Bihor Mountains

P5

The Bihor Mountains in Romania

Vârtop Pass and Bihor Mountains

The Bihor Mountains ( also German Bihar Mountains; romanian Munţii Bihorului; Hungarian Bihari hegység ) is a mountain range on the western border of Transylvania and the highest part of the Apuseni Mountains in Romania.

Demarcation

The Bihor Mountains is limited

• To the north by Vladeasa Mountains ( Munţii Vladeasa ), which is sometimes attributed to the Bihorgebirge ( Munţii Bihor - Vladeasa )
• In the northeast of the Gilăuer Bergen ( Munţii Gilăului )
• To the east by Muntele Mare Massif,
• In the southeast and south by the Transylvanian Erzgebirge ( Munţii Metaliferi ) and from Găină Massif ( also sometimes for Bihorgebirge counted )
• To the west by Codru - Moma Mountains ( Munţii Codru - Moma )
• In the northwest of the Beiuş sink ( Depresiunea Beiuş )

Description

The main ridge of the mountain range pretty heavily indented arcuately extending from north to south-east. The highest elevation is 1849 m high Curcubata Mare. In particular, the northern part of the mountain shows pronounced karst formations, which manifests itself in the occurrence of a variety of caves and karst springs. The Bihor Mountains is - apart from the few situated above the tree line areas and grazing areas - heavily wooded, with the proportion of coniferous forest is greater than in most other Romanian mountains.

Population

The mountain and its immediate surroundings are almost exclusively inhabited by Romanians, in particular settle numerous moaning in the eastern part. While in the outskirts of larger, more built-up areas dominate, there are countless small shepherds and woodcutters settlements in the interior of the mountain.

Economy

The Bihor Mountains is dominated by pasture and forestry. Agriculture is only possible in the border areas, industrial scarce. An increasing role of tourism.

Traffic

On the southern edge of the mountains runs a less important railway line (Arad - Brad ). The narrow- gauge railway from Turda after Abrud has been shut down since 1999.

Through the Bihor Mountains, the highway 75 from Ştei runs over the Vârtop Pass ( 1160 m) to Turda. Away from the few paved roads in many smaller settlements in the mountains only on unpaved roadways or footpaths are accessible.

Attractions

• Cetatile Ponorului (large karst caves with underground rivers )
• Peştera Ursilor ( " Bear Cave " with stalactites )
• Peştera Scărişoara ( ice cave )

Some villages in the mountains and in the environment

• Brad ( Tannenhof )
• Vascau
• Ştei
• Nucet
• Baita
• Arieşeni
• Avram Iancu
• Câmpeni ( Topesdorf )
• Abrud ( United Schlatten )

• Mountains in Europe
• Mountains in Romania
• Carpathians
• Mountain