The area of the Hateg Country Dinosaurs Geopark overlaps the Hateg Country, situated in the north-western part of the Middle Carpathians.

In the north, the Hateg basin opens to the depression of Transilvania through the corridor of Stei, it is rock-bounded at north-east and east by the Sureanu Mountains, at south by the Retezat Mountains, at south-west by the Tarcu Mountains, at north-west by the Poiana Rusca Mountains.

In the south-east, it communicates with the Petrosani basin through the Merisor pass, and in the west with the Rusca Montana basin through the Transylvanian Iron Gate pass. The geopark neighbours to south the Retezat National Park and to north-east the Cioclovina-Gradistea Muncelului Naturall Park. The park has a surface of 102.392 ha, including the localities: Densus, General Berthelot, Totesti, Rachitova, SÂntamaria Orlea, Sarmizegetusa, Hateg, Baru Mare, Salasu de Sus, Pui and RÂu de Mori.

Landscape The relief of the depression shapes an amphitheatre: the central tread, the lowest (270-500m), of the piemontane plain, with terraces and meadows; the tread of the piemontane hills (500-650m) and the tread of highlands (650-850m, is absent in the northern part of the depression). The maximal altitude in the geopark's area is the Lazarului Peak (2282m), in the Retezat Mountains.

Habitation & Land Use

Hydrography & Climate The Strei river-springs from the Sureanu massif, below the BatrÂna Peak (1794m), and catches the affluents: RÂul Mare with Galbena and Sibisel, Paros, RÂul Alb, RÂul Barbat (on the left), Valea Varaticului and Valea Mare (on the right). The annual average temperature: 6-8°C; the average precipitation quantity: 700-800mm/year; in winter the temperature inversions are frequent.

The oldest signs of habitation, from the Prehistoric period, were found in the caves from Ohaba-Ponor and Cioclovina; artefacts from the Dacic period are still kept at Blidaru, Costesti, Gradistea Muncelului; from the Roman period, signs of workshops and pottery-kilns were found in Silvasul de Jos.

From the Medieval period dates the first documentary attestation of the Hateg Country, in the Diplome of the The Knight's of Saint John (1247), with the name of Terra Harszok. The continuity of habitation after this date is proved by series of written documents or edifices which constitute a real touristic potential yet not totally capitalized.

The settlements' network is formed by 79 localities, organized in 10 communes, each with 5-11 villages, and one town, with a total population of 38. 133 inhabitants.

The general conditions provided by the relief, clime and the quality of soils have determined different land usages. Thus, in the valleys are gathered the necessary conditions for the cultivation of cereals, tehnical and medicinal plants, while, on the slopes fruit or animal growing is practiced.