Caraş-Severin_County

Caraş-Severin County

Caraş-Severin (Serbian: Караш Северин, Karaš Severin, Croatian: Karaš-Severin; Hungarian: Krassó-Szörény, Bulgarian: Караш-Северин, Karash-Severin) is a county (judeţ) of Romania, in historical region Banat, with the county seat at Reşiţa.

Demographics

The county is part of the Danube-Kris-Mures-Tisa euroregion.

In 2002, it had a population of 333,219 and a population density of 39/km².

The majority of the population (88.24%) are Romanians. There are also Roma (2.37%), Croats (1.88%), Germans (1.84%), Serbs (1.82%), Hungarians (1.74%) and Ukrainians (1.05%).

Year	County population
1948	302,254
1956	327,787
1966	358,726
1977	385,577
1992	376,347
2002	333,219

Geography

With 8,514 km², it is the third largest county in Romania, after Timiş and Suceava counties. It is also the county through which the Danube River enters Romania.

The mountains make up 67% of the county's surface, including the Southern Carpathians range, with Banat Mountains, Ţarcu-Godeanu Mountains and Cernei Mountains and elevations between 600 and 2100 m. Transition hills between mountains and the Banat Plain lie in the western side of the ocunty.

The Danube enters Romania in the vicinity of Baziaş, bordering Serbia. Timiş, Cerna, Caraş and Nera cross the county, some of them through spectacular valleys and gorges.

Neighbours

Hunedoara County and Gorj County to the east.
Timiş County to the north.
Mehedinţi County to the southeast.
Serbia to the southwest:

Vojvodina Autonomous Province to the west - South Banat okrug.
Bor District and Braničevo District to the south.

History and Economy

In 1718 the county was part of the Habsburg Monarchy of Austria, in its province named Banat. The county seat, Reşiţa, was founded in 1771 and became a modern industrial center during the Austrian occupation. The area received considerable attention due to its mines industry. In 1855, the entire Banat area, with its supplies of mineral deposits and timber, was transferred from the Austrian Treasury to an Austrian and French mining and railroad company named StEG. StEG built the Oraviţa-Baziaş line -- Romania's oldest railroad track. After World War I, StEG, Banat and most of Austro-Hungarian property were taken over by a company named UDR. The arrival of the communist regime in Romania after WWII and that regime's campaign of nationalization of the mining industry brought tremendous social upheaval in the area.

Tourism

Archaeological findings show the area has been populated since Paleolithic times. There is a County Museum of History in Resita, displaying archeological artifacts, and, in the town of Ocna de Fier, the Constantin Gruiescu Mineralogical Collection. The county hosts the regional daffodil and lilac festivals in the Spring. Sites worth visiting:

Cheile Nerei - Beuşinta National Park;
Semenic - Cheile Caraşului National Park;
Domogled - Valea Cernei National Park;
Danube Iron Gate National Park;
Semenic resort;
Băile Herculane resort.

Administration

President of the County Council - Sorin Frunzăverde (Democratic-Liberal Party)
Vice presidents - Ionesie Ghiorghioni (Democratic-Liberal Party) and Iulian Georgevici (National Liberal Party)