Bucharest of yore (pics)

Rodna Mountains (pics)

Rodna Mountains (Munţii Rodnei) are a subdivision of the Eastern Carpathians in Northern Romania. The name comes from the nearby Rodna Veche village.

The Rodna Mountains have one of the longest continuous ridges in Romania, with over 50 km from west to east. The two highest points are Pietrosul Rodnei and Ineu peaks, with 2,303 and 2,279 meters respectively.

The mountains are most suited for hiking in summer and skiing in winter, and are especially famous for having snow late into the summer months (skiing is possible well into June, sometimes even July).

While the ridge itself poses no difficulties, the challenge is the massive length of it, and the absence of drinkable water (except for a few puddles that are usually dry). A complete hike on the Rodnei main ridge takes between 3 and 5 days, depending on the weather and the endurance of the hiker.

The massif has some caves, notable among them being "Izvorul Tăuşoarelor", the deepest cave in Romania, going about 479 metres beneath the surface and "Jgheabul lui Zalion", 242 metres deep.

Localization

The Rodna Mountains are located in the region of Maramureş, in northern Romania, near the Romanian-Ukrainian border. To the north lie the city of Borşa and the village Moisei. To the west the massif ends at the Setref-pass (817 m); to the east, the limits are the Prislop Pass (1,416 m) and the Rotunda Pass (1,271 m); to the south lie the villages of Rodna Veche, Şanţ, Maieru and Anieş, as well as the Someşul Mare River having its source in the Rodna Mountains.

The main ridge of the Rodna Mountains constitutes the natural border between Bistriţa-Năsăud and Maramureş counties.