Cindrel Mountains
Encyclopedia
Cindrel Mountains are a group of mountains in central Romania
in the centre of the Southern Carpathians
, in the North-East of the Parâng Mountains group
.
From the Transylvanian Plateau
, with heights between 200 and 400 m, in the North and East, the heights grow abruptly through a zone of deep valleys at about 900 m on the verge of the massif where some villages are situated. The heights continue to grow slowly towards the highest peak, Cindrel Peak, at 2,244 m. Only two other peaks in the range rise above 2000 metres: Balandrul Mare (2210 metres) and Starpului (2146 metres).
Because the massif is easily accessible, the ethnographical area Mărginimea Sibiului
has formed around the mountain, having sheep-herding and wood industry as the main occupations. On the Cibin river and on the Sadu river dams and hydro-electrical power plants were constructed, the oldest being the one from Sadu
in 1896. The Păltiniş
resort is situated halfway between the village of Răşinari
and the Cindrel peak, with hotels, chalets and a ski slope. The resort has developed around a small monastery in which the Romanian philosopher Constantin Noica
spent the last part of his life.
The main river flowing from the mountain is the Cibin river, which collects most of the other smaller rivers. Between the Cindrel Mountains and the Transylvanian Plateau
, the river forms a wide depression the Sibiu Depression in which the main city in the area lies (Sibiu
).
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
in the centre of the Southern Carpathians
Southern Carpathians
The Southern Carpathians or the Transylvanian Alps are a group of mountain ranges which divide central and southern Romania, on one side, and Serbia, on the other side. They cover part of the Carpathian Mountains that is located between the Prahova River in the east and the Timiș and Cerna Rivers...
, in the North-East of the Parâng Mountains group
Parâng Mountains group
The Parâng mountain group is a subgroup of mountains in the Southern Carpathians. It is named after the highest of the mountains in the group, the Parâng Mountains.-Boundaries:The Parâng group is bounded:*in the east, by the Olt River...
.
From the Transylvanian Plateau
Transylvanian Plateau
The Transylvanian Plateau is a plateau in central Romania.The plateau lies within and takes its name from the historical region of Transylvania, and is almost entirely surrounded by the Eastern, Southern and Romanian Western branches of the Carpathian Mountains...
, with heights between 200 and 400 m, in the North and East, the heights grow abruptly through a zone of deep valleys at about 900 m on the verge of the massif where some villages are situated. The heights continue to grow slowly towards the highest peak, Cindrel Peak, at 2,244 m. Only two other peaks in the range rise above 2000 metres: Balandrul Mare (2210 metres) and Starpului (2146 metres).
Because the massif is easily accessible, the ethnographical area Mărginimea Sibiului
Marginimea Sibiului
Mărginimea Sibiului is an area which comprises 18 Romanian localities in the south-western part of the Sibiu County, in southern Transylvania, all of them having a unique ethnological, cultural, architectural and historical heritage.-Position:...
has formed around the mountain, having sheep-herding and wood industry as the main occupations. On the Cibin river and on the Sadu river dams and hydro-electrical power plants were constructed, the oldest being the one from Sadu
Sadu
Sadu is a commune in Sibiu County, Transylvania, Romania, at the foothills of the Cindrel Mountains, 27 km south of the county capital Sibiu, in the Mărginimea Sibiului ethnographic area...
in 1896. The Păltiniş
Paltinis
Păltiniş is a mountain resort in Transylvania, Romania, 35 km south-west from Sibiu in the Cindrel Mountains.It is situated at 1440 m altitude, being the highest resort in Romania. It lies in a conifer forest. It is a popular winter destination and in summer it is sought for its peacefulness...
resort is situated halfway between the village of Răşinari
Răşinari
Răşinari is a commune in Sibiu County, Transylvania, Romania. It has a population of 5,645 inhabitants and is composed of two villages, Prislop and Răşinari....
and the Cindrel peak, with hotels, chalets and a ski slope. The resort has developed around a small monastery in which the Romanian philosopher Constantin Noica
Constantin Noica
Constantin Noica was a Romanian philosopher, essayist and poet. His preoccupations were throughout all philosophy, from epistemology, philosophy of culture, axiology and philosophic anthropology to ontology and logics, from the history of philosophy to systematic philosophy, from ancient to...
spent the last part of his life.
The main river flowing from the mountain is the Cibin river, which collects most of the other smaller rivers. Between the Cindrel Mountains and the Transylvanian Plateau
Transylvanian Plateau
The Transylvanian Plateau is a plateau in central Romania.The plateau lies within and takes its name from the historical region of Transylvania, and is almost entirely surrounded by the Eastern, Southern and Romanian Western branches of the Carpathian Mountains...
, the river forms a wide depression the Sibiu Depression in which the main city in the area lies (Sibiu
Sibiu
Sibiu is a city in Transylvania, Romania with a population of 154,548. Located some 282 km north-west of Bucharest, the city straddles the Cibin River, a tributary of the river Olt...
).