Area 8,514 km² | Time zone EET (UTC+2) Team HC Adrian Petrea Reşiţa | |
Points of interest Izvorul Bigăr, Izvorul Bigar, CFR Museum ‑ Steam Lo, Statuia lui Hercules din Băile, Muzeul Banatului Montan Destinations | ||
Caraș-Severin ([ˈkaraʃ seveˈrin]) is a county (județ) of Romania on the border with Serbia. The majority of its territory lies within the historical region of Banat, with a few northeastern villages considered part of Transylvania. The county seat is Reșița. The Caraș-Severin county is part of the Danube-Kris-Mures-Tisza Euroregion.
Contents
- Map of CaraC899 Severin County Romania
- Name
- Demographics
- Geography
- Neighbours
- History and economy
- Tourism
- Politics
- Administrative divisions
- References
Map of Cara%C8%99-Severin County, Romania
Name
In Serbian and Croatian, it is known as Karaš Severin/Караш Северин or Karaš-Severinska županija, in Hungarian as Krassó-Szörény megye, in German as Kreis Karasch-Severin, and in Bulgarian as Караш-Северин (translit. Karash-Severin).
Demographics
The county is part of the Danube-Kris-Mureș-Tisza euroregion.
In 2011, it had a population of 274,277 and a population density of 33.63/km2.
The majority of the population (89.23%) are Romanians. There are also Roma (2.74%), Croats (1.88%), Germans (1.11%), Serbs (1.82%), Hungarians (1.19%) and Ukrainians (0.94%).
Geography
With 8,514 km2, it is the third largest county in Romania, after Timiș and Suceava counties. It is also the county through which the Danube River enters Romania.
The mountains make up 67% of the county's surface, including the Southern Carpathians range, with Banat Mountains, Țarcu-Godeanu Mountains and Cernei Mountains and elevations between 600 and 2100 meters. Transition hills between mountains and the Banat Plain lie in the western side of the county.
The Danube enters Romania in the vicinity of Baziaș, bordering Serbia. Timiș, Cerna, Caraș and Nera cross the county, some of them through spectacular valleys and gorges.
Neighbours
History and economy
In 1718 the county was part of the Habsburg Monarchy of Austria, part of the province of Banat. The county seat, Reșița, was founded in 1771 and became a modern industrial center under Austrian rule. The area received considerable attention due to its mining industry. In 1855, the entire Banat area, with its supplies of mineral deposits and timber, was transferred from the Austrian Treasury to a joint Austrian-French mining and railroad company named StEG. StEG built the Oravița-Baziaș line, Romania's oldest railroad track.
After World War I, StEG, Banat and most Austro-Hungarian property were taken over by a company named UDR. During the last years of World War II, when Romania was an ally of Nazi Germany, a partisan group, led by Ștefan Plavăț, was active in the mountainous area of the county. The arrival of the communist regime in Romania after World War II and that regime's campaign of nationalization of the mining industry brought tremendous social upheaval in the area.
Tourism
Archaeological findings show the area has been populated since Paleolithic times. There is a County Museum of History in Reșița, displaying archeological artifacts, and, in the town of Ocna de Fier, the Constantin Gruiescu Mineralogical Collection. The county hosts the regional daffodil and lilac festivals in the Spring. Sites worth visiting:
Politics
The Caraș-Severin County Council, elected at the 2016 local government elections, is made up of 31 counselors, with the following party composition:
Administrative divisions
Caraș-Severin County has 2 municipalities, 6 towns and 69 communes