Carpathian Mountains, Mountain range in Central and Eastern Europe, Romania and Ukraine.
The Carpathian Mountains are a mountain range stretching through Central and Eastern Europe, crossing Romania and Ukraine and reaching 2655 meters (8710 feet) at their highest. The peaks form wide arcs with forested slopes, open meadows above the tree line, and narrow valleys where villages sit among fields and pastures.
Dacian tribes lived in these mountains during the second century, when Greek geographer Ptolemy recorded them as Montes Sarmatici. Later, mountain passes became trade routes connecting eastern and western regions, while border fortresses were built along the ridges.
Romanian and Ukrainian shepherds still move flocks of sheep through high pastures in summer, working from simple wooden huts and using large guarding dogs. Visitors meet craftspeople in remote villages who weave baskets, carve wooden spoons, and make cheese following recipes passed down through families.
Hiking trails cross the range and are best walked between April and October, when snow has melted and weather is usually dry. Mountain huts and simple overnight shelters are placed along main routes, so longer walks can be done without carrying a tent.
The forests here form the largest continuous woodland in Europe, where brown bears, wolves, and lynx still live in higher numbers. Some valleys are so difficult to reach that wild animals become visible near trails during daylight hours.
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