The Apuseni Natural Park (Romanian: Parcul Natural Apuseni) is a protected area (natural park category V IUCN) situated in Romania, in the administrative territory of counties Alba (28%), Bihor (32 %), and Cluj (40%).[2][3]

Apuseni Natural Park
Parcul Natural Apuseni
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape)
Gârda de Sus, in the Apuseni Mountains
Map showing the location of Apuseni Natural Park
Map showing the location of Apuseni Natural Park
Location within Romania
Location Romania
Alba County
Bihor County
Cluj County
Nearest cityHuedin
Coordinates46°36′14″N 22°48′36″E / 46.604°N 22.810°E / 46.604; 22.810[1]
Area75784 hectares (187270 acres)
Established2000, designation 1990
Websiteparcapuseni.ro
Map of the Apuseni Mountains

Location

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The Natural Park is located in western Romania in the central-northern side of the Apuseni Mountains, comprising part of the Bihor Mountains to the south and Vlădeasa Mountains [ro] to the north. It is situated on the administrative territory of 16 communes, which include 53 localities fully and 8 others partially. The Park features 3 resorts: Boga, Fântânele, and Vârtop.[3]

Natural reserves

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The Apuseni Natural Park with an area of 75,784 ha (187,270 acres)[4] was declared natural protected area by the Law Number 5 of March 6, 2000 (published in the Monitorul Oficial of Romania, Number 152 of April 12, 2000)[5] and represents a mountainous area (mountain peaks, cirques, caves, valleys, karst areas, forests, and pastures), with flora and fauna specific to the Western Carpathians.

Natural reserves included in the park:

 
Portal of the Coiba Mare Cave
 
Cârligați Peak
 
Valea Galbenei

Rivers and lakes

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Arieșul Mare near Scărișoara

The surface waters of the Apuseni Natural Park belong to the hydrographic basins of the rivers:[8]

 
The Beliș-Fântânele Lake

In the northern part of the park, there is the Beliș-Fântânele Lake [ro], a reservoir in the Gilău Mountains, built between 1970 and 1974. Located at an altitude of 1,050 m (3,440 ft), the reservoir covers an area of 826 ha (2,040 acres) and has a volume of 225–250 million cubic metres (0.054–0.060 cu mi) of water. It was formed after the damming of the Someșul Cald downstream of its confluence with the Beliș stream; the dam has a height of 92 m (302 ft) and a length of 410 m (1,350 ft). From the reservoir, the water is diverted through a 8.475 km (5.266 mi) tunnel to the turbines of the Mărișelu Hydroelectric Power Station.[8][9]

References

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  1. ^ eunis.eea.europa.eu - Apuseni Natural Park (coords); retrieved on June 14, 2012
  2. ^ protectedplanet.net Apuseni Mountains Natural Park (location); retrieved on June 14, 2012
  3. ^ a b "Localizare". parcapuseni.ro (in Romanian). Parcul Natural Apuseni. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  4. ^ (in Romanian) apmcj.anpm.ro - Agenția pentru Protecția Mediului Cluj; retrieved on June 14, 2012
  5. ^ (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
  6. ^ (in Romanian) apmab.anpm.ro - Agenția pentru Protecția Mediului Alba; retrieved on June 14, 2012
  7. ^ (in Romanian) apmbh.anpm.ro - Agenția pentru Protecția Mediului Bihor; retrieved on June 14, 2012
  8. ^ a b "Hidrologie". parcapuseni.ro (in Romanian). Parcul Natural Apuseni. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  9. ^ "Centralele Hidroelectrice Mărișelu și Remeți". www.hidroelectrica.ro (in Romanian). Hidroelectrica. Retrieved July 14, 2024.