geo.wikisort.org - Mountains

The Southern Carpathians (also known as the Transylvanian Alps;[1][2] Romanian: Carpații Meridionali [karˈpat͡sij ˌmeridi.oˈnalʲ]; Hungarian: Déli-Kárpátok) are a group of mountain ranges located in southern Romania.[3] They cover the part of the Carpathian Mountains located between the Prahova River in the east and the Timiș and Cerna Rivers in the west. To the south they are bounded by the Balkan mountain range in eastern Serbia.

Southern Carpathians
Romanian: Carpații Meridionali
Negoiu Peak (2535m)
Highest point
Peak	Moldoveanu
Elevation	2,544 m (8,346 ft)
Coordinates	45°30′N 24°15′E
Geography
Location of the Southern Carpathians in Romania
Country	Romania
Parent range	Carpathians
Geology
Orogeny	Alpine orogeny
Age of rock	Mostly Triassic

Heights

The Southern Carpathians are the second highest group of mountains in the Carpathian Mountain range (after Tatra), reaching heights of over 2,500 meters. Although considerably smaller than the Alps, they are classified as having an alpine landscape. Their high mountain character, combined with great accessibility, makes them popular with tourists and scientists.

The highest peaks are:

• Moldoveanu Peak, 2,544 metres – Făgăraș Mountains
• Negoiu, 2,535 metres – Făgăraș Mountains
• Parângu Mare, 2,519 metres – Parâng Mountains
• Omu Peak 2,514 metres – Bucegi Mountains
• Peleaga, 2,509 metres – Retezat Mountains

Despite the heights, some of the most accessible passages in the Carpathians in Romania are along the rivers, which cross the mountain range (the Olt River) or form wide valleys (along the Prahova River Valley or along the Jiu River Valley).

Geology

The South Carpathians represent an intricate pile of tectonic nappes, overthrusted from west eastwards during the Austrian (Middle Cretaceous) and Laramian paroxysmal phases, corresponding to various plate fragments. The napes are (from west eastwards): the Supragetic, Getic, Severin and Danubian Units. The Getic Nappe was identified by Murgoci (1905),[4] while the general understanding over the Alpine structure of the South Carpathians was later refined by Codarcea (1940),[5] Codarcea et al. (1961),[6] Năstăseanu et al. (1981),[7] Săndulescu (1984),[8] Săndulescu and Dimitrescu (2004),[9] and Mutihac (1990).[10] The first to apply the global tectonics concepts for the Romanian Carpathians were Rădulescu and Săndulescu (1973).[11]

The Supragetic, Getic Nappes as well as the Danubian Units represent units with both a metamorphic basement and a sedimentary cover, while the Severin Nappe includes only a sedimentary sequence. The Getic Nappe and the Danubian Units sediments include a Palaeozoic sequence (Upper Carboniferous, Lower Permian) and a Mesozoic sequence (Lowermost Jurassic – Middle Cretaceous). The Supragetic Nappe comprises mainly metamorphosed rocks (gneisses, micashists), while the Severin Nappe includes only Upper Jurassic – Lower Cretaceous sediments.

Mountain ranges

From east to west, four mountain groups can be identified, separated by different river valleys.

• Bucegi Mountains group – between the Prahova and Dâmbovița Rivers.
  • Bucegi Mountains (Munții Bucegi)
  • Piatra Craiului (literally: "Rock of the King")
  • Leaotă Mountains (Munții Leaotă)
• Făgăraș Mountains group – between the Dâmbovița River and the Olt River.
  • Făgăraș Mountains (Munții Făgărașului)
  • Iezer Mountains (Munții Iezer; literally: "Mountains of the Deep Lake")
  • Cozia Mountains (Munții Cozia)
• Parâng Mountains group – between the Olt River and the Jiu River.
  • Parâng Mountains (Munții Parâng)
  • Șureanu Mountains (Munții Șureanu/M. Sebeșului)
  • Cindrel Mountains (Munții Cindrel/M. Cibinului)
  • Lotru Mountains (Munții Lotrului; literally: "Mountains of the Thief")
  • Căpățână Mountains (Munții Căpățânii; literally: "Mountains of the Skull")
• Retezat-Godeanu Mountains group – between the Jiu River and the Timiș and Cerna Rivers.
  • Retezat Mountains (Munții Retezat; literally: "Hewed Mountains")
  • Godeanu Mountains (Munții Godeanu)
  • Vâlcan Mountains (Munții Vâlcan)
  • Mehedinți Mountains (Munții Mehendinți)
  • Cerna Mountains (Munții Cernei)
  • Țarcu Mountains (Munții Țarcu; literally: "Pen Mountains").
• Poiana Ruscă Mountains

The first two groups are steepest on the North side, and the last two are steepest on the South side.^{[citation needed]}

Gallery

• 
  Bucegi as seen from Postavaru massif
• 
  Caraiman Cross on mountain top
• 
  Coștila 400 meters high wall
• 
  View from Bușteni
• 
  Scara summit in Bucegi Mountains
• 
  The Sphinx of Bucegi
• 
  Piatra Craiului Mountains
• 
  Jepii Mici Peak in Bucegi Mountains
• 
  Lake Bâlea in Făgăraș Mountains
• 
  Challenging hiking trail
• 
  Podragu Lake
• 
  Transfăgărășan alpine road
• 
  Regular footpath in Făgăraș Mountains
• 
  Custura Sărătii (in the center of the photo)
• 
  La Zaplaz landmark
• 
  Piatra Craiului ridge in winter
• 
  Landscape in Parâng Mountains
• 
  Parâng alpine scenery
• 
  Shelter in Parâng mountains
• 
  One of many Parâng glacial lakes
• 
  Glacial lakes in the Retezat Mountains
• 
  Bucura Peak in the distance
• 
  Sunset on Retezat Peak
• 
  Salvamont shelter in Retezat
• 
  Waterfall in Retezat National Park
• 
  Bucura Lake

See also

• Romanian Carpathians
• Divisions of the Carpathians
• Iron Gates, at the South-Western end
• Prahova Valley, at the Eastern end

References

External links

• Pictures and landscapes from the Southern Carpathians

На других языках

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[de] Transsilvanische Alpen

Die Transsilvanischen Alpen (rum. Carpații Meridionali) sind ein Teil der Karpaten in Rumänien und werden oft auch Südkarpaten genannt. Die Höhe erreicht mit dem Moldoveanu bis zu 2544 Meter. Das Gebirge trennt Siebenbürgen (nördlich) von der Walachei (südlich). Den Transsilvanischen Alpen schließt sich südwestlich das Banater Gebirge an, das als Teil der Karpaten bis nach Serbien reicht. Die östliche Begrenzung ist der Predeal-Pass.

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- [en] Southern Carpathians

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[es] Cárpatos meridionales

Los Cárpatos meridionales o Alpes de Transilvania (rumano, Carpații Meridionali; alemán, Transsilvanischen Alpen; húngaro, Déli-Kárpátok) son un grupo de sierras que separan la Rumanía central y meridional, por un lado, y Serbia, por el otro lado.[1] Abarcan la parte de los Cárpatos que están ubicados entre el río Prahova en el este y los ríos Timiș y Cerna en el oeste. Al sur están limitados por los Balcanes de Serbia.

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[fr] Alpes de Transylvanie

Les Alpes de Transylvanie (dénomination internationale) ou Carpates méridionales (Carpații Meridionali, dénomination roumaine) sont un groupe de montagnes qui se trouvent entre le centre et le sud de la Roumanie[1]. C’est la partie des Carpates qui se trouve entre la rivière Prahova à l’est, et les rivières Timiș et Cerna à l’ouest. On trouve parfois le nom d’Alpes transylvaines, et on y inclut parfois par commodité de langage, des massifs voisins à l’est (dans le coude des Carpates) et à l’ouest (monts du Banat : dans ce cas, au sud-ouest, ils sont limités par les Balkans de Serbie).

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[it] Alpi Transilvaniche

Le Alpi Transilvaniche (in rumeno Carpații Meridionali), anche chiamate Carpazi Meridionali, sono un gruppo di catene montuose che dividono la Romania centrale e meridionale segnando il confine fra Valacchia e Transilvania. Coprono la parte dei Monti Carpazi che è situata fra il fiume Prahova a oriente e i fiumi Timiș e Cerna a occidente.

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[ru] Южные Карпаты

Южные Карпаты, или Трансильванские Альпы (рум. Carpatii Meridionali) — крайняя южная часть горной системы Карпат. Расположены полностью на территории республики Румыния (исторические области Валахия, Мунтения, Олтения, Банат, Трансильвания). Основой южно-карпатский хребет тянется с запада на восток на протяжении порядка 300 км. Южные Карпаты — это наиболее высокая и наиболее сейсмичная часть Карпатской горной системы. Высочайшая точка — гора Молдовяну высотой 2544 м.

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