geographia - Studia

V. SOROCOVSCHI, W. SCHREIBER, ŞT. BILAŞCO, CS. HORVATH
The altitudes increase from the Someş Valley (the 200 m contour penetrates till
Răstoci) to the Southern and Southwestern watersheds, where they remain at 500-600 m, only
in some areas overpassing 600 m (Nadiş, 644 m, Mărului, 622 m, Râpa Şimişnei, 612 m etc.).
The relatively high altitudes and especially the fragmentation density(52,7% from
the total surface is described by values between 1,3 and 3 km/km 2 ) and depth (with dominant
values between 100 and 150 m – 45,7% from the total surface and between 150 and 200 m –
30,6%), determined a particular way to organize the geographic space.
The radial-divergent orientation of the
river network has repercussions on the road
network configuration and on the settlements
distribution in this subunit. The population
density is reduced (20-30 inhab./km 2 ) and
the settlements are situated along the main
river valleys and rarely on the watersheds.
Dejului Hills represent the central
compartment of the studied area, lying
between the watersheds of the Şimişna -
Vad rivers, respectively Olpret to the North
and Luna - Borşa to the South. To the East
and Northeast it is bordered by the Someşul
Mic Corridor, continued with the Someş
valley between Dej and Vad, while to the
West they come into contact with the central
compartment of the Almaş – Agrij Depression.
Within these boundaries, Dejului Hills
occupy more than 34,9 % of the studied
area. The maximal altitudes correspond to
the structural remains preserved on the Dej
tuff layers (the Hills of Bobâlna, 693 m,
Fig. 1. The Geographic Subunits of the Southern
Part of the Someşan Plateau.
Făgetul, 602 m, Horgău, 595 m).
The presence of the volcanic tuff is
also underlined by the narrowing of some
valleys (Lujerdiu, Mărului, Olpretului etc.),
upstream of which different sized depressions have developed, facilitating the apparition of
many small-sized settlements. From the Northern central part, the peaks decrease in altitude
to East and Southeast where they remain frequently between 350 and 400 meters. The 350-
450 altitudinal interval occupies almost half of the subdivisions (45,7 %) area.
The main valleys are directed towards East and South, and the watersheds are
larger than those in the Şimişna-Surduc Hills. The horizontal fragmentation values are reduced,
grading between 0,5 and 2 km/km 2 (58,8 %). The vertical fragmentation values are also
reduced, not exceeding 150 m in more than three quarters (83,4 %) of the subdivisions area.
Clujului Hills, situated in the Southeast of the Someşan Plateau, develop between
the Luna and Nadăş Valleys and represent 40,3 % of the studied area. The altitudes are
generally decreasing from West to East and from South to North. The highest peaks, over
600 m, correspond to the cuesta that dominates the Nadăş Valley (Lomb 682 m, Morunu,
647 m, GurgueŃu Mare, 639 m).
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