‘Black Goats No Longer See Me as a Danger’: Alex Varga on His Sensational Photos from Romania's Rodna Mountains

Photographer Alex Varga has become instrumental in showcasing the breathtaking beauty of Romania's Rodna Mountains, drawing attention to one of the country's most spectacular national parks. Varga, who hails from Rodna and has been passionate about the mountains since childhood, shared his insights into the region's allure.

"The Rodna Mountains are my church," Varga stated, reflecting his deep personal connection to the landscape where he grew up. He described the mountains, located in the northern Eastern Carpathians, as featuring high ridges reaching up to 2,303 meters, glacial valleys, and numerous glacial lakes situated between 1,800 and 2,000 meters.

The Rodna Mountains National Park, established in 1990, spans 47,000 hectares, making it Romania's second-largest national park. It is home to Pietrosul Mare, the highest peak in the Eastern Carpathians, the Lala and Iezer lakes, and the Cailor Waterfall, Romania's tallest. The park is also a sanctuary for rare plant and animal species, including the endemic Rodna Mountains' opaiț (a type of flower), capercaillie, marmots, bears, wolves, and lynx.

Varga noted that while the Rodna Mountains share geological similarities with other Romanian mountain ranges like Retezat and Făgăraș, they possess a distinctively greener character. He also mentioned his unique encounters with wildlife, stating that "black goats no longer perceive me as a danger," indicating a level of comfort and familiarity developed through his extensive time spent in their habitat. The park offers some of the most spectacular and accessible mountain trails in northern Romania, attracting hikers and nature enthusiasts alike.