There are many places on our planet that can surprise you with their beauty and uniqueness. One of such marvelous corners of nature is the Carpathian Mountains.
Description of the mountain system
Their arc passes through the territory of Ukraine, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland, Serbia, Austria. In the mountain system, one can distinguish the Western, Eastern, Southern Carpathians, as well as the Western Romanian mountains. And between them is the Transylvanian Plateau. The eastern part of the system is characterized by the highest seismological hazard in Europe. So, in 1940, a destructive earthquake occurred in Romania, in which about 1000 people died. And 1977 brought with it even greater disaster. The number of victims exceeded one and a half thousand, and tremors were felt even in Leningrad and Moscow.
The Carpathian mountains are very diverse in their relief, structure, and landscape. The height at which the Transylvanian Plateau is located, for example, is 600-800 meters. The highest point in the system is Gerlachowski-Shtit. It is located 2655 meters above sea level. Basically, the Carpathians stretch for 800-1200 meters. This is relatively small, but because this mountain system is quite passable. At an altitude of 500 to 1000 meters, railways and highways were drawn.
The Carpathian mountains are of great economic importance, because there are deposits of minerals such as gas, oil, ozokerite, marble, rock, potassium salt, mercury, coal and lignite. There are also deposits of manganese and iron ores, rare and non-ferrous metals.
Animal and plant world
As for the plant world, it is completely subordinate to the laws of zonality. The lower zone is occupied by oak forests, which are gradually replaced by beeches at an altitude of 800 to 1300 meters. Although mainly beech forests can be found in the Western Romanian mountains and the southern part of the Carpathians. With an increase in altitude, they give way to mixed forests, where, in addition to beech trees, fir and spruce also grow. Forests end at an altitude of 1500-1800 meters. Coniferous species mainly grow here: spruce, pine, larch. Subalpine shrubs and meadows replace them. In this belt you can find juniper, alder, pine elfin. Even higher are alpine meadows and shrubs, which in some places alternate with rocks and screes. At the highest peaks, the cliffs are bare or covered with lichens.
However, a very significant picture of the spread of vegetation in the Carpathians was changed by human economic activity. So, if earlier oak and oak-beech forests grew in the foothills, now they are completely cut down, and in their place - vineyards and arable lands. Yes, and many coniferous forests are also almost nullified.
To preserve natural landscapes, reserves and parks were opened in almost all countries where the Carpathian Mountains are located. The description of the animal world can be reduced to the concept of forest fauna. Martens, bears, hares, squirrels, wolves, lynxes, wild boars, deer, chamois, roe deer, capercaillie, owls, woodpeckers, and cuckoos are common in and outside nature reserves.
Population
We have already said a few words about human activities. It should be noted that the Carpathian mountains are populated unevenly. Of course, basically a man has chosen for himself the foothills, where the conditions are very favorable for gardening and field cultivation. As already mentioned, vineyards are common, which means that winemaking in these parts is held in high esteem. But you can find settlements in the mountains. People there are mainly engaged in cattle breeding.
