Divisions of the Carpathians

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Map of the main divisions of the Carpathians.
1. Outer Western Carpathians
2. Inner Western Carpathians
3. Outer Eastern Carpathians
4. Inner Eastern Carpathians
5. Southern Carpathians
6. Western Romanian Carpathians
7. Transylvanian Plateau
8. Serbian Carpathians

This is a detailed overview of the subdivisions of the Carpathian Mountains. The Carpathians are a "subsystem" of the Alps-Himalaya System and are further divided into "provinces" and "subprovinces". The last level of the division, i.e. the actual mountain ranges and basins, is usually called "units". The main divisions are shown in the map on the right.

1 Disputes
2 Taxonomy
3 Western Carpathians (province)
4 B) Eastern Carpathians^[2] (province)
5 C) Southern Carpathians (RO) (province)
6 D) Romanian Western Carpathians (RO)
7 E) Transylvanian Plateau (RO)
8 F) Serbian Carpathians (RS)
9 Footnotes

[edit] Disputes

The division is largely (with many exceptions) undisputed at the lowest level (except for the Ukrainian part), but various divisions are given for the higher levels, especially for the penultimate level. A geomorphological division has been used as much as the data was available, other new physiogeographic divisions were used in other cases. Where the classification of a higher level "title" is known/sure, it is added at the end of the name in brackets, e.g. "(subprovince)". In Romania, it is usual to divide the Eastern Carpathians in Romanian territory into three geographical groups (north, center, south), instead in Outer and Inner Eastern Carpathians. The Romanian approach is shown by adding the following codes to the names of the units:

MMB = Carpathians of Maramureş and Bucovina (Munţii Carpaţi ai Maramureşului şi Bucovinei)
MMT = Carpathians of Moldavia and Transylvania (Munţii Carpaţi Moldo-Transilvani)
MC = Carpathians of the curve (Munţii Carpaţi de Curbură)

[edit] Taxonomy

The names are also given in the language of the corresponding country and marked by the ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country codes:

[edit] Western Carpathians (province)

[edit] Outer Carpathian depressions (subprovince)

Note: The Outer Carpathian Depressions are divided into Western, Northern etc. and are usually treated as part of the individual parts of the Carpathian Mountains, i.e of Western Carpathians, Eastern Carpathians etc.. Since, however, it was impossible to find their exact subdivision, they are given only as a list of the final units (mountains etc.) from the west to the east and south here:

Weinviertel Hills (AT: Weinviertler Hügelland) + Dyje-Svratka Vale (CZ: Dyjsko-svratecký úval)
Vyškov Gate (CZ: Vyškovská brána)
Upper Moravian Vale (CZ: Hornomoravský úval)
Moravian Gate (CZ: Moravská brána)
Ostrava Basin (CZ: Ostravská pánev, PL: Kotlina Ostrawska)
Oświęcim Basin (PL: Kotlina Oświęcimska)
Kraków Gate (PL: Brama Krakowska)
Sandomierz Basin (PL: Kotlina Sandomierska) + San-Dniester Plain (UA: Sans'ko-Dnistrovs'ka rivnyna)
Upper Dniester Plain (UA: Verchn'odnistrovs'ka rivnyna)
Drohobych Highlands (UA: Drohobyc'ka vysochyna)
Dniester Plain (UA: Pridnistrovs'ka rivnyna)
Pokutsk Upland (UA: Pokuts'ka vysochyna)
Bucovina Highlands (UA: Bukovyns'ka vysochyna) + Suceava Plateau (RO: Podişul Sucevei)
Moldavia-Siret Groove (RO: Culoarul Moldova-Siret)
Moldavian Subcarpathians (RO: Subcarpaţii Moldovei)
Muntenian Subcarpathians (RO: Subcarpaţii Munteniei)
Getic Subcarpathians (RO: Subcarpaţii Getici)
Getic Plateau (RO: Podişul Getic)

[edit] Outer Western Carpathians (subprovince)

South-Moravian Carpathians (CZ) / Austrian - South-Moravian Carpathians (AT) (area) (CZ: Jihomoravské Karpaty, AT: Österreichisch-Südmährische Karpaten)

Lower Austrian Inselberg Swell (AT: Leiser Berge, Niederösterreichische Inselbergschwelle) + Mikulov Highlands (CZ: Mikulovská vrchovina)

Central Moravian Carpathians (CZ) (area) (CZ: Středomoravské Karpaty)

Ždánice Forest (Ždánický les)
Litenčice Hills (Litenčická pahorkatina)
Chřiby
Kyjov Hills (Kyjovská pahorkatina)

Slovak-Moravian Carpathians (CZ/SK) (area) (CZ/SK: Slovensko-moravské Karpaty)

White Carpathians (CZ: Bílé Karpaty, SK: Biele Karpaty)
Javorníky (CZ+SK)
Myjava Hills (SK: Myjavská pahorkatina)
Váh Valley Land (SK: Považské podolie)
Vizovice Highlands (CZ: Vizovická vrchovina)

West-Beskidian Piedmont (CZ / PL) (area) (CZ: Západobeskydské podhůří, PL: Pogórze Zachodniobeskidzkie)

Sub-Beskidian Hills (CZ: Podbeskydská pahorkatina) + Moravian-Silesian Piedmont (PL: Pogórze Morawsko-Śląskie)
Silesian Piedmont (PL: Pogórze Śląskie)
Wieliczka Piedmont (PL: Pogórze Wielickie)
Wiśnicz Piedmont (PL: Pogórze Wiśnickie)

Western Beskids (CZ / SK / PL) (area) (CZ: Západní Beskydy, SK: Západné Beskydy, PL: Beskidy Zachodnie)

Hostýn-Vsetín Mountains (CZ: Hostýnsko-vsetínská hornatina)
Moravian-Silesian Beskids (CZ: Moravskoslezské Beskydy, SK: Moravsko-sliezske Beskydy)
Turzovka Highlands (SK: Turzovská vrchovina)
Jablunkov Furrow (CZ: Jablunkovská brázda)
Rožnov Furrow (CZ: Rožnovská brázda)
Jablunkov Intermontane (SK: Jablunkovské medzihorie, CZ: Jablunkovské mezihoří)
Silesian Beskids (PL: Beskid Śląski, CZ: Slezské Beskydy)
Żywiec Basin (PL: Kotlina Żywiecka)

cont. (Polish) Western Beskids (PL) (PL: Beskidy Zachodnie)

Little Beskids (Beskid Mały)
Maków Beskids (Beskid Makowski)
Island Beskids (Beskid Wyspowy)
Gorce
(?)Rabka Basin (Kotlina Rabczańska)
Sącz Basin (Kotlina Sądecka)

Central Beskids (SK) / cont. (Polish) Western Beskids (PL) (area) (SK: Stredné Beskydy, PL: Beskidy Zachodnie)

Orava Beskids (SK: Oravské Beskydy) + Żywiec Beskids (PL: Beskid Żywiecki) (the older SK equivalent of Beskid Zywiecki is "Slovenské Beskydy"- Slovak Beskids or "Kysucko-oravské Beskydy"- Kysuce-Orava Beskids)
Kysuce Beskids (SK: Kysucké Beskydy) +Żywiec Beskids (PL: Beskid Żywiecki) (the older SK equivalent of Beskid Zywiecki is "Slovenské Beskydy" or "Kysucko-oravské Beskydy")
Kysuce Beskids (SK: Kysucké Beskydy)
Kysuce Highlands (SK: Kysucká vrchovina)
Orava Magura (SK: Oravská Magura)
Orava Highlands (SK: Oravská vrchovina)
Orava Beskids (SK: Oravské Beskydy)
Sub-Beskidian Furrow (SK: Podbeskydská brázda)
Sub-Beskidian Highlands (SK: Podbeskydská vrchovina)

Eastern Beskids (SK) / cont. (Polish) Western Beskids (PL) (area) (SK: Východné Beskydy, PL: Beskidy Zachodnie)

Sącz Beskids (PL: Beskid Sądecki) + Ľubovňa Highlands (SK: Ľubovnianska vrchovina)
Čergov (SK) + Czerchów Mountains (PL: Góry Czerchowskie)
Pieniny (often considered part of the Podhôľno-magurská oblasť in non-geomorphological systems)

Podhale-Magura Area (SK)/ Orava-Podhale Depression (PL)^[1] (area) (SK: Podhôľno-magurská oblasť, PL: Onizenie Orawsko-Podhalańskie)

Skorušina Mountains (SK: Skorušinské vrchy) + Spiš-Gubałówka Piedmont (PL: Pogórze Spisko-Gubałowskie)
Sub-Tatra Furrow (SK: Podtatranská brázda, PL: Rów Podtatrzański)
Spiš Magura (SK: Spišská Magura) + Spiš-Gubałówka Piedmont (PL: Pogórze Spisko-Gubałowskie)
Levoča Mountains (SK: Levočské vrchy)
Bachureň (SK)
Spiš-Šariš Intermontane (SK: Spišsko-šarišské medzihorie)
Šariš Highlands (SK: Šarišská vrchovina)
Orava Basin (SK: Oravská kotlina) + Orava-Nowy Targ Basin (PL: Kotlina Orawsko-Nowotarska)

[edit] A3) Inner Western Carpathians (subprovince)

[edit] a) Slovenské rudohorie (SK) (area)

EN: Slovak Ore Mountains

Vepor Mountains (Veporské vrchy)
Spiš-Gemer Karst (Spišsko-gemerský kras)
Stolické vrchy (literally Stolica Mountains)
Revúcka vrchovina (Revúca Highlands)
Volovské vrchy (Volovec Mountains)
Čierna hora (Black Mountain)
Rožňavská kotlina (Rožňava Basin)
Slovak Karst (Slovenský kras) and North-Borsod Karst (Hungarian: Észak-Borsodi karszt; lies in northern Hungary)

[edit] b) Fatra-Tatra Area (SK/PL/AT) * (area)

Slovak:Fatransko-tatranská oblasť

Little Carpathians (SK: Malé Karpaty) + Hainburg Mountains (AT: Hainburger Berge)
Považský Inovec
Tríbeč
Strážov Mountains (Strážovské vrchy)
Súľov Mountains (Súľovské vrchy)
Žiar
Malá Fatra (Lesser Fatra)
Veľká Fatra (Greater Fatra)
Staré Hory Mountains (Starohorské vrchy)
Choč Mountains (Chočské vrchy)
Tatras (SK/PL: Tatry)
Low Tatras (Nízke Tatry)
Kozie chrbty (literally: Goat Ridges)
Branisko
Žilina Basin (Žilinská kotlina)
Upper Nitra Basin (Hornonitrianska kotlina)
Turiec Basin (Turčianska kotlina)
Podtatranská kotlina (Sub-Tatra Basin)
Hornád Basin (Hornádska kotlina)
Horehronské podolie

[edit] c) Slovenské stredohorie (SK) (area)

SK: Slovenské stredohorie

Vtáčnik
Hron Inovec (Pohronský Inovec)
Štiavnica Mountains (Štiavnické vrchy)
Kremnica Mountains (Kremnické vrchy)
Poľana
Ostrôžky
Javorie
Krupina Plain (Krupinská planina)
Zvolen Basin (Zvolenská kotlina)
Pliešovce Basin (Pliešovská kotlina)
Žiar Basin (Žiarska kotlina)

[edit] d) Lučenec-Košice Depression (SK/HU) (area)

SK: Lučensko-košická zníženina

Southern Slovak Basin (SK: Juhoslovenská kotlina) + Central Ipoly Basin (HU: Középsö-Ipoly-medence) + Borsod Hills (HU: Borsodi-dombság)
Bodva Hills (SK: Bodvianska pahorkatina)
Košice Basin (SK: Košická kotlina) + Hernád-Valley Basin (HU: Hernádvölgy-medence)

[edit] e) Mátra-Slanec Area (SK) /Northern Medium Mountains (HU) (area)

SK: Matransko-slanská oblasť, HU: Északi-középhegység

Börzsöny Mountains (HU: Börzsöny-hegység, literally: Logwood Mountains) + Burda (SK)
Gödöllő Hills (HU: Gödöllő dombság)
Cerová vrchovina (SK; Cerová Highlands) + Cserhát Mountains (HU: Cserhát-hegység)
Mátra Mountains (HU: Mátra hegység)
Bükk Mountains (HU: Bükk-hegység – literally Beech Mountains)
Cserehát Hills (HU: Csereháti dombság)
Slanec Mountains (SK: Slanské vrchy) + Zemplén Mountains (HU: Zempléni-hegység, also Tokaji-hegység/Tokaj Mountains)
Zemplín Mountains (SK, Zemplínske vrchy)

[edit] B) Eastern Carpathians^[2] (province)

[edit] B1) Outer Carpathian depressions (subprovince)

see Appendix at the end

[edit] B2) Outer Eastern Carpathians (subprovince)

[edit] a) Central Beskidian Piedmont (PL)***

PL: Pogórze Środkowobeskidzkie

Rożnów Piedmont (PL: Pogórze Rożnowskie)
Ciężkowice Piedmont (PL: Pogórze Ciężkowickie)
Strzyżów Piedmont (PL: Pogórze Strzyżowskie)
Dynów Piedmont (PL: Pogórze Dynowskie)
Przemyśl Piedmont (PL: Pogórze Przemyskie)
Gorlice Depression (PL: Obniżenie Gorlickie)
Jasło-Krosno Basin (PL: Kotlina Jasielsko-Krośnieńska)
Jasło Piedmont (PL: Pogórze Jasielskie)
Bukowsko Piedmont (PL: Pogórze Bukowskie)

[edit] b) Lower Beskids (SK) / Central Beskids (PL)^[3] (area)

SK: Nízke Beskydy, PL: Beskidy Środkowe

Busov (SK)
Ondava Highlands (SK: Ondavská vrchovina)
Low Beskids (PL: Beskid Niski) + Laborec Highlands (SK: Laborecká vrchovina)
Beskidian Piedmont (SK: Beskydské predhorie)

[edit] c) Eastern Beskids (PL) / (?)Wooded Carpathians (SK) / (?)Ukrainian Carpathians (UA) (area)

PL: Beskidy Wschodnie, SK: Poloniny, UA: Ukrains'ki Karpaty. Note that there are many variants for the divisions and names of these ranges.

Wooded Beskids (PL: Beskidy Lesiste + (?) UA: Lisystyi Beskyd):

Bieszczady or Western Bieszczady (PL: Bieszczady Zachodnie) [and Góry Sanocko-Turczańskie, sometimes known as Middle Beskyds in UA] (PL) + Bukovské vrchy Mts. (SK) + Western Beskids (UA, Zachidni Beskydy)
Skole Beskids (UA: Skolivs'ki Beskydy), partly or completely also known as High Beskids (Vysoki Beskydy); part of (Ukrainian) Eastern Beskids (Skhidni Beskydy)
Upper Dniester Beskids (UA: Verkhn'odnistrovs'ki Beskydy), part of (Ukrainian) Eastern Beskids (Skhidni Beskydy)
Gorgany (UA)
Pokutsk-Bucovina Carpathians (UA, Pokuts'ko-Bukovins'ki Karpaty)

Polonynian Ridge (UA: Polonyns'kyi chrebet):

Smooth Polonyna (Polonyna Rivna)
Polonyna Borzhava
Polonyna Kuk
Red Polonyna (Polonyna Krasna)
Svydovets'
Chornohora (literally: Black Mountain)
Hryniavs'ki hory

[edit] d) Moldavian-Muntenian Carpathians

RO: Munţii Carpaţi ai Moldo-Munteniei

Bucovina Ridges (RO: Obcinele Bucovinei), i.e Obcina Mare (Great Ridge) + Obcina Feredeului (Feredeu Ridge), MMB
Stânişoara Mountains (RO: Munţii Stânişoarei) MMT
Tarcău Mountains (RO: Munţii Tarcăului) MMT
Comăneşti Depression (RO: Depresiunea Comăneşti) MMT
Nemira Mountains (RO: Munţii Nemira) MMT
Ciuc Mountains (RO: Munţii Ciucului), incl. Bodoc Mountains (RO: Munţii Bodocului), MMT
Bârsa Mountains (RO: Munţii Bârsei) MC
Ciucaş Mountains (RO: Munţii Ciucaş) MC
Buzău Mountains (RO: Munţii Buzăului) MC
Vrancea Mountains (RO: Munţii Vrancei) MC

[edit] B3) Inner Eastern Carpathians (subprovince)

[edit] a) Vihorlat-Gutin Area (SK) / Volcanic Ridge (UA) (area)

SK: Vihorlatsko-gutínska oblasť, UA: Vulkanichnyi chrebet

Vihorlat Mountains (SK: Vihorlatské vrchy) + Vyhorliat (UA)
Makovytsia (UA)
Velikyi Dil (UA, literally: Great Dil)
Tupyi (UA)
Oaş Mountains (RO: Munţii Oaşului) and Oaş Depression (RO: Depresiunea Oaşului) MMB
Gutâi Mountains (RO: Munţii Gutâiului) MMB
Ţibleş Mountains (RO: Munţii Ţibleşului) MMB

[edit] b) Bistriţa Mountains (RO)

RO: Munţii Bistriţei

Bistriţa Mountains (Munţii Bistriţei) sensu stricto, i.e. Pietrosul Massif (Masivul Pietrosul; literally: Rocky Massif) + Budacul Massif (Masivul Budacul) + Ceahlău Massif (Masivul Ceahlău), the latter being considered a separate range sometimes, MMT
Mestecăniş Ridge (Obcina Mestecăniş) MMB
Dorna Depression (Depresiunea Dornei) MMB
Giumalău-Rarău Mountains (Munţii Giumalău-Rarău) MMB
Giurgeu Mountains (Munţii Giurgeului) MMT
Great Hăşmaşu Mountains (Munţii Hăşmaşu Mare) MMT

[edit] c) Căliman-Harghita Mountains (RO)

RO: Munţii Căliman-Harghita

Bârgău Mountains (Munţii Bârgăului) MMT
Călimani Mountains (Munţii Călimani) MMT
Gurghiu Mountains (Munţii Gurghiului) MMT
Harghita Mountains (Munţii Harghita) MMT
Baraolt Mountains (Munţii Baraolt) MMT
Perşani Mountains (Munţii Perşani) MMT

[edit] d) Giurgeu-Braşov Depression (RO)

RO: Depresiunea Giurgeu-Braşovului

Giurgeu Depression (Depresiunea Giurgeului) MMT
Ciuc Depression (Depresiunea Ciucului) MMT
Braşov Depression (Depresiunea Braşovului) MC

[edit] e) other

Maramureş Depression (UA: Marmaros'ka ulohovyna, RO: Depresiunea Maramureşului) MMB
Rakhiv Massif (UA: Rakhivs'kyi masyv) + Maramureş Mountains (RO: Munţii Maramureşului) MMB
Rodna Mountains (RO: Munţii Rodnei) MMB

[edit] C) Southern Carpathians (RO) (province)

Ridges of Romanian Carpathians

[edit] C1) Outer Carpathian Depressions

see Appendix

[edit] C2) Bucegi Mountains Group

RO: Grupa Munţii Bucegi

Bucegi Mountains (Munţii Bucegi)
Leaotă Mountains (Munţii Leaotă)
Rucăr-Bran Groove (Culoarul Rucăr-Bran)

[edit] C3) Făgăraş Mountains group

RO: Grupa Munţii Făgăraşului

Făgăraş Mountains (Munţii Făgăraşului)
Iezer Mountains (Munţii Iezer; literally:Mountains of the Deep Lake)
Piatra Craiului (literally: Rock of the King)
Cozia Mountains (Munţii Cozia)
Lovişte Depression (Depresiunea Loviştei)

[edit] C4) Parâng Mountains group

RO: Grupa Munţii Parângului

Parâng Mountains (Munţii Parângului)
Şureanu Mountains (Munţii Şureanu/M. Sebeşului)
Cindrel Mountains (Munţii Cindrel/M. Cibinului)
Lotru Mountains (Munţii Lotrului; literally: Mountains of the Thief)
Căpăţână Mountains (Munţii Căpăţânii; literally: Mountains of the Skull)
Petroşani Depression (Depresiunea Petroşani)

[edit] C5) Retezat-Godeanu Mountains group

RO: Grupa Munţii Retezat-Godeanu

Retezat Mountains (Munţii Retezat; literally: Hewed Mountains)
Godeanu Mountains (Munţii Godeanu)
Vâlcan Mountains (Munţii Vâlcanului)
Mehedinţi Mountains (Munţii Mehendinţi)
Cerna Mountains (Munţii Cernei)
Ţarcu Mountains (Munţii Ţarcu; literally: Pen Mountains)

[edit] D) Romanian Western Carpathians (RO)

RO: Carpaţii Occidentali or Carpaţii Apuseni or Carpaţii de Apus. The term Bihor Massif is sometimes used for the Apuseni Mountains and Poiana Ruscă.

[edit] D1) Apuseni Mountains (Munţii Apuseni)

Criş Mountains (Munţii Criş) :

Criş Hills (Dealurile Crişene), incl. Beiuş Depression (Depresiunea Beiuş), Vad Depression (Depresiunea Vad)
Pădurea Craiului Mountains (literally:Forest of the King)
Codru-Moma Mountains (Munţii Codru-Moma)

Seş-Meseş Mountains (Munţii Seş-Meseşului):

Meseş Mountains (Munţii Meseşului)
Seş Mountain (Muntele Seş)
Şimleu Depression (Depresiunea Şimleu), often considered part of the Transylvanian Basin-Podişul Someşan
Şimleu Mountains (Munţii Şimleu), often considered part of the Transylvanian Basin-Podişul Someşan

Bihor Massif (Masivul Bihor):

Bihor Mountains (Munţii Bihorului)
Great Mountain (Muntele Mare)
Gilău Mountains (Munţii Gilăului)

Mureş Mountains (Munţii Mureşului):

Zarand Mountains (Munţii Zarandului)
Metalliferous Mountains (Munţii Metaliferi), incl. Trascău Mountains (Munţii Trascăului)

[edit] D2) Poiana Ruscă Mountains

RO: Munţii Poiana Ruscă

(Note: sometimes considered part of the Southern Carpathians)

Poiana Ruscă (literally: Ruscă Meadows)
Lipova Plateau (Podişul Lipovei)
Bega-Timiş Groove (Culoarul Bega-Timiş)
Orăştie Groove (Culoarul Orăştiei), incl. Haţeg Depression (Depresiunea Haţegului)

[edit] D3) Banat Mountains

RO: Munţii Banatului