1965, Uricani was declared a city. It administers two villages, Câmpu lui Neag and Valea de Brazi.Like the other Jiu Valley cities, Uricani's principal economic activities revolve around the region's coal mines, although the city, like the region, is in a period of transition as the mines have been gradually closed and many of the workers made redundant.
Location
The city location lies on the western side of Jiu Valley and at the foot of the Retezat MountainsRetezat Mountains
The Retezat Mountains are one of the highest massifs in Romania, being part of the Southern Carpathians. The highest peak is Peleaga , at an altitude of 2509 metres...
, with the geographical coordinates of 23o10’ meridian, east longitude and 45o25’ parallel, north latitude. The city is located in Hunedoara County and adjacent to Mehedinti and Gorj counties. It lies at an altitude of 729 m altitude on the west side of the Petrosani Depression and along the West Jiu River. Its area also contains the smaller waterways of Lazarul, Valea de Pesti, Buta, and Bilugu, as well as the fresh water reservoir which contains the drinking water used throughout Jiu Valley.
Uricani is accessed via the DN 66A, the 27 kilometer long west branch of the DN 66 that connects the cities of Petrosani, Vulcan, Lupeni and Uricani.
The city covers 25,141 hectares, the largest geographical area of all the Jiu Valley cities. The city limits are bordered to the east by Cow’s Valley, to the west by Retezat National Park
Retezat National Park
Retezat National Park is a natural reserve area located in the Retezat Mountains in Hunedoara county, Romania.Containing more than 60 peaks over and over 100 crystal clear deep glacier lakes, the Retezat Mountains are some of the most beautiful in the Carpathians...
, to the north by peaks of the Retezat Mountains
Retezat Mountains
The Retezat Mountains are one of the highest massifs in Romania, being part of the Southern Carpathians. The highest peak is Peleaga , at an altitude of 2509 metres...
(Custura, Lazarul -2282m, and Tulisa-1782m), and to the south by peaks of the Vâlcan Mountains
Vâlcan Mountains
The Vâlcan Mountains are a chain of mountains in the southern Carpathians in Romania. They are part of the Retezat-Godeanu Mountains group. They run for approximately 54 km and the highest peak is 1946 m high...
(Coarnele-1789m and Siglaul Mare-1682m). The surrounding mountains are part of the Meridional Carpathians (in an area commonly referred to as the Transylvanian Alps).
External links
- Jiu Valley Portal - the regional portal host of the official Jiu Valley websites