The Alpine Meadow in the Făgăraș Mountains

Introduction

Located in Sibiu County, the Alpine Meadow in the Făgăraș Mountains represents one of the beautiful national interest areas, protected and very well maintained. Although this process is not due to humans but to nature itself, the landscapes are truly enchanting and, from time to time, help us realize what the most important things in life are.

Geographical Positioning

For better geographical positioning, it is important to highlight the exact location of the Alpine Meadow in the Făgăraș Mountains, namely at the border with Vâlcea and Argeș counties (in the southern part) and with Brașov County (in the eastern part).

Legal Protection

With the approval of Law no. 5 on March 6, 2000, the Alpine Meadow in the Făgăraș Mountains entered the category of protected areas in Romania. Covering approximately 7,000 hectares, this area stretches above Podragu Peak (with an elevation of about 2,482 meters), alongside Suru Peak (with an elevation of 2,281 meters). The entire reserve features numerous lakes, among which we mention the glacial ones:

• Bâlea Lake
• Avrig Lake
• Doamnei Lake
• Podragu Lake
• Călțun Lake
• Podrăgel Lake

Purpose of the Reserve

The entire reserve was established with a very well-defined purpose, namely to enhance the protection, security, and maintenance of the wild flora and fauna typical and characteristic of the Făgăraș Mountains. Additionally, this mountainous area is part of the Southern Carpathian chain.

Flora

In terms of flora, it includes numerous species of:

• Beech
• Birch
• Goat willow
• Trembling poplar
• Spruce
• Pine
• Yew
• Fir
• Juniper
• Blueberry

Besides these, there are many others that are either discovered or waiting to be documented more closely.

Fauna

On the other hand, in terms of fauna, there are numerous species of extremely interesting and protected animals, some of which are found on the IUCN red list. For example, the following are just a few of the nationally recognized specimens:

• Brown bear
• Deer
• Gray wolf
• Fox
• Wild boar
• Squirrel
• Carpathian lynx

Tourist Attractions

The Alpine Meadow in the Făgăraș Mountains is also known for its numerous monuments and tourist attractions. Among these, we mention:

• The place of worship, the Church of the "Assumption of the Virgin Mary," located in the village of Arpașu de Sus, built in 1791. Currently, it is classified among historical monuments, alongside:

- The Church of "Palm Sunday" (Avrig)

- The Church of "Saint George the Great Martyr" (Arpașu de Sus)

Additionally, fortified between 1270-1280, the Brukenthal Castle in Avrig is a well-known structure found in this Alpine Meadow of the Făgăraș Mountains. Lastly, without diminishing its importance in any way, the memorial house "Gheorghe Lazăr" in Avrig dates back to the 19th century, being a fortification of real interest both historically and aesthetically.