Frumoasa

Frumoasa is a site of community importance designated for the conservation of biodiversity, wild flora and fauna, as well as natural habitats of community interest. It is located in southern Transylvania, on the border with Oltenia, on the territory of Alba, Hunedoara, Sibiu and Vâlcea counties. The natural area covers 137,256.1 hectares and is crossed by the Transalpina and bordered to the east by DN7. It was declared a Natura 2000 site in December 2007, being part of the European ecological network.

From a geographical point of view, the site includes three massifs of the Southern Carpathians: the Cindrel, Lotrului and Șureanu Mountains, made up of crystalline schists, igneous rocks and Jurassic limestones. The relief is varied, with rocky slopes, gentle peaks, important peaks such as Cindrel (2245 m) and Șteflești (2242 m), glacial cirques, plateaus and depressions. The eastern peak of the Șureanu Mountains presents karst microrelief with glacial lakes: Iezerul Mare, Iezerul Mic and Iezerul Șureanu.

The climate of the area is temperate-continental, with average annual temperatures of 3-4 °C on the peaks and 4-7 °C in the depressions. July records average temperatures between 11 and 14 °C, and January between -6 and -7 °C. Precipitation varies between 500 mm in the lowlands and 1000 mm on the ridges, with the prevailing winds being from the northwest.

The hydrographic network is formed by the Sebeș, Sadu, Cibin, Cugir, Lotrioara and Lotru rivers, with their tributaries. There are three reservoirs: Oașa, Negovanu and Vidra, along with glacial lakes such as Iezerul Șurianul, Iezerul Mare and Iezerul Mic.

The protected area includes 16 types of natural habitats, from coniferous and deciduous forests, to alpine scrub, mountain meadows, active peat bogs and rocky slopes. There are acidophilic spruce forests, beech forests in several varieties, alluvial forests, juniper and rhododendron scrub, species-rich alpine meadows, meadows and hygrophilous plant communities.

The fauna is diverse, with protected mammal species such as brown bear, deer, roe deer, grey wolf, wild boar, lynx, otter and fox. In terms of birds, the site is home to rare species such as the capercaillie, the great horned owl, the white-backed woodpecker and the collared flycatcher, and was designated a special avifaunal protection area on 130,980 hectares in 2007.

Among reptiles and amphibians, species such as the horned viper, the common viper, the hazel snake, the wall lizard, the fire salamander and the crested newt are present. The ponds and rivers are home to fish such as the sculpin, the blue barbel and the sculpin.

Among invertebrates, there are the golden beetle, the great oak tailor, the alpine tailor, the Transylvanian reaper and rare dragonflies. The area also provides habitat for five species of butterflies, including the purple butterfly and the black apollo.

The woody flora is represented by beech, oak, hornbeam, sycamore, linden, ash, pine, samburu, yew and juniper, along with shrubs such as juniper, hawthorn and rosehip. The herbaceous flora includes protected species such as mountain bellflower, throat grass and four rare species of moss. Other valuable plants are mountain peony, Siberian garlic, ragwort, veronica and caldaruşa.

Due to its natural characteristics, diversity of habitats and species, Frumoasa represents an important site for the conservation of the natural heritage of Romania and Europe.

Sursa: ro.wikipedia.org