Article by Oana Iosifidis
The Carpathian Mountains or the Carpathians are a range of mountains forming an arc across Central and Eastern Europe.
It is the third-longest European mountain range after the Urals and the Scandinavian Mountains, measuring roughly 1.500 km.
Where are the Carpathian Mountains?
The range stretches from the far eastern Czech Republic (3%) and Austria (1%) in the northwest through Slovakia (17%), Poland (10%), Hungary (4%), Ukraine (10%), Romania (50%) to Serbia (5%) in the south.
The Carpathian Mountains are divided into three major sections:
- Western Carpathians: located in Austria, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, and Hungary
- Eastern Carpathians: south-eastern Poland, eastern Slovakia, Ukraine, and Romania
- Southern Carpathians: Romania and eastern Serbia
The Romanian Carpathians are part of the eastern sector of the Carpathian Mountains and are divided into 3 geographical groups:
- Eastern Carpathians (split into 3 groups: The Carpathians of Maramureș and Bukovina, the Moldavian-Transylvanian Carpathians, and the Curvature Carpathians)
- Southern Carpathians (split into 4 groups: Bucegi Mountains, Făgăraș Mountains, Parâng Mountains, and Retezat-Godeanu Mountains)
- Western Carpathians (split into 3 groups: Banat Mountains, Poiana Ruscă Mountains, and Apuseni Mountains)
Despite stretching across 7 countries, 51% of their total area spans over Romania’s territory.
The name of the mountains is derived from the old Dacian tribes called “Carpes” or “Carpi”, who lived in the area of present-day Romania, stretching from the north-eastern side of the Black Sea to the fields of Transylvania.
The Carpathians provide habitat for the largest European populations of brown bears, wolves, chamois, and lynxes, with the highest concentration in Romania, as well as over one third of all European plant species. The mountains and their foothills also have many thermal and mineral waters, with Romania having one-third of the European total.
Did you visit the Carpathian forests?
If you have Romania on your destination list, the Carpathian Mountains should be on your itinerary.
Since we are here to learn Romanian or get you ready for this, here are some words you might find useful:
Mountain – Munte
Sheepfold – Stână
Village – Sat
Forest – Pădure
Waterfall – Cascadă
Bear – Urs
Hiking trail – Traseu montan
Ticket – Bilet
Mountain guide – Ghid montan
Train – tren
Romania is an amazing destination for hiking, walking trips, and all sorts of outdoor adventures and sports, but not many people know this! From all the Carpathian countries, Romania’s territory is occupied in proportion of 55% by the Carpathian Mountains. If you go hiking in Romania, you will discover untouched sceneries, a rich wildlife hidden in Carpathian forests and traditional mountain villages still untouched by civilization.
Are you an outdoor enthusiast?
In the Carpathian Mountains of Romania, you will discover towering mountains, impressive crests, dangerous cliffs, natural gorges, waterfalls, and numerous caves. Life in the mountains of Romania has a special charm, so please make sure you visit some remote villages, and farms of sheepfolds.
Hiking in the Romanian mountains is not easy and comes with risks. Make sure you read some well-documented guides or make sure you find a licensed mountain guide to help you.
If you are not so much into this kind of adventure, a visit to the Carpathian Mountains, in the mountains resorts in the area will still be a memorable experience. You can enjoy a comfortable vacation while taking in the fresh mountain air and the breathtaking views.
Feel free to browse the site for more travel resources and vocabulary, and keep close for the Romanian version of some articles, to help you exercise your knowledge in Romanian.