| Transylvanian Mountains |
Article Index for Transylvanian |
Website Links For Transylvanian |
Information AboutTransylvanian Mountains |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT TRANSYLVANIAN MOUNTAINS | |
| mountain ranges of the carpathians | |
| mountains of romania | |
|
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 Carpathian Mountains . At the mouths of the Viso River and the Golden Bistritza 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 Romania , and while the western wall possesses several large and easy passes, the eastern and southern walls are much more difficult to cross. The eastern wall of the Transylvania 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 Bodza Mountains with the highest peak Csuks (Ciucas, 6,424 ft.); the Burzenland Mountains with the beautiful peaks of Bucsecs (8230 ft.), Konigstein (7,352 ft.) and Schuler (5,910 ft.); the high Forgaras group, extending to the Roteturm 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 Roteturm pass the Transylvanian Alps are also known under the name of the Hatszeg 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 Vulkan Mountains, and the Hatszeg Mountains proper with the beautiful peak Retiezat (8,125 ft.). The southwestern part of the Transylvanian Alps is formed by the Cserna or Ruszka Mountains with the highest peak Verfu 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 Cserna Mountains, known as the Stretinye Mountains, extend to the Danube, and together with the Miroch Mountains, on the right side of the Danube, and belonging, therefore, to the Bafkan system, form the famous Gorge of the Iron Gate near Orsova . The western and northern wall of the Transylvanian quadrilateral do not present the character of an uninterrupted chain of mountains, but possess many low and easy passes towards the Hungarian Plain. Going from south to north the principal groups are: the Transylvanian Ore Mountains with the Basalt ic mass of the Detunata (3,768 ft.) near Abrudbnya; the Bihor Mountains , with romantic scenery and numerous Cave rns, with the highest peak the Cucurbeta (6,045 ft.); to the east of this group are the Aranyos Mountains with the highest peak, the Muntelui Mare (5,970 ft.), to the southwest of Kolozsvr; then come the Meszes group and the Kraszna Mountains. The northern wall is formed by the Lapos Mountains with the highest peak Ciblesiu (6,020 ft.), and the Rodna Mountains with the highest peaks Muncsel (5,835 ft.), Pietrosu (7,544 ft.) and Ineu (7,484 ft.). Inside this mountainous quadrilateral lies the Transylvanian highland or plateau, which has a mean elevation of 1,000-1,600 ft. It is improperly called a plateau, for it does not possess anywhere extensive plains, but is formed of a network of valleys of various size, ravines and Canyon s, united together by numerous small Mountain Range s, which usually attain a height of 500-800 ft. above the altitude of the valley. In the Transylvanian Mountains the principal passes are: the Rodna, the Borgo, the Tolgyes and the B()kas. Then come the Gyimes, the Uz and Oitoz, the Bodza or Buzeu, the Toms or Predeal pass, crossed by the Railway from Brass to Bucharest , the famous Roteturm Pass (1,115 ft.) through the narrow gorge of the Aluta, crossed by the railway from Nagy-Szeben to Bucharest, the Vulkan, the Teregova pass, and the Iron Gate pass, both crossed by the railway from Temesvar to Craiova . All those passes lead from Transylvania into Romania. From Transylvania into Hungary are the Banffy-Hunyad pass, crossed by the railway from Nagyvarad to Kolozsvar , and the defile of the Maros River crossed by the railway from Arad to Broos. In the interior of Transylvania are the Szent-Domokos pass near Csikszereda leading from the valley of the Aluta to that of the Maros (near their respective mouths) and the pass of Csik-Szereda over the Hargitta Mountains. REFERENCES |
|
|