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Why are the Southern Carpathians also called the Transylvanian Alps?
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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 Southern Carpathians are referred to as the Transylvanian Alps primarily because they exhibit high-mountain, Alpine-type relief forms that distinguish them from other segments of the Carpathian Mountains.
Specifically, this region is characterized by being a higher, more continuous, and more impassable section of the mountain arc compared to the eastern and western segments. The Făgăraș Mountains, which are part of this range, contain the highest point in Romania, Mount Moldoveanu, and display the rugged, dramatic topography associated with the Alps. While the Carpathians as a whole are generally lower than the Alps, the Southern Carpathians' distinct elevation and structural characteristics led to the descriptive "Alps" moniker.123