simona-retezat national park

8/2/2019 Simona-Retezat National Park

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Location

Retezat National Park lies in the Southern Carpathians including a part of the Retezat-

Godeanu mountain range, between 45 15- 45 28 Northern latitude and 28 35- 23

3 Eastern longitude.

Most of Retezat National Park is located in the Hunedoara County, bordered by the

Hateg Depression, the Tulisa Mountains, the Strei Valley, the Petrosani Depression, the

West Jill Valley and the Rul Mare Valley (Retezat National Park Management Plan2003).

A part of the park area is located on the administrative territory of the Caras-Severin

and Gorj Counties.


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The park has a surface of 38.138 ha and a wilderness zone of 14.215 ha (37,27% of

total area). The altitude ranges from 794 m to 2.509 m at the highest peak and main

features are the beautiful landscapes with natural forests, alpine meadows, peaks,

trees, mountain streams, ravines, gorges and glacial lakes. The park is rich in flora and

fauna and houses more than 1.190 plant species and more than 50 mammal species

including bears, wolves, lynx and chamois.

Zones

The protected area considered in 1935 was of about 100 square km. The buffer area

was established by forest management plans starting with 1964, in order to ensure a

better protection of the core area. The total area increased from the 10.000 ha (1935) to

more than 20.000 ha in 1964 and 54.491 ha in 1990.

In the present, Retezat National Park is represented by the Gemenele-Taul Negru

Scientific Reserve (1.936 ha) which main objective is conservation and were scientific

research with the park administration permit (public access is restricted) is the main

activity. In the Scientific Reserve, administrated by the Romanian Academy, research is

carried out on every aspect of wildlife. Retezat National Park has a Core Zone (19.551ha) which main objectives are nature conservation, tourism and education. In the

scientific reserve and in the core area no harvesting and no other productive activities

are allowed (hunting, fishing, fruit and mushroom collecting). Local councils administrate

the alpine area, but don't have wardens for the area. Here foresters' activity concerns

only dwarf pine protection and wildlife. There is a Buffer Zone (18.587 ha) were people

harvest sustainable timber, go for hunting and fishing (respecting annual quota) and

participate in tourism. RNP also has a PAN Parks wilderness area scattered over Zone

B and Zone C (10.075 ha) which main objectives are nature conservation, tourism and

education, but activities regard tourism only.


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Number of tourists

Retezat National Park offers possibility for tourists to go hiking, walking, trekking,

wildlife, camping, climbing, skiing, mountain biking, caving or do some bird watching.

Despite being the oldest national park in Romania, Retezat National Park is a relatively

new and still unknown destination (low visitor rate) competing against destinations that

have high name identity (Retezat National Park STDS, 2006). Most tourists come during

summer to RNP to relax in the park or do other nature related activities. During the

winter the main activities are trekking and skiing. As those activities require a natural

surrounding and often much luggage, most people like to stay in the park or as close by

as possible. This means that people often travel straight to the park without taking the

villages in consideration. Next to this comes the fact that people that are mostly

interested in rural Romanian life are often foreigners; most visiting tourist in RNP (more

then 75%) are Romanian by origin and already have knowledge about local culture and

traditions. The foreigners are represented by European countries and mainly come from

Retezat National Park Zoning

Zone ASTRICTLY

PROTECTED AREAS

(1.936 ha)

areas for scientific

research

ScientificReserves

Gemenele

Scientfic Reserve

Zone B

SPECIAL CONSERVATION AREA

(CORE ZONE )

(19.551 ha)

a.) Integralprotection area

monitoredtourism,education

alactivities,

traditional

activities (grazing)

b.) Areas ofspecialinterestfrom thepoint ofview of thebiodiversity

c.) Areaswith

touristsinfrastructure

Zone CBUFFER ZONE

(18.587 ha)

activities of administration

and natural resouces are

allowed

b.) Areas ofspecial

interest from

the point ofview of the

biodiversity

c.) Areas withtourists

infrastructure


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France. In the summer of 2000, Retezat National Park had more than 8.000 visitors and

in the last years the visitors rates increased up to 25.000 tourists/year.

Transport

Transportation infrastructure into National Parks and protected areas in general

provides tourist the opportunity to visit and better understanding the nature within

protected areas. Transportation represents a key factor into development of National

Parks tourism as it is directly influencing the number of tourists into a certain area.

Transportation infrastructure (roads, tracks, airstrips, boat landing, etc) often has very

significant impacts on protected areas and sustainable development such as

fragmentation of ecosystems that seriously affects the movements of wild animals.

Individual transportation, mainly by car, seems to be the main form of transport to and

from National Parks. As they are usually located in rather underdeveloped regions

access by public transportation is limited. Due to relatively small numbers of potential

users, and usually seasonal differences, the economic appeal for investments into the

transportation sector is limited. The user- friendliness of public transportation for

tourists usually travelling with outdoor equipment also faces a potential problem.

It is a thin line between the necessity of improving the transportation infrastructure and

protection of the wilderness. Transportation its a crucial factor for the sustainable

development of protected ares


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Retezat National Park acces

Because of the position of the mountain, the entrances in the Retezat NationalPark follow to main directions: Hateg depression and Jiu Valley.

Table: Entrances in Retezat National Park

ENTRANCE POINTS

WEST NORTH SOUTH

ntrance

ame

Gura

Zlata

Gura

Apei

Rausor Carnic Baleia Stana de

Rau

Buta Cam

Road of

cces

category,

ame)

European

Road E79

National

Road DN

68

County

Road

European

Road E79

County

Road

County

Road

Forestry

Road

European

Road E79

National Roa

66A

ocalities Hateg Carnesti Rau de

Mori

Ohaba

de Sub

Piatra

Carnic Hobita Pui Uricani Cam


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Roads:

In Hateg depression the entrances are from Deva city by the national route 66,

DN66, (Deva Simeria Hateg Pui Petrosani) and from Caransebes city by thenational route, DN68 (CaransebesHateg).

In Jiu Valley the entrances are from Deva city by the national route, DN 66 (Deva

SimeriaHaeg PuiPetroani) and from Targul Jiu city also by the national route

66, DN 66 ( Tg. JiuFiliai Petroani ).

Table: Access roads

Access Roads Category Condition

Lapusnicul Mare Valley forestry Rebuilt after the flood of 1999

Carnic - Pietrele county

Closed to public access;

partially restored, accessible

only by tractor or off-road cars

Stana de Rau forestry Rebuilt after the flood of 1999

Buta forestry Public access only until

Beciuri area

Jiul de Vest Valley national Very good


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Railway:

Table: Access in Retezat National Paark from the railway station

RAILWAY

STATION

ENTRANCE

POINT IN PNR

ACCES

TOTAL

DISTANCE

OF WICH

FORESTRY

ROAD

PUBLIC

TRANSPORT

Subcetate

Gura Zlata 32 KM

____

unorganized from

Rau de Mori or

Brazi

Gura Apei 40 KM

Rausor 23 KM

____

unorganized

Ohaba de Sub

Piatra Carnic 13 KM 6 KM

local

entrepreneurs in

touristic season

Pui Baleia 16 KM 8 KM unorganized

Stana de Rau 22 KM unorganized

Lupeni Buta 20 KM

____ unorganized from

Campul lui Neag

Campusel 35 KM

____


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The most frequently used entrance in Retezat National Park was Carnic, 70% of

visitors using this entry. This situation is acceptable because it is the most accessible

entrance and it allows easy access to a route that allows a multiple number of trips a

day. Less than 2% of visitors entered the Rotunda PNR, which allows us to consider

this input in the middle of the park as an opportunity and a gateway for tourist

experiences in nature.

Retezat region is a remote area that is hard to access. For some people

remoteness adds to the excitement of the attraction but for many people ease of access

is very essential. Depending upon the need of each area of the parl, infrastructuraldevelopment is vital. There are not many roads that lead to the park and those that are

there are in bad condition. This was concern that was expressed by local operators

during the PAN Parks workshop in April 2006 (Retezat National Park STDS, 2006).

Also public transportation to the park and in the area is lacking. If tourists come

to Retezat National Park without own transport (car), it is difficult for them to move


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around. When staying in a nearby town, it takes at least a 1,5 hour drive to Retezat

National Park.

Transport inside Retezat National Park

Transportation inside National Parks is related to the trails and forestry roads.

Trails are one of the most important infrastructure systems inside of protected areas

because of the two components implied, the safety of the tourists and the safety of the

wilderness. Finding the best solution for the trails network is one of the biggest

challenges for the management of National Parks. An important factor is also the

marking of the trails.

In Retezat National Park exists a network of 27 trails that facilitate the access

within the protected area. The trails are marked according to difficulty of the route and

provide access to huts and shelters.

There are two main directions that we should consider: the need of the tourists

for a well developed network of trails and the safety of the ecosystems and

environment.

In Retezat National Park does not exist an environment problem because of the

big density of the trails, contrary the management of the National Park wants toimplement new trails for various activities such as climbing trails, equestrian trails, etc.

All these new projects want to improve quality of the tourism and to increase the

number of tourists. But all these new ideas have to be put in practice in a manner that

will not affect the wilderness. Meanwhile, only 27 trails are available into Retezat

National Park with various degree of difficulty, so that a large number of tourists can

benefit from the wonders of wilderness.

The second direction taken into consideration is the safety of the ecosystems

and of the environment.

In Retezat National Park, like in numerous protected areas from Romania, there

is a problem with the making of the trails, more exactly, with the materials that they use

for marking.


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Retezat National Park has a glacial relief, where there is no vegetation but also a part

with large forests. The network of trails in glacial part its marked with mark s made of

iron causing problems to the esthetic of the landscape. Other marks are on the rocks or

on the trees.

Accommodation

Tourists expectations of their holiday accomodation does not necessarily relate to the

concept of sustainability. The difficulties of usually isolated locations within National Parks need

to be overcome. Issues that are faced include energy, waste, waste water, food supply.Roofed accommodation

The accommodation possibilities are either within the parks territory or nearby to the

entering points of the park. The check-in spaces are possessed by private owners or by the detour

forest and have different check-in and services conditions, starting from mountain shelter regime

(as Gentiana Shelter), and ending with three star check-in (Anita Pension, Iris, Rotunda Chalet).

Chalets and Pensions, the great majority of them, have no continuous flux of clients.

Many of the accommodation do not respect the terms of Retezat National Park or the

terms of Pan Parks ( Retezat National Park is part of the network). There are some cases where


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motorized vehicles enter inside the National Park to supply the huts with food, facilitating

tourists transport, or for illegal deforestation (photo.). In this situation is the complex of

Pietrele, which is endowed with motorized vehicle despite the fact that the huts are inside the

park.


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Table: Accommodation in Retezat NationalPark

Reception units Location Capacity

Shelters: Gentiana, Condor,

Stevia, Buta, Salvamont

Zanoaga, Bucura and Poiana

Pelegii

Central Zone of RNP 130-150 seats

App. 10 hostels: Belvedere,

Gura Zlata, Dumbravita, Anita,

etc.

National Park buffer zone About 150 seats

-Baleia Hut

-Buta Hut

-Rotunda Hut

-Complex of Pietrele

-Complex of Carnic

-Complex of Rausor

The point of entry in the park

100 seats+

65 seats+

30 seats+

120 seats+

100 seats+

100 seats

*authorized tourist cottage :

Codrin , Sarmis, Dora,etc.

*tourist complexes : Dorulet,

Cheile Butii

*local housing

Adjacent areas more than 500 seats


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Table : Roofed accommodation details

Accommodation Capacity Construction

details

Materials Green

practices/

equipment

Environmental

unfriendly

practices/

equipment

Facilities

Gentiana Hut42 seats Hut with one

floor, 2 rooms(24+18 seats)

wood, stone,tin (external

doors)

solarpanels

_____ heatifireplac

Condor Shelter

Stevia Shelter

Buta

wood

SalvamontZanoaga Shelter

Poiana Pelegii

Shelter

one roomconstruction,no electricity,

no heatingwood _____ ______ ______

BucuraShelter

one roomconstruction,

no electricity,no heating

wood _____ _____ _____

Baleia Hut68 seats

water anelectricifrom the

ownpowerstation


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Rotunda Hut20 seats

Hut with twofloors, with

rooms of 2 , 3beds, 1

presidential

suite

brick, stone,concrete,tile,wood, PVC

windowswith double

glazing,

plastic

_____ unknown

roomswith

toilets,showerswood an

power

stationheating

restaura

Buta Hut20 seats

2 rooms with6 beds,2

rooms with 4beds, noelectricity

wood, brick _____ _____

Complex of

Pietrele102

seats,

winter-45 seats

A complexwith smallcabins, 45

with fireplace

wood, brick,stone, tin

_____

utilizationof motorizedvehicules for

supply,

inadequatetoilets

permanerestauranelectricifrom the

ownpowerstation

Complex of

Carnic

Complex of

Rausor

Camp - sites

Inside Retezat National Park there are several camp-sites, in places where does

not exist roofed accommodation or where roofed accommodation dont handle with the

number of tourists.

The biggest problem encountered on camp-sites facilities from Retezat National

Park is represented by the waste disposal. Waste disposal is an important issue for all

camp- sites. Today, there are no recycling programs and the park management has no

solution for this problem.


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Other problem is represented by the lack of facilities in the camp-sites like toilets.

Table: Camping sites in Retezat National Park

Over 50% of Retezat National Park visitors not use any of the accommodation

facilities, but use their own tents. This situation has two reasons: lack of sufficient seats

in huts and bad facilities offered inside roofed accommodation.

Camping sites

GuraZlata

Rotunda Rausor Pietrele Buta CampuselPoianaPelegii

Bucura ZanoagaStana

de Rau


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Therefore, with increasing number of tourists also it will be an increasing number

of tourists in camp-sites. The problem comes with the lack of waste management and

camp facilities like toilets (which are totally missing from camp-sites).

simona-retezat national park

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