Azuga (known in the past as Între Prahove) is a urban settlement, located in the northern part
of Prahova County, in the Romania region of Muntenia . It is an important spa and tourist resort,
especially famous as a winter sport resort.
The city is situated in Prahovei Valley at an altitude of 987 m, at the confluence with Azuga
river, at the foot of Bucegi and Baiului Mountains, near Sorica and Cazacu peaks.
Geographical coordinates are 5 ° 37 'north latitude and 25 degrees 33' east longitude.
It is a typical mountain settlement: its 8.304 hectares administrative overlaps both Clăbucetele
Predealului Mountain (N-V) and Gârbovei Mountain(S-E), the city itself spreads along the Azuga
Valley , on E-V direction , on 3 km up to the confluence with Prahova.
It is bordered to the north by the Brasov County, to south - west with Busteni city and to south -
east lies Valea Doftanei village.
The specific landscape is generated by the geological structure and the action of exogenous
factors; in terms of geomorphology, one level of ridges and one of the valleys can be noticed.
The major landscape is represented by the peaks Bucegi and Baiului Mountains; regardless their
differences in altitude, they have many physiognomic similarities. Clăbucetele Predealului
Mountains, surrounded by taller peaks ( Postăvarul, Piatra Mare şi Gârbovei, with more than
1800 – 1900 m and Bucegi Mountain with Omu Peak of 2505 m ),appears like low area , with
altitudes that go down gradually. Between Prahova and Azuga there is a more compact sector
of 1400 – 1500 m ( Clăbucet Plecare 1451 m, Clăbucetul Taurului 1519 m, Clăbucetul Azugii 1586
m ), with slopes of 12 – 24 degrees and 24 – 32 degrees . West of Azuga, the altitudes are
lower 1300 – 1400 m (Grecului Peak for instance has 1432 m ) and the slope are of 6 – 12
degrees and 12 – 24 degrees. Gârbovei Mountains at south and east are more prominent (Cazacu
Peak 1753 m, Urechea Peak 1715 m, Stevia Peak 1901 m ).
The hydrographical network is represented by Prahova river and Azuga creek. There are also a
number of streams collected by Azuga: Urechea Valley, Sitei Valley Glodului Valley, Căşăriei
Valley c, Mărului Valley, Limbăşel.
The specific vegetation belongs to the two known areas in the mountainous area, namely the
forest and alpine area. The forest vegetation subzone belongs to beech and spruce subzone and
stretches until about 1400 - 1500 m altitude.
In the beech subzone, the forests consist of mixtures of beech and fir and spruce. In the mixture
enclaves, there are other species too, such as maple, elm, ash, aspen and larch. On the upper
part of the beech subzone, the spruce subzone grows on a relatively narrow strip of only 200-
250 m (1400 - 1600/1650 m). Spruce forests are relatively compact.
The alpine area grows beyond the upper limit of the forest from 1600/1650 m altitude up to the
highest heights, with bushes of juniper, alder, spiky. Meadows and pastures are frequent. Apple
is cultivated by the local people, and bears fruits but they do not ripe enough.
Fruit shrubs are also found here, such as: raspberry, hawthorn, rowan, currant, elderberry, etc.
Among the cultivated plants that grow well in this area, are : potatoes, cabbages, cauliflower,
carrots, beans, parsnips, parsley, dill, tarragon.
In the spring minor vegetation, that speeds up the evolutionary cycle there are many herbal
plants as: snowdrops, violets, hellebore.
The fauna is rich and varied in terms of species. There are remarkable specimens of Carpathian
stag, deer, bear, wild boar, wolf, fox, marten, badger, polecat, otter, hare, lynx and grouse. In
the higher areas beech forests there are best living conditions for rodent mammals such as mice
and squirrels.
As domestic animals, we can find: cows, cattle, horses, sheep, goats, pigs. When referring to the
mountain streams and rivers, the fish farm is represented by trout (Salma trutta Faria) and
European bullhead (cattus Gabia). Worth mentioning is the Azuga Valley trout farm.