Vârful Găina (Muntele Găina)

Vârful Găina, at an altitude of 1,486 m, is the highest point of the Găina Massif, located in the central part of the Munții Apuseni (Western Carpathians), in Țara Moților, near the commune of Avram Iancu in Alba County. The massif lies on the boundary of four counties — Alba, Hunedoara, Arad and Bihor — at the border between the Munții Bihor and the Munții Metaliferi. A surprising feature: although the maximum altitude does not exceed 1,486 m, the alpine-type vegetation of the plateau — low-growing grasses, dwarf pine thickets, and an absence of trees — creates the impression of an altitude above 1,900 m, giving the mountain a distinctive character. The views from the summit encompass the entire Apuseni range, and on clear days even the central section of the Southern Carpathians is visible. From a geological standpoint, the massif is highly complex, with crystalline metamorphic rocks, sedimentary formations and magmatic intrusions. The most remarkable feature is Dealul cu Melci — one of the most important fossil sites in Romania — a gastropod deposit formed from an alternation of conglomerates, sandstones and marls, in which 35 species of molluscs have been identified, with notable marine gastropods of the genus Acteonella, evidence of the sea that covered the area millions of years ago. The mountain is associated with the legend of the "golden hen" — the vâlva munților, a mountain spirit believed to bring wealth to the gold veins in the old mines of the Apuseni, said to appear in the form of a hen or rooster. On the plateau below the summit, the celebrated Târgul de Fete has been held annually for over 200 years, on the weekend closest to Saint Elijah's Day (20 July). On the nearby Vârful Găina Cruce (1,466 m), the Monument to Avram Iancu stands next to the telecommunications relay stations, alongside an information panel and a map of the area. The easiest access is from the centre of the commune of Avram Iancu, via an 8–9 km marked forestry road, or on foot along the trail marked with a blue stripe (the path starting at the town hall), with a walking time of 1.5–3 hours through fir and beech forest. The ridge trail continues toward Vârful Bihor, marked with a red stripe.