Hills are predominant in the county of Cluj; they account for approximately two thirds of the county area; the other 1/3 is made up of mountains. Plains are absent altogether; they are replaced by the water meadows of the rivers Somes and Aries. The mountains that lie in the south-west of the county are part of the Apuseni Mountains. They are geologically complex. The Apuseni Mountains are less than one third of the county area. They include the peaks of Vladeasa (1842 m) and Muntele Mare (1826 m), as well as the mountains of Gilau and the northern end of the Trascau Mountains. The hills are part of the south-eastern side of the Somesan Plateau, the north-western side of the Transylvanian Plain, as well as the hill of Feleacu.

The Hydrographic Network

The county of Cluj has many water resources that include rivers, lakes and underground waters. The river network mainly belongs to the hydrographic basin of the rivers Somes, Crisul Repede and Aries. From the Somesan Plateau, the river Somesul Mic takes in the following branches: Capusul, Nadasul, Borsa. They mostly have important flow and level variations. From the Transylvanian Plain it takes in Gadalin, Fizes, Bandau. The north-eastern part of the county is drained by the Somesul Mare river on a length of approximately 6 km. It afterwards joins the river Somesul Mic and they form the river Somes. The river Crisul Repede takes in many streams from the eastern slope of the peak of Vladeasa; most important thereof are Calata and Dragan. The river Aries flows across the south-eastern part of the county; its main branches are Ocolisel, Iara, Hasdate, which drain many straits and gorges in their way. There are few natural lakes; the main one is Lacul Stiucii, with an area of 22 ha and a maximum depth of 12.7 m.

The Climate

Due to its location, the county of Cluj benefits from a mild continental climate. Consequently, in winter there are sea and polar-based influences and sea-Carpathian impacts on the north-western side, whereas in summer the hot air comes from the south-west. The relief determines climate differences between the mountains and the hilly region of the county, and a vertical separation of the main climate elements. Annual average temperatures range from 1.5oC and 2.5oC up on the peaks of Vladeasa and Muntele Mare to 3-6oC at the brink of the high altitude zone and 7-9oC in the Transylvanian Plain and the Somesan Plateau. As to the extreme temperatures, February the coldest month of the year and July (in the hilly region), and August respectively (up in the mountains). Annual averages of the air relative humidity differ from one relief to the other, as they are different in altitude. If compared to other regions of the country, these values are high enough, due to the hot air in the west. Clouds are different above the hills than up in the mountains, according to the relief and the atmosphere dynamics. Annual averages of rainfall are higher in the south-west than the north-east. The Turda-Cimpia Turzii depression sees the lowest annual averages of rainfall.February sees the lowest amount of rainfall (18-35 mm), and June sees the highest. Snowfall begins in October in the mountains, in the latter half of November on the hills and in the first half of December in the plain of Turda.

The Flora and The Vegetation

The relief characteristics bring along a diverse vegetation in consistance with the altitude. Thus, there are three flora layers throughout the county. These vary with the climate and the slope display. The subalpine layer generally includes high peaks (over 1550 m) in the mountains of Vladeasa and Muntele Mare; in this region winter is long and summer is short. Meadows are covered in various floral species, mostly rock grass, wind grass, etc. The forestry layer includes foliated trees and resinous woods (spruce firs, fir trees, beeches). The beech woods that grow up to 1000 m altitude, include a mixture of beech and spruce fir. More rare trees species are: the ulm, the ash, the hornbeam. The oak woods are found on the hills; they grow up to 550-600 m altitude. Natural woods include a mixture of hornbeams and various shrubs, such as the hawthorn, the hazelnut tree, etc. Farm lands stretch out below the forestry layer; they are largest in the county. The forest steppe layer on the Transylvanian Plain and the Somesan Plateau has meadows growing along the watersides and on south-eastern exposure slopes.

The Fauna

The complexity of the relief and the vegetation in the county favour a rich and numerous fauna including many species. In the subalpine layer there are rodents, birds, reptiles, such as the common viper, the mountain lizzard, etc. The woods layer is inhabited by mammals and birds. Mammals include: brown bears, wild boars, deer, wolves, lynxes, badgers, and squirrels. Woods martens and hares are found in calcareous regions. The woods host a wide range of bird species, such as the mountain cock, the blackbird and the mountain eagle, the latter being very rare. As to the water fauna, the following species are met here: the trout - in mountain rivers and streams; the dace, the barbel - in hill rivers; the carp, the pike, the perch - in rivers and lakes on the Somesan Plateau and the Transylvanian plain.

The Area