Harghita County

Updated on Oct 03, 2024

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Country Romania Capital Miercurea Ciuc		Area 6,639 km² Population 304,969

Destinations Miercurea Ciuc, Odorheiu Secuiesc, Gheorgheni, Toplita, Baile Tusnad

Map of Harghita County

Harghita ([harˈɡita], Hungarian: Hargita megye, [ˈhɒrɡitɒ]) is a county (județ) in the center of Romania, in eastern Transylvania, with the county seat at Miercurea Ciuc.

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2002 census

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In 2002, Harghita County had a population of 326,222 and a population density of 52/km².

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Hungarians- 84.62% (or 276,038)

Romanians – 14.06% (or 45,870)

Romani – 1.18% (or 3,835), and others.

2011 census

In 2011, it had a population of 302,432 and a population density of 46/km².

Hungarians- 85.21% (or 257,707)

Romanians – 12.96% (or 39,196)

Romani, others – 1.76% (or 5,326).

Harghita county has the highest percentage of Hungarians in Romania, just ahead of Covasna county. The Hungarians form the majority of the population in most of the county's municipalities, with Romanians concentrated in the northern and eastern part of the county (particularly Toplița and Bălan), as well as in the enclave of Voșlăbeni.

The Székelys of Harghita are mostly Roman Catholic, with Reformed and Unitarian minorities, while the ethnic Romanians are primarily Orthodox. Catholicism is strongest in the east, in the former Csíkszék, while Protestants are concentrated in the west, south and west of Odorheiu Secuiesc. By religion, the county is divided roughly as follows:

Roman Catholic (65%)

Orthodox (13%)

Reformed (13%)

Unitarian (7%)

Other (2%)

Demographic evolution

Geography

Harghita County has a total area of 6,639 km².

Harghita consists primarily of mountains, connected to the Eastern Carpathians, such as the Ciuc and Harghita Mountains; volcanic plateaux, foothills, and the more densely populated river valleys.

The mountains are volcanic in origin, and the region is known for its excellent hot mineral springs. Harghita is known as one of the coldest regions in Romania, although summers can be quite warm.

It is in this county that two of the most important rivers in Romania, the Mureș and the Olt, originate. These rivers' origins, near the villages of Izvoru Mureșului and Sândominic, are only a few miles apart; yet the Mureș flows west to the Tisza, while the Olt flows south to the Danube. In the western part of the county the two Târnava rivers (Târnava Mare and Târnava Mică) flow to the Târnava Plateau, which is part of the Transylvanian Plateau.

Harghita's spectacular natural scenery includes Sfânta Ana Lake, a volcanic crater lake near the town of Băile Tușnad; Lacul Roșu a mountain lake in the northeast near the town of Gheorgheni, and Cheile Bicazului, a dramatic, narrow canyon formed by the Bicaz stream. The county is renowned for its spa resorts and mineral waters.