Inner Carpathians

The Apuseni Mountains rise west of the Transylvanian plateau, their wooded ridges enclosing the headwaters of the Arieș and other rivers. Limestone has been cut into gorges and caves, with streams disappearing underground and re-emerging in valleys below. The Bihor massif forms a high core of this mountain country, while settlements occupy clearings and river valleys. Its hills have long been associated with mineral wealth, and the valleys offer routes between Transylvania and the western plains.