Retezat National Park

The Retezat National Park (Romanian: Parcul Naţional Retezat) is a protected area (national park category II IUCN) located in the Retezat Mountains in Hunedoara county, Romania.[3]

Retezat National Park
Parcul Național Retezat
IUCN category II (national park)
Retezat Mountains, near camping site Bucura
Location within Romania
Location Romania
Hunedoara County
Nearest cityLupeni
Coordinates45°20′N 22°50′E[1]
Area38.047 ha (94.02 acres)
Established2000[2]
Websiteretezat.ro

Description

Containing more than 60 peaks over 2,300 metres (7,500 ft) and over 100 crystal clear deep glacier lakes, the Retezat Mountains are some of the most beautiful in the Carpathians. In 1935, the Government of Romania set aside an area of the Retezat Mountains creating the country's first national park.

Currently the park has 380.47 km2 (146.90 sq mi).[4] The area shelters one of Europe's last remaining intact old-growth forest and the continent's largest single area of pristine mixed forest. Vf. Peleaga, the highest peak of the Retezat Mountains, 2,509 metres (8,232 ft) is located in the park. The park also includes about 80 glacier lakes.

In 1979, the Man and Biosphere Program of UNESCO included the park in the international network of biosphere reserve.

Mountains and pines in the Retezat National Park

Flora and fauna

The flora consists of approximately 1,190 plant species, of which 130 have the "endangered" or "vulnerable" status. Wolves, brown bear, wild boar, Eurasian lynx, European wildcat, chamois, roe deer and red deer as well as small carnivore species such as Eurasian badger and Eurasian otter populate the park.

The Gemenele ("The Twins" in Romanian) scientific reserve is a strictly protected area of the park enclosing an intact old-growth forest.

See also

References
  1. eunis.eea.europa.eu - Retezat National Park (coords); retrieved on June 14, 2012
  2. (in Romanian) cdep.ro - Legea Nr.5 din 6 martie 2000, publicată în Monitorul Oficial al României, Nr.152 din 12 aprilie 2000; retrieved on June 14, 2012
  3. protectedplanet.net - Retezat National Park (location); retrieved on June 14, 2012
  4. (in Romanian) apmhd.anpm.ro - Agenţia pentru Protecşia Mediului Hunedoara; retrieved on June 14, 2012
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