IDENTIFYING THE HIDROTURISTICAL POTENTIAL OF THE MĂCIN MOUNTAINS

Purice Florin-Catalin, Romanescu Gheorghe, University ,,Al I. Cuza” of Iasi, Romania

Abstract

Măcin Mountains are located in south-eastern Romania, namely in the north-west of Dobrogea. This area represents a true witness of the Hercynic residual orogenesis. Although the Măcin Mountains area was declared National Park, the water represents a rather low touristic resource. The whole mountain area is deficient in rivers or lakes cuvettes. Still there can be define several basins with low flow or undergoing temporary barley phenomenon: Jijila, Luncaviţa, Cerna, Cold (tributaries to the Danube) and Taita (tributary to the Black Sea). The hydrographic network has a torrential character. Floods are short and often present themselves with extreme water levels. Most rivers have rapid and small waterfalls: Chediu, Carada Ditcova, Racova, Piscu Inalt, Valea cu Tei, Valea Boului, Valea Viilor, etc. They also have the most important hydromorphological tourist potential. Across mountain the lakes are small and offer a rather low tourist value. The most important mountain lakes cuvettes appear between the limits of different mountain units and pose a potentially high hidroturistic potential: Sarat, placed at the foot of Varful Pricopanului formed on a former branch of the Danube (mostly dryied), Slatina, which yields a low water quantity; Jijila, situated between hills and Orliga Bugeac (now dried up as a result of human work); Crapina, that covers the largest area (29.4 km2). Among the artificially created lakes Horia and Balabancea are the most noticeable and they are used as used as ponds, and Iacobdeal formed on a former granite quarry. Still, the lake related tourist offer about this area is extremely limited and is reduced to the practice of sport fishing and weekend tourism (Balabancea, Horia, Turcoaia, Traian and Luncaviţa, Fantana de Leac – Healing Well).

Keywords: lakes, Măcin Mountains, sport fishing, hydromorphological tourist potential, rivers