About The Carpathians
The Carpathian Mountains
The Carpathian Mountains or Carpathians are a range of mountains forming an arc across the Central and Eastern Europe. Roughly 1,500 km (932 mi) long, it is the third-longest European mountain range after the Urals at 2,500 km (1,553 mi) and the Scandinavian Mountains at 1,700 km (1,056 mi).
The Southern Carpathians, situated in Romania, represent 50% of Carpathians, and have the highest peaks around 2,500 m.
The name “Carpathians” is strongly linked with the old Dacian tribes called "Carpes" or "Carpi" who lived on a large area, spread from the east, north-east of the Black Sea to the Transylvanian Plain. This area was the correspondent of today’s Romania and Moldova. The name “Carpathians” may ultimately have Dacian origin and mean mountain, rock, or rugged.
The Carpathians provide habitat for the largest European populations of brown bears (Ursus arctos), wolves (Canis lupus), foxes (Vulpes vulpes), chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra), lynxes (Lynx lynx), and European bison (Bison bonasus), as well as over one third of all European plant species. The mountains and their foothills also have many thermal and mineral waters, as Romania has one-third of the European total. Our country is also home to the second-largest surface of virgin forests in Europe after Russia, covering 250,000 hectares. Most of these forests are located in the Carpathians, with the Southern Carpathians representing Europe's largest unfragmented forest area. Thus, 65 percent of the European Union’s forests and the highest population of wild animals can be found in Romania. In total, 24 percent of Romania’s territory was declared protected natural area.
The beauty of the Carpathian Mountains, with their unique landscapes and amazing wildlife is simply breathtaking.
Romania has 28 protected areas (13 national parks, 12 natural parks, 2 geoparks and the Danube Delta – which hosts two thirds of the European bird species) and hundreds of Natura 2000 Sites. Natura 2000 is a European network of natural protected areas. Nevertheless, due to global warming, illegal deforestation, hunting and industrial developments, the Carpathian nature is in danger of extinction. Preserving it, requires everyone’s concerted efforts.
We, at Carpathian Single Malt commit to contributing to this noble cause.
Source: National Geographic
