Uricani

Transcription

Uricani,the far western city of the Jiu Valley lies along the course of the Western Jiu River(the Romanian Jiu) between the peaks of the Valcan mountains in the South and the ones of the Retezat mountains in the North Uricani has a bigger opening to the eastern part of the city as we are closing in on the springs of the River.. Being placed far away from the commercial routes crossing the Carpathian area these places have been protected from interfering with the foreigners and the benefits of the industrialization process the locals making their living flowing the ancestral habits and traditions. The start of underground and surface mining found this area wild and little touched by human hands Scattered households near the Jiu meadows or placed on the gradual slopes of the surrounding mountains mansions on the grazing and wintering places of sheep as well as sheepfolds scattered under the lash of the mountain fulfilled this patriarchal landscape,whici has remained unchanged for thousands of years. Beggining with 1952 this landscape suffered major changes mining halls, apartment blocks and new access roads appeared on the flat fields neighbouring the Western Jiu River Despite the fact that right after World War II very few people lived here the fas expansion of the mining perimeters also grew the need for workers Lured by the big earnings offered by mining people came here from all across the country The locality and the population grew at a sustained rate,so,in 1965 was declared a city Valea de Brazi and Campu lui Neag becoming a part of it. The confinement of mining activity, that began in 1997 and the necessity of hiring the people redunded from the mining sphere lead to the taking into consideration of the huge potential the nature provided Placed in a wonderful pitoresque area at the intersection of Retezat and Valcan mountains Uricani has the potential of becoming a pole of Romanian tourism being one of the entrance gates to the Retezat mountains Here we can visit the priceless preal of Romania the Retezat National Park containing the scientific reservation “Gemenele”, as well as the rows of glaciar lakes and ponds,which adorn the mountain. The streams that start flowing from the mountain side sculpt massive gorges in the rocks and also create noisy waterfalls ”Cheile Butii” carved by the fast-flowing Buta River are impressive by height and the waterfalls created by the “Lazarului” Valea Marii” and “Sterminos” streams prompt you to peace and silence before the wonders of nature. The richness of the landscape is completed by the undergroung beauties hidden by the beech and fir forests which cover the mountain The caves “Dalma cu Brazi”,the nr. 4 cave of Scocul Scorotei ”Pestera Zeicului” and “Pestera cu Corali” hide impressive structures stalactites and stalagmites of all differing shapes and sizes The Icy Cave or “Pestera de Gheata”, from the Valcan mountains attracts tourists not by the impressive formations but by the fact that ice is present here all year long The slopes of “Cheile Balomirului” and “Valea de Brazi” are fitted with climbing routes. The habits and customs near the Winter holidays are a good occasion to return to our origins the locals preserving these traditions sacredly The sheepfolds can be found all over the mountains remembering us of the ancient occupation of the “momarlani” grazing,here every traveler being welcomed with a piece of fresh local cheese or with a lamb stew prepared by the shepherd himself If at “Valea de Pesti” a huge lake was created by man which increases the beauty of the area,at “Campu lui Neag” on the old heart of the village the nature heals the wounds man created where the old quarry once stood a lake was formed which at summer is a recreation place being better known by the locals as “Marea Saracilor”(the Sea of the poor). Uricani,surrounded by different and unique landscape aspects,with caves,slopes,gorges and glaciar formations is a true touristic pearl hanging from the Retezat mountains shiny crown. The unsuspected beauty of the area neighbouring Uricani gives us the opportunity of going back in time of reevaluating the land we live on and the treasures that nature kindly left for us to admire. The moment when the impenetrable darkness from the bottom of the mining world is replaced with the warm light of the Sun might have come;and the roads dug by miners below our feet to be done on slopes and mountains Maybe it’s time for Uricani to become a place where tourists come with love.