GALDA DE JOS
Romania
P R E S E N T A T I O N
TOPOGRAPHY OF GALDA DE JOS
In terms of physical geography, Galda de Jos commune perimeter includes three distinct relief units: Trascaului Mountains, Trascaului Piedmont and depression corridor of the Mures River. The three relief units are arranged in steps descending from the west - Stone Cetii 1234 m, to piedmont step which is between 223...400 m. Galzii Valley, through extremely favorable conditions for relief, was a population growth complex yet during the Dacian state, but settlements of the commune are attested in XIII century.
Topography characteristics appears as a combination of hilly ridges and depressions, usually belonging the first to the anticlines and other to syncline. The combination of landforms is evident character of uniformity in the sense that the hills and valleys are arranged in continuous rows, parallel with Carpathians Mountains.
So in this area is an arrangement of relief in steps from west to east. The western part belongs landscape mountain, mountains medium - 'low mountains', since this Trascaului Mountains and east topography is hilly. The valleys are deepened in relation to the surrounding areas, and when the cross while going through limestone gorges formed is exactly what we find in the west of commune. Floodplains are extend their slope is higher in the mountains of the commune, and in the east come down in steps to the valleys sometimes.
The topography of Galda de Jos commune
It can be observed landforms developed Cretaceous sediments on Jurassic limestones and Neogene formations. As a feature of the relief is their complexity, variety lithological and direct consequence of the long geological evolution. Depending on the height, in the hierarchy of the 13 units of the Apuseni mountains, Trascau ranked 7th, the maximum being 1849 m in Bihar (vf. Curcubata Mare), 1835 m in Vladeasa, 1826 m in Big Mountain, 1486 m in Chicken Massif, 1475 m in Gilau Mountains, and 1437 m in Metaliferi Mountains. Trascaului Mountains have heights decrease from 1369 m (Dambau Peak) to less than 400 m. It is found that heights of over 1200 m occur local in massifs Dambau, Corabia, Ciumerna, Bedeleu and Pleasa Rametului.
Note that most of the mountains that surround the commune Galda de Jos altitudes below 1000 m, gradually decreasing altitudes, down to less than 400 m Galzii Valley. Trascaului Montains relief shows heights in the western part of over 1000 m, often exceeding 1200 m. The relief descends sharply to the west and east steps and to the southeast.
The fragmentation depth is very high compared to the modest altitude of the mountains, because they seem much taller than they actually are and also are hardly accessible from any part of them. The fragmentation of the relief is on the limestone formations. Limestone massif is crossed from west Trascaului than Galzii Valley and Ramet Valley, who have managed to erode the limestone to the root and, respectively, Aries Valley, greater evil, which has eroded most of these limestones.
In general stands three areas of erosion. The upper platform Ciumerna-Bedeleu oldest surface erosion exceeds an altitude of 1300 m and lasts about 1200 m in most of them. Appears as slightly undulating plateaus and ridges compartmentalized form of intersection. Remarkable is that this old rock platform targeting different ages and origins, the best being developed on Mesozoic limestones.
The second area, platform Ramet-Ponor, especially peripheral occurs in the eastern part of the massif, presenting the form of interfluve extended, with altitudes decreasing from 900 m to 700 m. In the west platform continues with Ponor corridor, which preserves traces of an old longitudinal course (shoulders and saddle) and oriented parallel Trascaului from south to north.
Ciumerna plateau seen from Intregalde
Columns limestone in Cetea mountains
Karst plateau in Ramet
The third area, the Pliocene level, enroll, especially in the depressions, meadows and valleys, with an average elevation of 400...500 m. Wide variety of rocks in Trascaului Mountains print to relief specific traits from one area to another, due the variation of expression of their agents to model.
In the mountain there are several kinds of relief. Thus, on crystalline schists in the north of these mountains there is a heavy relief, with convex slopes that print monotony to landscape, while the valleys appear as gorges (on valleys Ariesului, Ocoliselului and Iara). But the most striking is required karst terrain type, with remarkable shapes, which presents major tourist attraction points.
Karst topography present in area of commune Galda de Jos is represented by a large number of gorges that appear either as complex or isolated.
The gorges of Galda de Jos basin (gorges of Galda, Galditei, Turcului, Intregalde, Cetii Gorge, Tecsestilor Gorge), and gorges of Ramet basin (Ramet Gorge, Monastery Gorge, Pravului Gorge, Geogelului Gorge and Stone Puddle Gorge) belong to the category complex keys. In the same category also includes basin and gorges Aiudului (Urdasului, Stones, Bedeleului, Dragoiului, Plesii, Aiud).
In the category of isolated gorges are Turda Gorge, Ampoitei Gorge, Turenilor Gorge, Borzestilor Gorge and Fenes Gorge. In whole, Trascaului Mountains shows a total of 25 keys, some of which are famous not only in the Apuseni Mountains, but right across the country.
Mountain gorges in Galda de Jos area
In terms of karst forms of relief that develop inside the massive limestone of Galda de Jos, they are represented by a series of potholes - occurring in Cetii Stone, Ciumerna, Bedeleu and Dambau - but especially through a large number of caves. The longest is Huda of Papara (5.2 km), and of those at the highest altitudes remember Horse's Hole, at an altitude of 1190 m, Dragon's Gate from Grosi and Church, both at an altitude of about 1150 m .
They add caves from Intregalde Gorge, from Ramet Gorge, in Massif Ciumerna, cave from Tau, Poiana Hidden caves, Ampoitei Gorge, Bat Cave and finally, caves in Dambau and Corabia massives. May be mentioned here and the 14 caves in Turda Gorge, the 10 caves in Trascaului Tooth and caves in Aiudului Gorge.
A lot of these caves are points of great tourist attraction, both by their general appearance originality, as well as other aspects, such as forms Concretion or position they have in relation to hydrographic network. In general, they are dry caves, ie without underground water courses.
The hilly relief of the plateau that makes the transition to alluvial plains Mures river, consists of a mosaic of soils of chernozem, dark brown and brown soils that are suitable natural pastures and meadows. In depression corridor of Mures alluvial soils are found in the meadow, black soils and soils to argillic podzolic, podzolic including terraces, usually with fine texture, rich in humus, with a high agricultural potential.
Hydrographic network
The main flowing water that crosses the commune Galda de Jos is Galzii Valley river, which springs from under Negrileasa Mogosului, at an altitude of 1120 m; has a length of 43 km, of which on the commune territory has a length of 20 km. Crossing limestone band Ciumerna-Bedeleu, makes a picturesque gorges sector, Intregalde Gorge, and then downstream of Poiana Galzii, intersects a limestone klipa, carving gorge to Poiana Galzii.
Galzii Valley has a dominant current V-E, cut transversely Trascaului Mountains, cross the piedmont area, then the corridor Mures and flows into Mures river, in Santimbru locality.
In the mountains zone, on the commune teritory, are numerous tributaries of little importance, such as Spring brook, Pig brook, Horse brook, Dostinei Valley, Green brook, Bulzului creek, very actives during heavy rains.
Bigger tributaries of Galzii Valley are Galdita, Modolesti, Cetea, Tibrisorul, Cricaul and Craiva.
On the left side, the most important tributary is Cetea river, which springs from an altitude of 960 m on Mount Cetii, and has a length of 15 km, of which 10 km through the commune Galda de Jos; flows into Galzii Valley, near Benic village.
Galzii Valley Landscapes
On the right side, in the village Galda de Jos, Valley Galzii river receives as tributary creek Tibrisor, and downstream, in Oiejdea village, receives Cricaului Valley brook, which has a length of 21 km, from which 5 km in the village Galda de Jos.
Vegetation of Galda de Jos commune
Vegetal cover of Galda de Jos basin presents a great variety due on the slope exposure of Trascaului Mountains, due the nature of the terrain, but especially introducing natural setting altitude relief. Oak forests at the bottom of the mountains that surround the Galda de Jos commune consist in particular of oak (Petraea), downy oak (Quercus pubenscens), wild cherry (Cerasus avium), hornbeam (Carpinus betulus), maple (Acer platanoides), elm (Ulmus glabra), ash (Fraxinus ornus) and linden tree (Tilia cordata). These forests appear as areas especially in Trascaului Piedmont being interrupted by meadows and pastures, and agricultural land.
Above these forests, stretch the pure beech forests that climbs the heights that can be pure or, sometimes, mixed with hornbeam, ash, maple, alder or linden. The lower limit is mixed with oak forest, and on the upper limit occur rarely, clumps of fir and spruce.
Grasslands are scattered everywhere, being rich in grasses (red fescue, spiky), sedges and clover, which forms mixtures used by locals to grazing cattle.
On sunny slopes there is meadows with xerofil aspect, comprised of Festuca valesiaca, Chrysopogon gryllus, Carex humilis, Agropyron cristatum, Adonis vernalis.
Over the Galzii Valley, grows vegetation alders, willows and underbrush, which cross the heights Trascaului Mountain, embellishing the landscape, offering the places of rest and recreation for tourists.
Vegetal covering of the Galda de Jos basin
On calcareous rocks, meadows with grasses appear and different species calcify, as is known Edelweiss (Leontopodium alpinum), present in Intregaldelor Gorge and Ramet Gorge, and Narcissus (Narcissus poeticus), present in the Cetii Stone zone. Both narcissus present in 'Narcissus Glade' from Cetii Stone, and corner flower meets in Intregalde, at only 560 m altitude, constituting here edelweiss point where languishing at the lowest altitude in Europe, are part from cathegory of plants with scientific interest being placed under protection within natural reserves.
In the lowland zone of Galda de Jos commune were planted in the last century, large areas of vineyards, in villages Benic, Cetea, and Galda de Jos, followed by the cultivation of fruit trees, making it one of the most important fruit centre in the county.
Fauna in Galda de Jos
In Galda de Jos commune, the fauna is very varied, here are large herbivores (rafters, wild boar), carnivores (wolves, foxes, martens, wild cats, rarely lynx) and birds (woodcocks, blackbirds, starlings, finches). Some animals are found hunting, hare, wolf, fox, wild boar and deer. In the meadow there are frog, hedgehog, titmouse, pheasant, woodpecker, nightingale and blackbird. Among field reptiles meet lizard, snake forest, hamster, ground squirrel and mouse.
In higher areas, the deciduous forests are inhabited by wild boars, foxes, red deer, rabbits and wild cats, constituting a rich hunting.
Among birds are found nightingale (Luscinia megarhyncos), woodpecker (Dentroconus modius), gray woodpecker (Picus canus), starling (Sturnus vulgaris), thrush (Turdus viscivorus) and lark (Lullula arborea).
In limestone regions, on cliffs, meet some interesting bird species such as the wallcreeper (Tichodroma muraria), blackbird stone (Monticola saxatillis), rock bunting (Emberizacia) the rock swallow (Apus melba).
It should be added that near Galda de Jos commune, in the Ramet Gorge, and Trascaului fangs, live golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos).
Species of creatures that populate the commune Galda de Jos
Regarding the fish fauna, Galzii Valley and its tributaries mouth is the area in which dominates grayling (Thymallus thymallus) and mountain barbel or moioaga (Barbus meridionalis petenyi), but there are, more often, and chub (Leuciscus cejalus) and nase (Chondrostoma nasus).
A special attraction of fish fauna is the trout present along rivers Galdita, Ighiel, Ampoita, Telna and Ramet. It is present native trout (Salmo trutta fario), and Fountain trout (Slyvenilus fontinalis). Along with trout appear European bullhead (Cottus gobio) and minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus).
Climate in Galda de Jos
The climate is continental in Galda de Jos, with slight shades of excessively in lowland and plateau regions, and moderate, with small trends to rain in the mountain region. The average annual temperature is 8...9 °C and average annual rainfall is 52.4 mm. A special feature is the existence topoclimate climate effect Fohn present eastern slopes Trascau and up to the Mureş. Here are early springs, hot summers and sunny, lower rainfall and autumns are long and sunny, conditions that enhance the tourism potential of the area.