APUSENI NATURAL PARK (ROMANIA)

Student: Robert KOVACS, IXth B grade; Coordinating teacher: Ioana Lacrimioara RADA; School: Samuil Vulcan National College

             The Apuseni Natural Park is a protected area of national interest, made up of a delimited territory where the natural, historical and cultural attributes are protected for the maintenance of a sustainable development.

              The National Park is located in the West of the country, in the central-eastern part of the Apuseni Mountains, surrounded by a range of mountains and plateaus, on the territory of three districts (Cluj, Bihor and Alba).

                 

               Bohodei Crest is located in Bihor County, halfway mountain route between Stana de Vale and Padis. It has a height of 1650 m, being the second high mountain in the framework of Vladeasa Mountains. Here we can find a rich vegetation of conifers (the spruce, the pine and the juniper), but fauna is not so complex, being noted only a few wild animals such as the golden eagle, the bear and the chamois, specific to the alpine area.

In this mountain area, extreme sports lovers can enjoy climbing dangerous hillsides. Climbing over rocky mountains (45 degrees), among the boulders, this is what adrenaline means. Every winter, there is a contest organized in this area. It is a snowmobile competition having an 80 km trail, which include Bohodei Saddle, regarded as the hardest test of the competition. Many contestants have damaged theirs snowmobiles falling into chasms.

Padis, another location in the Apuseni Natural Park, is a tourist area in the northern branch of the Bihor Mountains, which presents an alpine sandstone plateau and a relief with precipices, caves, gorges and glades. Padis is the perfect place for explorers who love to discover new places and for those who like to go out in nature, to reassure themselves and to forget the urban noise.

              Dragan Lake, in optimal conditions, has an area of 292 acres. The lake water is used to produce electricity, flood mitigation and irrigation. Dragan Lake is located in Vladeasa Mountains and is an extremely nice place to visit. It’s also a recreational lake where you can fish and swim. It is the ideal place for people who enjoy water sports (water-skiing, jet-skiing).

              In October 2014 it was decided that Romsilva would administer further, over a period of 10 years, the Apuseni National Park.

Photos: Personal archive

 SOURCES:

http://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parcul_Natural_Apuseni;

 - touristic guide- the Apuseni Natural Park;