Călimani National Park

Călimani Mountains represent the most grandiose volcanic complex of the Romanian Carpathians and the youngest mountains of our country. It cover an area of about 2000 sq. km. laying from north to east on 60 km. It is an immense andhesytic barrier between the two Romanian provinces, Moldavia and Transylvania. Mountains with volcanic origins, Călimani is the biggest crater (without activity) in Europe, measuring about 10 km in diameter. The highest peak is Pietrosul Călimanilor (2103 m), but there are also other formations more than 2000 m height, like Retitis, Călimani Izvor, Călimani Cerbuc.

Photo: Marius Traian Roşca

In 1975, the Biological Research Center in Cluj proposed Călimani Mountains as national park. In 1976, the scientific data for park establishment were gathered in a research work. In 1990, the Ministry for Waters, Forests and Environment declared the park with a surface of 15,300 ha In 2000, the Romanian legislation list the Călimani National Park with a surface of 24,041 ha (actual surface). Since 2003, the park is officially a protected area, category II IUCN, managed for ecosystem protection. The main objectives include preserving wildlife, habitats and landscapes as well as sustainable development of the neighborhood area so that the conservation targets to be achieved; education and research are encouraged, while recreational activities are allowed. Landowners and local communities benefit from their rights in accordance with the conservation management principles. In May 2004, the Călimani National Park Administration was settled as part of the National Authority for Forests Management.

The sulfur quarry in Negoiul Românesc (photo: Alpinet.org)

Călimani National Park shelters a rich variety of wild plants and animals along the rim of the largest volcanic crater in Romania. From the valley floor up the sides of Călimani's crater, a large variety of forest ecosystems thrive: mixed forests of spruce and beech in the Mureş River Valley; spruce forests in the Neagra Valley; mixed forests of spruce and Arolla pine trees in the scientific reservation; and above the tree line, dwarf pine bushes and juniper shrubs. Beyond 1900m are the siliceous alpine grasslands. Călimani National Park plays an important role with respect to the conservation of Romania's wildlife and mountain ecosystems. The beetles identified to date belong to the following 7 families, the Amphibian Class is represented by 8 species, and 5 species of reptiles have been identified. 68 species of birds have been identified through field observation in the north side of the Park. But research on the Calimani Mountains by Milvus Group indicates that there are some 108 species of birds, 21 of which are included in Annex I of the Birds Directive, species requiring the designation of special areas of conservation. Mammals make up a relatively small fauna group in the Park, but are well represented by big carnivores, including brown bear (Ursus arctos L.), wolves (Canis lupus L.) and lynx (Lynx lynx L.); by the weasel family, including otters (Lutra lutra L.), martens (Martes martes L.) and badgers (Meles meles L.); and finally, by the wild cat (Felis silvestris Schrb.).

Saru Dornei (photo: Alpinet.org)

The landscape is also animated by roe deer (Capreolus capreolus L), red deer (Cervus elaphus L) and wild boar (Sus scrofa L), all preferring the abundant fresh grass and remoteness of the Park. We ask that visitors respect the peace and tranquility which makes Calimani such a haven for wildlife. From the rodent family the main source of food for owls and other small predators. The Park is home to fat dormice (Glis glis L.), common dormice (Muscardinus avellanarius L.), wood mice (Apedemus silvaticus) and alpine shrews (Sorex alpinus Schinz). In the Park's forests, two bat species have been observed: the brown long-eared bat (Plecotus auritus L.) and the parti-coloured bat (Vespertilio murinus L.). Both are listed in Annex IV of the Habitats Directive, species requiring strict protection.

The 12 Apostles (photo: Dinu Oprea)

Things to do in Călimani National Park: hiking, mountain biking, equestrian tours, cross country skiing, bird watching, photo hunting, backpacking, paragliding.

Info from the official site of the park.

Piatra Craiului National Park

Piatra Craiului (Rock of the King) Massif was declared as natural reserve on 28 of March 1938 (Official Journal no. 645). The Ministry Council took this decision "due to the unique character of the massif, where rare species like: Dianthus callizonus, Hesperis nivea, Minuartia transilvanica, Leontopodium alpinum are living, and also because of landscape beauty".

In 1938, when the natural reserve was set up, it was only on 440 ha. This surface increased in 1972, at 900 ha, nowadays the special conservation area (core area) covers 4879ha, and the buffer zone stretches on 9894 ha. In 1952(the year when the first forest management plan was set up in the Piatra Craiului area) around 17.2% from the entire massif surface was designated for conservation purposes. In 1990 Piatra Craiului is declared national park trough Ministry of Agriculture Order no 7 along with other 12 national and natural parks in Romania.

The entire Piatra Craiului National Park (PCNP) is located in the Meridional Carpathians, and it also includes parts of the neighboring mountain passes Rucăr-Bran and Rucăr-Zărneşti. The Piatra Craiului National Park stretches over the counties of Braşov and Argeş, including areas belonging to the towns of Zărneşti, Moeciu (Măgura and Peştera villages), Bran, Rucăr and Dâmbovicioara. The PCNP area is located between the coordinates of 450 22’ 1.73" and 450 34’ 49.55" North latitude and 250 08’ 51.61" and 250 21’ 57.21" East longitude. The entire park area is 14773 ha, 7806 ha being located in the Braşov County and 6967 ha in the Argeş County.

The Piatra Craiului mountains form a narrow and saw-like ridge, which is about 25 km long. The highest elevation in the massif is the "La Om" Peak with 2238 m. The ridge is regarded as one of the most beautiful sights in the Carpathians. The two-day north–south ridge trail is both challenging and rewarding. Starting at either Plaiul Foii in the north-west or Curmătura in the north-east, walkers climb up to the ridge before following a somewhat precarious path along the narrow spine. The descent at the southern end leads into a karst landscape of deep gorges and pitted slopes where water penetrating the rock has carved a series of caves.

In the national park area about 300 fungi species, 220 lichen species, 100 different mosses, 1170 species of superior plants (a third of the number of all plant species found in Romania), 50 Carpathians endemic species and also two endemic species for Piatra Craiului can be found. There are also 2 endemic species of spiders, 270 butterflies species, amphibians and reptiles, 111 birds species (50 listed in the Bern Convention and 6 in the Bonn Convention), 17 bats species, chamois and other large herbivores and also many large carnivores (wolves, brown bears, lynx) living in the national park.

Infos and photos from Parcul Naţional Piatra Craiului and Wikipedia.

Nera's Gorges

Nera River springs from the western part of Southern Carpathians, actually from the Semenic Mountains. At the point where Nera River enters Anina Mountains, the water flow has carved out a breathtaking landscape, whose most attractive point is the Nera Gorges; the straits here are extremely spectacular, wild and rather hard to reach. The keys’ surrounding regions make a national park that was founded in 2004 and stretches along an area of about 37,000 hectares.


The Nera Gorges – Beuşniţa Nature Reserve was for the first time protected in 1943. The need was felt to protect the area in terms of landscape, as well as in terms of its biodiversity. At the surface, diversity lies in the Nera Gorges, the biggest of their kind across the country. According to some specialists there are 20 kilometers long, while others describe them as being 22 kilometers long;aAs for the subterranean landscape - caves and other karstic phenomena. And in terms of biodiversity, there are all sorts of species with Mediterranean influence that can only be found in this region.


In terms of landscape, some of Nera Gorges, most admired spots are such crystal-clear water expands such as the Bey’s Eye or the Devil’s Lake, the Beuşniţa and Văioaga waterfalls, as well as tunneled pathways in Sasca Montană.


About one third of Romania’s earth flora can be found in the Park. The fitogeografic analysis shows the predominance of the European elements in a broad sense, 603 species (58.3%), of which 305 Euro-Asian species, 152 European, 124 Central European, 52 circumpolar. It is also noticed in the flora of the park a large number of southern elements: 209 species (about 19%). Endemic species for the Nera Gorges National Park were identified such as the Banat peony (Paeonia maculata), as well as other species, which are Mediterranean and here in the Nera Gorges found a favorable climate due to the heat that can be found on lime stones. Such species are the filbert tree (Corylus colurna), the wig tree (Cotinus coggyria), and many others.


The fauna in the Nera Park is very rich, among rivers, groves and forests. The terrestrial fauna is represented by a number of 313 taxa, 29 endemisms, 45 rare species, out of which 119 species are protected and strictly protected by the Romanian and international law. The Nera river has fish species that can be described as endemic. For instance, here can be found the Aspro Streber, also known as the loach. This kind of fish is a unique case of how the perch can adapt to living in the fast mountain rivers. This species of fish was considered extinct, or on the verge of extinction across the park, but in 2006 several researchers from the Grigore Antipa Museum managed to capture five samples of the species that are now kept at the Museum. Among reptiles, two venomous species stand out, the viper (Vipera ammodytes), and the adder (Vipera berus). We should also mention the Carpathians’ scorpion (Euscorpius carpaticus), which is a real symbol of the Nera Gorges – Beuşniţa National Park, and is even pictured on this protected area’s emblem. The park also has big mammals, such as the wild boar, the bear, the lynx or the wild cat.


Today, tourism is the region's sole source of income, as long as locals and tourists alike respect the rules and boundaries implied by the protected area. Administrators of the Nera Gorges – Beuşniţa National Park are constantly monitoring tourists who enter the area, and step in to take measures in case any of them break park rules. At the entrance, each tourist pays a fee of little over one euro, and is given a leaflet with park rules and a bag for collecting their trash.