Romanian National Park Retezat In "Seven Natural Wonders of the World" Semifinals

Romania qualified in the semifinals of the competition "The Seven Natural Wonders of the World", as National Park Retezat ranked tenth among the most beautiful national parks, forests and natural monuments of the world.

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"We have reasons to celebrate. National Park Retezat ranked tenth amonk the most beautiful national parks, forests and natural monuments of the world, and qualified in the semifinals of the competition ‘The Seven Natural Wonders of the World’," Retezat Park PR officer Florina Crisan told MEDIAFAX.

According to the quoted source, there was "extraordinary mobility" by Romanians everywhere, who voted for the park online, pushing it into the semifinals.

According to Crisan, the expert committee will decide in two weeks who moves on. Out of the 77 contestants left, 28 will be selected, and will again be subject to public voting after July 21.

A Canadian foundation launched a worldwide campaign to choose the seven natural wonders of the world, and three protected areas in Romania entered the contest that started in 2007.

Thus, the Scarisoara Cave, National Park Retezat and the Danube entered the race, alongside many other national parks, caves, mountains, lakes and glaciers worldwide.

The Retezat Park was created in 1935 and was the first national park in Romania, with a role in preserving the beauty of the mountains and the endemic flora in the area.

"The Retezat Mountains have some of the most beautiful views in southeastern Europe, but it needs close supervision by rangers and gendarmerie units, to protect it from tourists or locals who bring their cattle to graze here. Due to its habitats, the park shelters an especially rich fauna, regarding the number of species as well as the width of each species’ population. Here one can find 1,190 types of plants – over one third of all plant species found in Romania," Crisan said.

The park includes 80 lakes and ponds and over 20 peaks higher than 2,000 meters. The highest peak in Retezat is Peleaga, reaching 2,509 meters.

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