Visit Maramures

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Maramures is a blend of a variety of topographical features that creates a unique landscape. High mountains, green rolling hills, wide and narrow river valleys, forests, pastures, rivers and lakes all form the most aesthetically stunning region of Romania. Situated in the north of Romania, the region occupies an area of 6304 sq kms, borders Ukraine and also the counties of Suceava, Bistriţa Nasaud, Cluj, Salaj and Satu Mare.

Almost 50% of the region is considered mountainous and the region hosts the highest peak of the Eastern Carpathian range; Pietrosu (2303m). Four distinct mountain ranges carve up the region separating Moldavia (not to be confused with Moldova, the country) and Transylvania. The Gutai, Tiblesh and Rodna Mountains, running northwest to east, separate Historical  Maramures from the rest of the region and the  Maramures Mountains form a natural and political boundary with Ukraine in the northeast.

                            

The region is abundant with clean, fast-flowing rivers constantly refreshed by the surrounding mountains. With some 3000km of waterways it’s no wonder that the landscape is so lush and green. The names of the major rivers are also used to distinguish the ethnographic zones in historical Maramures– the Iza, the Mara, the Viseu and the Tisa. Aside from the rivers there are the alpine lakes of Iezer and Buhaescu of glacial origin and the man-made lakes at Ocna Sugatag and Baia Sprie and the Stramtori-Firiza and Runcu-Brazi-Firiza reservoirs. 

Maramures is typically wetter and colder than the rest of Romania although the weather can be spectacular and hot in the summer months. In the winter a Christmas card landscape appears with mild snowfall and the chance to go skiing. When the snow disappears the landscape quickly becomes, and remains, green until autumn. Temperatures are relatively mild but can reach up into the 30s centigrade (90s Fahrenheit) during the summer.