Environment

The Valcan Mountains, wich include the Straja Peak, are located in the south - west part of the Sourthen Carpathians. Toegether with the Mehedinti Mountains, they form the Southern Closure of the Carpathian arch from between the Jiu River and the Danube. In the North, the VAlcan Mountains are bordered by the West Jiu.

The main summit of the Valcan Mountains raises abruptly from the Jiu barge (500 - 550 m), at a height of 1584 in the Candetu Peak (in other words, a difference in altituyde of 1000 m on a distance of 2.7 km). From this barren, rocky peak, the summit winds towards South - West, above the Dragoiu Peak (1690 m), the Dumitra Mountain and the Tenia (1671 m), reaching 1621 m in the Valcan Pass. From there the summit goes down in Saua lui Loghin, acends smoothly to the Loghin Peak (1560 m) and CArtianu Peak (the second in height in the chain), towering over the Paroseni settlement. The Mutu Peak is still high (1737 m), but the crest goes gradually down from the Verde Pweak (1627) to the La Paru de Fier (1486 m), near the Coarnele Peak (1789 m). In the South- West, the summit loses is high again as the peaks CAturii Muncelului, Muncelu (1553 m) plumge into The Carloabele ravine (1372 m). Towards Singleul Mic (1553 m) and especially Singleul Mare (1682 m). The altitude goes up again. From Singleul Mare the summit descends southwards in the Dalma Cazuta (Prislope) ravine (1150 m), near to the heighway linking Valea Sohodolului to Valea de Pesti.

Geologically, these mountains mainly consists of crystalline shale's. The main summit area also contains amphiboles. The southern slope has the granite as an important constituent. The southern border margin of the Valcan Mountains is made up of limestone. The lime stone region is especially interesting for both scientists and tourists because of its karsts: gorges, caves, karstic springs, lapis, dolines, whirlpools etc. The rather low height of the Valcan Mountains, kept them from being affected by the quaternary glaciation, unlike the neighboring mountains (Retezat and Parang).

Nature's monuments:
In Valcan mountains there are eatable chestnut-trees reservations Pocruia-Tismana and Eroni. The chestnut-trees surface in Procuia is 280 ha. These areas, as well as the protection forests in the neighborhood, can not be exploited and are under the protection regimen corresponding to the Scientific Reservation statute. The secular beech forest (190 years) over the Gornovita tableland is also a Scientific Reservation of seeds; it lays on 55 ha. Scocul Jiului de Vest, Oslea summit and the calcareous frame deserve a special mention for the nature's protection because over here are developing precious plants, even "Floarea de colt" (Leontopodium alpinum ) and "Ghintura" (Gentiana Lutea), which are protected by law. Also the "Gura plaiului" cave, from south-west part of the massive, is under law protection because of the cave formations that adorn it.

Relief
The city's relief is generally varied because of the great number of valleys that come down from the surrounding mountains.
A range of hills dominate the Valley from 150 - 200 m, connecting the mountains to the lower areas.
Lupeni is located in an area of remarkable beauty, with the peaks of Straja, Mutu and Negri to the south, and the Retezat Mountains to the north (Zanoaga, Dupa Piatra, Oboroca, Scorusu, Dealu Mare). The "Dupa Piatra" peak in particular has excellent potential for rock climbing. Also her you can find daffodils glades.

The Straja peak, the second heighest in Vulcan Mountains at 1868 m, is more than 300 m higher than the other peaks in the vicinity. The summit is rather high in the case of the Mutu Peak, goes down gradually to "La Paru de Fier" (1468 m), then up again towards Siglaul Mic and expecially Siglaul Mare (1682 m). This peak offers an excellent view of the Retezat and starts the southwards journey of the summit.

The Negri Peak lies on the southern side of the Valcan Mountains at a height of 1700 m, between the Straja and Siglaul Mic Peaks. It has an excellent slanting for sking, and also a reserved slope. The hydrographic network of the area is represented especially by Jiul de Vest River (which springs from the mouth of the Soarbele), together with its tributaries: Valea Vacii, Rosia, Sohodol, Tusu, Lazaru, Mierleasa, Mierlasu, Boncii, Braita.

Flora and fauna
The vegetation is characteristic for the Soutern Carphatians, with some exceptions due to the relief, heigh, climate and the nature of the rocks and soil. The difference in altitude, higher in the West (Oslea 1946 m) and East (Straja 1868 m) and lower in the center, as well as the exposure and the slanting of the slopes, led to a vertical and compositional differentiation of the flora. On the southern slope, the beech trees grow separately or in combination with the common oak or (rarely) with the fir tree.

The spruce fir appears sporadically. On the margin , the beaches are sometimes bordered by a narrow chain of fir trees on the lower and middle sides of the northern slope the beech tree and subordinately, the spruce fir and fir tree can be found, succeeded by a narrow strip of mixed forests and then pure firs groups with a variable extension. The forest shelters brushes and vividly colored herbaceous plants - snowdrops, cowslips.
The meadows lie on the higher border of the forest. The juniper tree appears only on Oslea. The meadows are full of bushes bilberries, rowan trees, gooseberries, currant, juniper.

The fauna is very rich and varied. The following birds can be mentioned: the grosbeak, the eagle owl, the martin, the eagle, the hawk, the wagtail. The fish area well represented in the mountains watrs, especially by the trout, miller's thumb, harbel (moioaga). The viper lives both on the southern limestones and in some places on the Scocul Jiului. The mammals live mostly in the forests (wild cats, foxes, wolves, squirrels, wild bears, hinds, deers, polecats, lynxes). The bear holds an important place amoung the fauna of these mountanins. The chamois came spontaneously in Oslea from the Retezat Mountains.

Climate

Thanks to its position (parallel with Jiu River between, Lupeni has a cool climate, the area being protected by the mountains against strong winds.
Lupeni city is one of the mountain towns in Hunedoara county, with an annual average temperature of 8 - 10°C.
The Petrosani area has an annual rainfall of 700 mm. The average amount is 56 mm in February and 100 mm in July).
The Straja and Negri peaks are covered by snow both winter and spring, from November until April-May, each year.

The winds have no single direction, their variety being determined by the general location of the valleys and by the lower parts of the mountains slope, which has a potential for practicing extreme sports.

Environmental Problems:
After 1990, the economic reorganization process included Lupeni, and its mining units, which reduced their capacity. In the same way, the chemical company ASVIL SA was very close to bankruptcy.

The Lupeni mines are pollution sources. The reduction of their activity decreased the pollution in the area, but still there are barren hills on the north side of the west Jiu Valley.
Subsidence occurred on the east side of Lupeni because of the mine's underground activities.
Also, the Jiul de Vest River is polluted with coal dust from the Lupeni Preparatia.

Closing the Uricani Preparatia eliminated the main pollution source of the river, upstream from Lupeni, and contributed to the purification of the water.
All of these led to significant decreases of pollution sources, which can and do cause serious problems in the environment.

Also, the forests are playing an important role in keeping the air clean
Another pollution source are the wastes from local residences.
To solve this problem it is necessary to arrange an ecological place for proper disposal and treatment of the wastes.

Source: DEEP