THE IZVORUL DORULUI RIVER BASIN (ROMANIA)–A STUDY OF APPLIED GEOMORPHOLOGY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.2298/IJGI2602277SKeywords:
applied geomorphology, river basin, Izvorul Dorului, geomorphological processes, anthropogenic impactAbstract
Applied geomorphology plays an important role in understanding the landscape dynamics and the effects of human activities on relief. In this context, the study presents an applied geomorphological assessment of the Izvorul Dorului River basin (Romania), focusing on relief dynamics and human-induced geomorphological instability. The methodology is based on the analysis of a 10 m resolution Digital Terrain Model (DTM), Geographic Information Systems (GIS)-derived morphometric parameters, and field validation, aimed at identifying geomorphological processes and areas sensitive to anthropogenic impact. The results show an active mountain relief, with steep slopes, a dense hydrographic network, areas of intense erosion, and frequent torrential processes. The effects of anthropogenic activities, such as road infrastructure, ski slopes, and other tourist facilities, on relief stability are also analyzed. The tourism and infrastructure map of the basin illustrates the geomorphological tourism potential of the area, but also its vulnerability to anthropogenic pressures. The conclusions highlight the need for sustainable management of tourist activities in order to maintain morphological balance.
Article metrics
References
Avalanșe în Carpați. (2018, December 29). Avalansa Valea Dorului, Bucegi 27 dec 2018 [Avalanche in Valea Dorului, Bucegi, 27 Dec 2018]. Avalanșe în Carpați. https://avalanseincarpati.ro/avalansa-valea-dorului-bucegi-27-dec-2018/
Comănescu, L., & Nedelea, A. (2010). Analysis of some representative geomorphosites in the Bucegi Mountains: between scientific evaluation and tourist perception. Area, 42(4), 406–416. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-4762.2010.00937.x
Comănescu, L., & Nedelea, A. (2015). Public perception of the hazards affecting geomorphological heritage—case study: the central area of Bucegi Mts. (Southern Carpathians, Romania). Environmental Earth Sciences, 73(12), 8487–8497. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-014-4007-x
Comănescu, L., Nedelea, A., Dobre, R., & Bandoc, G. (2014). Inventoring the Principal Geomorphosites for Determining Geomorphodiversity. Case Study - the Central Sector of the Bucegi Mountains (the Carpathians, Romania). Journal of Environmental Protection and Ecology, 15(4), 1849–1856. https://scibulcom.net/en/article/g27468sQSlo1ocUI5B0x
Costache, R., Barbulescu, A., & Pham, Q. B. (2021). Integrated Framework for Detecting the Areas Prone to Flooding Generated by Flash-Floods in Small River Catchments. Water, 13(6), Article 758. https://doi.org/10.3390/w13060758
CSN Piatra Arsă. (n.d.). CSN Piatra Arsă [Piatra Arsă National Sports Complex]. Retrieved December 10, 2025 from https://csnpiatraarsa.ro/
Defense Geospatial Information Agency (AIGA). (2017–2020). Ortoimagini scara 1:5000 pentru teritoriul României [Orthophotomaps of Romania, 1:5,000; Map]. Guvernul României. Retrieved from https://data.gov.ro/dataset/ortofotoplan-scara-1-5000-pentru-teritoriul-romaniei
Geological Institute of Romania. (1960–1969). Geological map of the Romanian Socialist Republic, scale 1:200,000: Brașov sheet L-35-XX and Târgoviște sheet L-35-XXVI [Map]. Geological Institute of Romania. Retrieved from https://geo-spatial.org/vechi/download/harta-geologica-a-romaniei-scara-1-200-000
GRASS Development Team. (2025). Geographic Resources Analysis Support System (GRASS) Software (Version 8.4) [Computer software]. Open Source Geospatial Foundation. https://grass.osgeo.org, https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5176030
Grigore, M. (1979). Reprezentarea grafică și cartografică a formelor de relief [Graphic and cartographic representation of landforms]. Editura Academiei Republicii Socialiste România.
Huband, S., McCracken, D. I., & Mertens, A. (2010). Long and short-distance transhumant pastoralism in Romania: past and present drivers of change. Pastoralism, 1(1), 55–71. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232322192_Long_and_short-distance_transhumant_pastoralism_in_Romania_past_and_present_drivers_of_change
Ielenicz, M. (2004). Geomorfologie generală [General geomorphology]. Editura Universitară.
Ielenicz, M., & Nedelea, A. (2009). Dicționar de geomorfologie [Dictionary of geomorphology]. Editura Universitară.
Ielenicz, M., Nedelea, A., & Comănescu, L. (2013). Lexicon de geomorfologie [Lexicon of geomorphology]. Editura Universitară.
Ioniță, A., Lungu, M., Baleț, M., & Todor, A. (2024). The geomorphometric atlas of Romania: an open-access database on landform classifications and morphometric variables. Journal of Maps, 20(1), Article 2354712. https://doi.org/10.1080/17445647.2024.2354712
Jasiewicz, J., & Stepinski, T. F. (2013). Geomorphons — a pattern recognition approach to classification and mapping of landforms. Geomorphology, 182, 147–156. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2012.11.005
Micalevich-Velcea, V. (1961). Masivul Bucegi. Studiu geomorfologic [The Bucegi Massif. Geomorphological study]. Editura Academiei Republicii Populare Române.
Military Topographic Directorate. (1975–1980). Topographic Map of Romania 1:25,000 [Map]. Ministry of National Defense. Retrieved via WMS in QGIS from OpenGIS. http://opengis.unibuc.ro:8080/geoserver/ows?version=1.3.0
Ministry of Entrepreneurship and Tourism. (2023). Ghid privind amenajarea traseelor pentru turism pedestru (aprobat prin ordin de ministru) [Guide on the arrangement of routes for hiking tourism (approved by Ministerial Order)]. https://turism.gov.ro/web/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Ordin-Ghid-amenajare-trasee-pentru-turism-pedestru.docx
Mutihac, V., Stratulat, M. I., & Fechet, R. M. (2004). Geologia României [Geology of Romania]. Editura Didactică și Pedagogică.
Nedelea, A., Oprea, R., Achim, F., & Comănescu, L. (2009). Cryo-nival modeling system. Case study: Bucegi Mountains and Făgăraș Mountains. Revue Roumaine de Geographie, 53(1), 119–128. https://europub.co.uk/articles/-A-156276
Oprea, R. (2002). Bazinul hidrografic Izvorul Dorului (M. Bucegi). Analiza geomorfometrică [Izvorul Dorului catchment (Bucegi Mountains). Geomorphometric analysis]. Analele Universității ”Spiru Haret”, Seria Geografie, 5, 45–49.
Oprea, R., & Oprea, M. (2001). Morfodinamica actuală în bazinul hidrografic Izvorul Dorului (Munții Bucegi) [Present-day morphodynamics in the Izvorul Dorului catchment (Bucegi Mountains)]. Comunicări de Geografie, 5, 211–214.
Orghidan, N. (1931). Observaţii geomorfologice în Bucegi [Geomorphological observations in the Bucegi Mountains]. Lucrările Institutului de Geografie al Universităţii din Cluj, 4, 245–266.
QGIS Development Team. (2024). QGIS Geographic Information System (Version 3.40.0) [Computer software]. QGIS Association. https://qgis.org
Săndulache, I. (2015). Lucrări practice de geomorfologie cu aplicații GIS [Practical geomorphology work with GIS applications]. Editura Universitară.
Vâlsan, G. (1939). Morfologia văii superioare a Prahovei şi a regiunilor vecine [The morphology of the Upper Prahova Valley and neighboring regions]. Buletinul Societății Regale Române de Geografie, 58, 1–44.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Journal of the Geographical Institute “Jovan Cvijić” SASA
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
