Eastern Carpathians, Mountain range in Eastern Europe.
The range is a mountain system in Eastern Europe stretching across Romania, Ukraine, Poland, and Slovakia, linking dense forests with numerous peaks. The landscape alternates between steep valleys, rolling ridges, and wide high plateaus reaching elevations above 6500 feet (2000 meters).
The range formed a natural boundary between different territories for centuries and shaped migration routes between east and west. Many passes served as trade roads linking regional markets and encouraging exchanges among neighboring communities.
Shepherds drive their flocks to high pastures in summer, where they live in simple huts and make cheese. Their wooden architecture with carved gates and steep shingled roofs still shapes many mountain villages across the region.
Marked trails connect different mountain regions and pass through forests and open ridges, with some routes requiring several days of walking. Mountain huts and small guesthouses offer shelter at higher elevations, while villages at the foot serve as starting points.
Large populations of brown bears and wolves live in the deep forests, finding wide habitats here. Broad areas of old tree stands remain mostly untouched today and rank among the largest in Europe outside Russia.
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