HAȚEG COUNTRY DINOSAURS GEOPARK The Hațeg Country Dinosaurs Geopark is located in the central part of Romania, in a very fertile region, surrounded by mountains from all directions. These natural features along with the cultural background make Hațeg Country a miniature Transylvania. The region is called a “country” from the Latin word “terra”, used in all the medieval documents to show the special character of this land. Protected by the mountains, the Romanian community here resisted the Hungarian conquest and managed to keep its forms of organization. The Geopark covers an area of 102.392 hectares, including a town (the town of Hațeg – 13000 inhabitants) and 10 communes, the total population of the Geopark area is about 39000 people. Besides the very picturesque landscapes, deep gorges, caves, alpine forests, meadows, orchards and crops the region hosts remains of the human history from Paleolithic to Roman Antiquity and from the Middle-Age to the Modern time. The most important sites are the ruins of the ancient capital of the Dacia province of the Roman Empire at Sarmizegetusa Ulpia Traiana, the numerous medieval churches among which the magnificent Densus church, a master piece of the Mid Age architecture, as well as the remains of the more recent castles and old nobles’ mansions. The region is world-wide known for its “dwarf dinosaurs” from the end of Cretaceous, 72-65 million years ago. This special paleontological heritage has inspired the name of the Geopark. Fifteen dinosaur species, both herbivorous and carnivorous from the region, were described, based on skeletal remains found in fossil fluvial and lake deposits. Dinosaur eggs and hatchlings were also discovered in the same deposits, as well as many non-dinosaur species, representing all the classes of vertebrates, from fishes to mammals being represented in the fossil faunal assemblage. The total number of vertebrate taxa is around 65. Very spectacular in this assemblage is a huge pterosaur (flying reptile), named Hatzegopteryx, from the name of the region. This enormous creature, one of the largest flying animals ever, if not the largest one, had a wingspan of 12 m. Another geologic event that is well documented in the Geopark is the volcanic rocks-tuffs, lavas and volcanic bombs marking the volcanic eruptions that took place in the region during the dinosaurs existence. All the natural, historical and cultural sites from the Hațeg region, so abundant and significant, not only for the restricted area of the Geopark, but for the entire country, are integrated within the management plan of the Geopark. This plan has as main strategic points the conservation and management of the sites, in order to allow both tourism and ecological and scientific education. The development and control of a modern and intelligent tourism in the region is a strategic objective of the Geopark, for which the development of infrastructures (agro-tourist pensions, roads and information-points) and the creation of new leisure attractions in the region are envisaged. Among the new attractions, the creation an open- space museum of dinosaurs to include the life-size reconstruction of the species from the Hațeg region is the most important. MĂCIN MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK The Măcin Mountains are situated in the South-East of Romania, respectively in North-West Dobrogea, Tulcea County, between the Danube Valley, Luncaviţa Valley and the Cerna-Horia saddle. In the West and South-West of the natural park, the entrance is via the national road 22D, between Măcin and Horia. In the North there is there European road E87, linking Horia and Luncaviţa. The county road between Horia and Luncaviţa allows access to the East and North-East of the park. The Măcin Mountains are the oldest mountains in the territory of Romania, being created during the Hercynian orogeny. The landscapes of the Măcin Mountains are alike those of Southern Europe due to the presence of sub-Mediterranean and Balkan forests. They also resemble Eurasian steppes, defined by saxicolous vegetation, the Măcin Mountains being the largest such area in Dobrogea and Romania. The landscape originality is given by megalithic granite formations, as well as by the contrast between mesophilic forest vegetation and the xerophile steppe-like pastures. Rock weathering processes are active, resulting in surprising archaic landscapes. The representative character of these mountains at national level is given by the existence of three layers of vegetation proper to the Dobrogean Plateau: mesophilic Balkan deciduous forests, xerothermic sub-Mediterranean forests and the forest-steppe with sub-Mediterranean forests. The climate of these mountains has created a specific variety, unique in Europe, enhanced by the interference of the Black Sea-sub-Mediterranean, Central European and Asian ecosystem types. This gives the Măcin Mountains the look of a miniature synthesis of two great continents – Europe and Asia. The fauna of the Măcin Mountains, generally less studied, is diverse and has a special importance due to the presence of rare and protected species, according to international regulations. Podarcis tauricu Testudo graeca ibera Guster Vipera ammodytes COZIA NATIONAL PARK Cozia National Park is a hiker’s dream destination and one of the most breathtaking protected areas in Romania. The almost endless nature panoramas and the rich cultural heritage from its foothills transform this national park into one of best hiking locations in the Carpathian Mountains. Situated along the valley of one of the longest rivers in Romania, Olt, the area of Cozia National Park extends on over 17,000 hectares and includes Cozia Mountain and partially Capatanii and Lotrului Mountains. With a maximum altitude of 1,668 meters reached in the highest part of the massif Cozia, these mountains are not nearly as tall as the nearby Fagaras. But, their abrupt slopes make hiking here an unexpectedly intense experience that can prove to be difficult during snowy winters. The variety of landscapes and habitats from Cozia National Park can only mean a rich biodiversity of both plant and animals species, including the iconic large carnivores, the chamois, the deer, the wildcat, many rodents, and even a rare viper species. One fish species – nisiparita – is endemic to this protected area. Over 120 bird species live in this national park, located on the migratory route between Central Europe and the Aegean Sea, and its territory is covered almost completely by dense forests of beech, spruce and oak. What’s particular to the area is the high number of mushroom species, over 400 discovered until now, along with almost 200 species of moss and six endemic flower species. Nine hiking trails cross the national park. Some are short and easy, but some are intense and require good hiking boots and physical training. Choosing one depends on your time, season and what you’d like to see along the way. This national park offers even more than memorable hikes. Ancient ruins from the time of the Roman conquest, almost 2,000 years ago, are found here. The castrum of Arutela, very close to the monasteries Turnu and Cozia, and the castrum of Pretorium are among the few traces of the Roman fortifications built in the area. Still, the most famous cultural attractions are the old Orthodox churches and monasteries: Cozia, built during the 14th-century reign of Prince Mircea the Old, buried here, Frasinei and Cornet Churches. This atypical combination of medieval churches, ancient ruins and intense hiking trails create a unique imagery and experience that make Cozia National Park a hiker’s dream destination, one of the best in the Carpathians. RETEZAT NATIONAL PARK The Retezat National Park is a protected area located in the Retezat Mountains in Hunedoara county, Romania. It is composed of the Retezat- Godeanu mountain ranges. The Retezat range extends north from the center, and rises from between the Petrosani and Hateg tectonic hollows. The main characteristic of the Retezat Mountains is given by the presence of two big eruptive blocks that stretch out in the direction of Lapusnicul Mare and Barbat rivers: the Retezat type granodioritic massif to the North, stretching out over a length of more than 40 km and width of around 20 km and the Buta granodioritic massif, located in the south of the Lapusnic- Barbat valley corridor, which drops under the Jurassic deposits of the Retezatul Mic. The tectonic, lithology and morphologic conditions of the Retezat Mountains, correlated with the positioning of the crests in relation with the advection of the oceanic air masses, make the massif be the area with the highest humidity and draining in the Romanian Carpathians. The abundant hydrographic network drains in two directions: Northwards, towards the Strei River (the Mures hydrographic basin), which collects all the waters from the west, north and northeast of the massif. Southwards, towards the West Jiu river (the Jiul Romanesc Hydrographic basin). Retezat is famous for its floral diversity, sheltering around 1190 superior plants species of the 3450 species known in Romania. The existence of more than a third of the Romanian flora in this area is one of the reasons for which it was declared a National Park. An approximate number of inferior species adds to the above-mentioned ones. VÂNĂTORI NEAMŢ NATURAL PARK Situated in the northern part of the county, on the eastern slope of Stânişoara Mountains and Subcarpathians in Neamţ, Vânători Neamţ Natural Park is among the protected natural areas in the county, covering a surface of almost 76.600 acres, aims to protect and conserve the population of bison, once a component of wildlife fauna of Romania. The park is the only place in Europe where tourists can visit the bison, the largest land animal on the continent, in three habitat types: in freedom, in the forests of the park, inside “Dragoş Vodă” Carpathian Wildlife and Bisons Reserve but also in semi-freedom, in the acclimatization enclosure.