Centre for Research on Settlements and Urbanism Journal of Settlements and Spatial Planning J o u r n a l h o m e p a g e: http://jssp.reviste.ubbcluj.ro Rural Tourism Development in the Basin of Drăgan River Helena Maria SABO 1 1 Babeş-Bolyai University, Faculty of Psychology and Science of Education, Cluj-Napoca, ROMANIA E-mail: [email protected] K e y w o r d s: attractive potential, tourism, Dr ăganului Valley, rural sustainable development A B S T R A C T This paper prese nts a description of the tourism potential in the region of Drăgan Valley Basin. The motivation in choosing this theme is given by the variety of tourism resources that is found in the picturesque Valley of Drăgan River and the attractiveness of this type of tourism that has recently developed in Romania, rural tourism, and particularly the prospects of development in the context of European context. Drăgan river basin is a major tourist attraction located in the mountainous area in the Northwestern region of Cluj County. The region stands out due to its various and attractive landscape: barren Picks, snowbound Alpine heights in dense forests, Mountain meadows with millions of flowers, the impressive vertical scale is enriched by the presence of unique natural phenomena: waterfalls, springs, caves. The natural tourism potential in the region is completed by the major cultural, historical and religious attractions. 1. INTRODUCTION Mountains into two branches: east branch and west branch [8]. Most of Drăgan river basin is located in Cluj Drăgan River crosses Vlădeasa Mountains County. The Western boundary of this basin is the from south to north giving them the shape of a border between Cluj and Bihor counties by the massif of horseshoe with an opening to the north. Piatra Calului. Drăgan River has its springs in the Vlădeasa Mountains are located in the county of Cluj, and then it flows on the territory of northern side of the Bihor Massif; they are limited in Bihor County where it collects several small tributaries the west by Crişul Negru river and Iadului Valley, in the to the confluence with the Crăciun creek. east by the Henţului Valley, in the south by the Someşul Cald and Bihor Mountains and in the north by the of 2. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Crişul Repede Valley. The entire basin of Drăgan river is situated in 2.1. Natural tourist resources the mountains of Vlădeasa, which are extremely divided, penetrating deeply into the mountains with a Vlădeasa Mountains’ sights are an outcome of dentritic network. Drăgan River has two sources, first the geological constitution. Thus, in the Vlădeasa of Fântâna Rece peak at an altitude of 1652 m and Mountains we can observe upper Mesozoic age rocks second in Culmea Cumpănăţelului at an altitude of and even Neozoic. However, it is not formed from 1400 m. In the first 40 km of Drăgan water course, the metamorphosed or sedimentary rocks, but from river receives more than 30 tributaries in a landscape of volcanic rocks. These rocks are the result of powerful a rare beauty; finally, the river flows into the Crişul volcanic eruption which gave rise to the lava flows that Repede River near Valea Drăganului village and so it is alternate with layers of ash and blocks torn from the formed the axis of symmetry that divides Vlădeasa foundation. Helena Maria SABO Journal of Settlements and Spatial Planning, vol. 1, no. 2 (2010) 161-166 Volcanic products range is very widespread in The west branch of Vlădeasa Mountains is Vlădeasa Mountains, covering nearly 500 sq miles. bounded on the east and west of Drăganului Valley and The lower parts of the massif, where erosion the tributary valleys of the Crişul Negru and Iadului has deeply penetrated the surface subcrustal eruptive Valley. It extends over a length of 50 km. It varies in bodies appear. The same are the Budureasa length from the east branch because it is more granodiorite or the Pietroasa ones. sinuously due to its depart from a north-south line. It In some parts of the mountain, like Stăna de also differs from the east branch in other points of view Vale or the origin area of Răchiţele Valley, erosion has such as height and morphology. I only want to mention removed the pile of lava, which appears below the an important element of this tourist area, namely limestone foundation, like rocks in northern Bihor Iadului Valley. Its sources gather in a small, almost flat Mountains. depression which is located at Stâna de Vale resort, The relief is important for tourism, primarily surrounded by dense forests of spruce and beech. due to the multitude of forms it submits, individually or Drăganului Valley falls below the wild gorges and cuts associated landscape diversity that attracts the tourists deep into the volcanic rock. and also, of great importance in tourist activities [4]. The ”gorges” are a significant tourist Vlădeasa Mountains have a similar relief to attraction, representing the “first step, the wildest that of Biharia massif: unwieldy forms, massive slope valleys of this type” [4]. The slopes are pitched here, inclined but uniform. and both Iadului valley and its tributary valleys carved The Apuseni Mountains were completely waterfalls that can be easily visited: Săritoarea Ieduţului leveled in the geological past, when they were (a tributary on the left), Vălul Miresei (a tributary on positioned at sea level, as a great erosion platform. At the right) and beautiful waterfall Iadolina (Hell even on the beginning, they have been the surge of Quaternary the valley). earth movements and brought up to the current height. I think it is very restrictive to speak about the Therefore, the old platform is now at the altitude of tourism potential within the geographical limits. Since 1600-1800 m, which appears as an unexpectedly large, the attractive tourist resources are the objective of flat plain, despite the great heights. The altitude economic transition, we are free to include the Platform of the Apuseni Mountains has the largest surrounding attractions that may be complementary to development in Gilău Mountains and in Vlădeasa leisure and tourism programs. Mountains. The latter platform is much better Thus, I should mention several surrounding preserved and therefore the large peaks, the flat terrain attractions of paramount importance in attracting give the dominant nature of the relief. They are tourist flows. Thus, on Iadului Valley, there are a large bordered by large valleys, strong grooves, whose slopes number of objectives such as ridges, steep, gorges, are inclined. Steep slopes, with enormous screes, swallets and caves; these constitute the landmark of the characterize the hard rock, volcanic, and slope breaks in Iadului Valley because of their large number and wealth the riverbed, which generates numerous waterfalls. of speleothems in karstic systems assets (Bulz Water Vlădeasa Mountains have a horseshoe shape Cave, Faţa Apei Cave, and Water Cave from Leşului opening to the north. “Mountain slopes have become Valley etc.) [6]. major tourist attractions in tourist’s psychology by On the Stanciului Valley, there are two caves exhibiting vertical slopes, their majesty and grandeur. that have to be mentioned: Vârfuraşu Cave and Lespezi They cut short a natural continuation of the landscape; Cave. Within the basin of Someşul Cald there are rising as a barrier in the way of steps and view [3]. numerous caves, such as: Rădeasa Cave, Moloh Cave, Honu Cave, Pepi Cave, Alunul Cave, Ponor Cave, Izbuc Cave, Humpleu Cave and Onceasa Cave. Other important sights of the abovementioned rivers are the gorges. Therefore, remember Someşul Cald Gorges (situated in the upper basin of the Someşul Cald Valley, near to the Rădeasa, Moloh and Honu caves), Stanciului Valley Gorges (near to Lespezi Cave). “Along the relief, the hydrography establishes the main source of attraction belonging to the landscape. Picturesque river elements have attributes stored in their organizational, physical and chemical features or size of water reservoirs” [4]. The major tourist attractions are the waterfalls located in valleys nearby. Along the Iadului Valley, these are numerous. Water stream is puzzled by the huge blocks fallen from the slopes, creating rapids and Fig. 1. Pietrele Albe [ White Stones ] [9]. 162 Rural Tourism Development in the Basin of Drăgan Valley Journal of Settlements and Spatial Planning, vol. 1, no. 1 (2010) 161-166 waterfalls. Iadolina waterfall is the very beautiful one, placed under protection as a natural monument not located at about 1 km upstream the last bridge, where open for tourists. you can admire the noise of water; the fall is under the Vlădeasa Mountains. Vlădeasa cottage area road. Above these, along a tributary on the right, we can can become a resort for winter sports of great admire another waterfall – Vălul Miresei. Along importance. At 1836 m altitude, on Vlădeasa peak, there Stanciului Valley, we can observe a very beautiful is a weather station. There are good opportunities in the waterfall called Răchiţele, which is formed from 2 steps area to practice mountain biking and paragliding. The of 30 m high, the water digging a marl of over ten feet area offers wonderful views over the surrounding deep. valleys as well as special inducements for hiking The climate of Vlădeasa Mountains is a practitioners. typical mountain climate, generally wet and cold at high Pietrele Albe (the White Stones) partly cover altitude, with gradual attenuation at lower regions. the administrative area of Săcuieu and Mărgău Vertical ratios occur in all climate determinants. municipalities. It is a good place to practice climbing. However with a harsh and capricious climate, Vlădeasa There is a very spectacular steep limestone of Piatra Mountains offer good times for visiting tourists.