Călimani National Park

The Călimani Mountains belong to the volcanic chain along the inner side of the Eastern Carpathians and are the largest volcanic massif in Romania. The highest peak is Pietrosul Călimanilor (2,102 m). The main crater, about 10 km in diameter, is ringed by the highest peaks and opens to the north through the Neagra valley, a tributary of the Dorna. To the north the massif descends into the Dorna Depression, where the main access routes start. Călimani National Park was proposed in 1975, declared by Order no. 7/1990 of the Ministry of the Environment (15,300 ha) and made official by Law no. 5/2000 and Government Decision no. 230/2003. It now covers 24,556 ha across Mureș, Suceava, Harghita and Bistrița-Năsăud counties; in Suceava it includes parts of the communes of Dorna Candrenilor, Panaci, Poiana Stampei and Șaru Dornei and of the municipality of Vatra Dornei. It is managed by Romsilva through the Suceava Forestry Directorate, and its visitor centre opened in 2013 in Șaru Dornei, with information points in Panaci and Poiana Stampei. The park contains the Jnepenișul cu Pinus cembra scientific reserve (384.2 ha), the Lacul Iezer din Călimani reserve (322 ha) and the 12 Apostoli geological reserve (200 ha), with oddly shaped volcanic rocks. Habitats include spruce forests, stone pine and larch woods, dwarf pine scrub and alpine meadows. Recorded fauna includes brown bear, wolf, lynx, red deer, capercaillie and golden eagle. Inside the crater, the sulphur quarry opened in 1976 and worked until 1997 stripped more than 300 ha; the area remains an enclave within the park, with spoil heaps and a mountain cut into terraces. The former mine is reached by the Vatra Dornei - Gura Haitii road (about 25 km), then about 12 km on a degraded concrete road, with cars allowed only as far as the car park.