Bistrita-Nasaud
County
The
Municipality of Bistrita celebrated, in 1994, 730 years since its
being first mentioned in a document. The favourable geographical location,
the quality of the soil, the rich forests, the mineral ores of Rodna
have allowed the county and the Municipality of Bistrita to develop
constantly – Bistrita placed fifth in the hierarchy of Transylvanian
towns in the Middle Ages. Owing to the important part it played in
the history of this expanse, Bistrita is the county seat at present.
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Geographical
Outline
Bistrita-Nasaud
county has a total area of 5,355 sq. km, i.e. 2.25 per cent of total
Romanian territory (ranking 28th among the Romanian counties in terms
of area). Bistrita-Nasaud county is located in the north of Romania
and it borders Maramures county to the north, Suceava county to the
east, Mures county to the south and Cluj county to the west. The county
territorial administrative units are: • one municipality (Bistrita)
• three towns (Nasaud, Beclean, Sangeorz Bai) • 53 communes • 248
villages. The county includes the area connecting the Southern Carpathians
and the Transylvanian Tableland, the upper basin of the Somesul Mare
river and its tributaries, as well as a small part of the middle basin
of the Mures river. Bistrita-Nasaud county has varied relief contours
distributed in an amphitheatre-like pattern opening towards the Transylvanian
Plain. It mainly consists of three relief areas:
• the mountain zone (48 per cent of total county
area), including part of the mountains in the Eastern Carpathians
ring, the northern and middle mountain ranges including the Tibles,
Rodna, Suhard, Bargau and Calimani massifs;
• the hilly region (49.3 per cent of total county
area), extending in the central and western part of the county;
• the river meadows zone (2.7 per cent of total
county area), extending along the main water courses, especially along
the Somesul Mare river and its tributaries.
Population numbered, on 1 July 1996, 327,262 inhabitants, i.e. 1.43
of total Romanian population, distributed as follows:
• 37 per cent living in urban areas;
• 63 per cent living in rural areas.
Population in the Municipality of Bistrita numbered, at the date mentioned
hereinbefore, 86,945 inhabitants. The other three towns in Bistrita-Nasaud
county classify as follows in terms of number of inhabitants: Beclean
– 11,951, Nasaud – 11,630, Sangeorz Bai – 10,586. Owing to the varied
relief contours, the sub-soil of this expanse is rich in a wide range
of resources: non-ferrous metal ores (Cu, Pb, Zn, Au, Ag), non-metal
ores and useful rocks (andesite, volcanic tuff), coloured clay deposits,
salt deposits, natural gas, pitch-stones. The county territory is
watered by a hydrographic network (total length: 3,030 km) along the
Somesul Mare river, including mainly flowing waters, salt moors, glacial
lakes (Lala Mare, Lala Mica); underground waters (ground and deep
waters); mineral water springs. The prevalence of the hilly-mountain
regions favoured very rich tiers of vegetation.
The fauna is very rich and diversified in the area, proper to each
form of relief found in this expanse.
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Touristic
Information
Situated
in the Northern part of Romania, the Bistrita- Nasaud County has
a surface of 5.355 sq km. Its capital city is Bistrita. According
to the last census. the population of this county is of 326, 820
inhabitants - Romanians, Magyars and Germans. The predominant hilly
and mountainous relief determined a diversified flora. In depressions.
along the rivers, in river meadows and terraces situated in the
South-West of the county there are farming fields where cereal and
technical crops and vegetables prevail. The mountains host a rich
fauna protected by law as: Carpathian bear. Carpathian stag. hazel
hen birch tree cock. white and black stork, black eagle, which are
natural monuments. In the limestone areas of the Rodna Mountains
the edelweiss grows. Other species protected by law like mountain
marigold. yew tree, yellow gentian. mountain narcissus are in the
Alpine zone. The touristic potential of the Bistrita-Nasaud County
is extremely rich. The mountainous zone is visited by tourists who
love excursions, rest, cure and sports. The karst zone of the Rodna
Mountains includes some caves of a great speleologic value: the
Fairy Cave, the Izvorul Tausoarelor Cave (the deepest one in Romania),
the Jgheabul lui Zailan Cave. Points of touristic interest are also:
Sangeorz-Bai Spa with its table and medicinal waters, Piatra Fantanele
zone with the "Dracula" castle-hotel, the Colibila area
with its man-made lake and dam situated on the Bistrita River; the
Wine Valley; the Arcalina Dendrologic Park with a lot of autochtonous
and exotic plants and the Iezerele Bumbaiescului, Taul Petros, Taul
Lala Mare Lakes. There are also a lot of historic and architectural
monuments in this county. Interesting archeological finds can be
visited at Ardan, Bistrila, Coldau, Dumitrita, Saralel as well as
the ruins of Ciceu and Rodna fortresses. Among the County's architectural
monuments we mention the wooden churches in Sarata, Silivasu de
Campie, Spermezeu, Salcuta, Tigau, Zagra, the Evangelic churches
in Henna, Dipsa, Bistrita as well as the "Sugalete" area
from the XV-XVI-th century. In the village of Salva, located 4 km
far from Nasaud, there are two unique customs: the girls plait their
hair in tens and tens of pigtails; the young men use a special kind
of hats adorned with peacock feathers. In this country a number
of 35 peasant houses were licensed for the international tourism
with possibilities to 5 organize special holidays for foreign tourists.
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Economy
Profile
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