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How do the flat summit plains and deep valleys of the Bihor Massif form its landscape?

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Carpathian Mountains; cross section of the Western Carpathians — Carpathian Mountains Regional division of the Carpathian Mountains (top) and a geologic cross section of the Western Carpathians (bottom). The location of the cross section is shown by the line N–S on the map.

The landscape of the Bihor Massif is defined by a distinct relief characterized by widespread, nearly smooth flat summit plains that are bordered by narrow, deeply incised valleys.12

These landforms are a legacy of the region's complex geological history. During the Cenozoic Era, repeated orogenic (mountain-building) movements heaved up the folded mountain chain, leaving behind these fragmentary flat-topped relief forms at various altitudes. The deep valleys were subsequently carved into this landscape, often dissecting the mountain ranges as part of the broader development of the Carpathian Mountains.3

Additionally, the massif is composed of metamorphic rock covered by younger sedimentary layers, and its eastern edges merge into limestone tablelands where water erosion along rock joints has created rugged karst scenery.42