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Regional geography

Volume X |

Orientation of the Voters in the Presidential Elections in Romania 1990-2009

Abstract: After the change of the political regime in 1989, Romania has returned gradually to democracy. This return is illustrated by the electoral process in which the presidential elections play an important role. The first elections after December 1989 represent the exception, the elections being won, detached, in the first round, by the candidate of the party which secured an absolute majority in the legislative (Ion Iliescu, the National Salvation Front), all other elections providing a winner after the second round. The victories were shared between the center-left and the center-right candidates, two decades of witnessing several electoral alternance in power (as in the case of parliamentary elections). It also requires the continuity in the electoral preferences of certain regions (the “Old Kingdom” voting, in general, for the centre-left Social Democrat candidates), while central and western regions and the capital have voted consistently with the right candidates. Between these consistency elements, the Hungarian electorate registers oscillation of voters between the center-left and center-right.

Volume IX |

Mathematical Models Used for Visual Assessment of the Landscape In Situ – Case Study Sinaia Town

Abstract: The aim of this study is to modify, to adapt, and to apply to the Romanian urban landscape a quantitative method proposed and applied in Spain by Cañas Guerrero (1995). Several specific parameters and variables of a given landscape are analyzed and assessed. Then, using mathematical formulae, one gets a score which indicates the quality of the studied landscape.

Volume IX |

The Landscapes Differentiations in the Prahova Sector of the Bucegi Mountains

Abstract: The physiognomic complexity as the main characteristics of the Bucegi Mountains landscape is the result of lithology, structure, tectonics and high altitude, which led to the vertical zoning of modelling conditions. There can be separated: the landscape of erosion outliers and the structural plateaus from the alpine area, the landscape of Prahova scarp and that of the plains at the Bucegi mountain feet. Up to about 2200 m, the landscape of erosion outliers and structural plateaus was mostly affected by human activities, mainly the tourism and uncontrolled grazing. The landscape of the Prahova scarp of the Bucegi is notable by high touristic anthropization on the slopes of the Vârful cu Dor – Furnica – Piatra Arsă mountains, neighbouring Sinaia, where there are frequent degradations of the roads and paths improperly located and maintained. The Bucegi slope northwards of Piciorul Pietrei Arse still preserves the natural landscapes in dynamic equilibrium (which possess a great tourist and alpinist potential). At the scarp foot, following the modelling of the Cretaceous flysch and sedimentation of large talus material, there resulted a relief with smooth field – plai (Plaiul Fânului,Plaiul Coştila, Munticelu, Plaiul Stânei, Plaiul Peleşului, Plaiul Furnica) – rounded interfluves with a slope below 300, compared to those over 300 (often over 500 within the scarp.

Volume IX |

Issues of Territoriality and Territorial Cohesion in the Revision of the TSP and the Territorial Agenda – A Sort of Connection Between Geography and Regional Policy

Abstract: After Hungary was asked according to the Territorial Agenda (TA), agreed in the informal ministerial meeting under the German Presidency in May 2007, it undertook the responsibility to evaluate and review the TA and update the closely related Territorial States and Perspectives of the European Union (TSP). The TA has a key importance due to the fact that it had been the first document which identified joint action oriented framework of spatial (territorial) policy on the EU level. The TSP (as basic evidence of the TA) in its more synthetic chapters attempted to identify more integrated territorial structures of the European territory including main geographic dimensions such as north-south and east-west dichotomies, polycentricity and urban-rural patterns. Due to the changes in the driving forces and the new conditions of an enlarged EU, the content and also the function should be revised. The paper is aiming to introduce some of the main findings of the TSP/ TA revision process with special reference to the new aspects and trends related to the territorial structures of the Union and the spatial structure of Europe. Finally, some solutions will be introduced which could help to enhance the currently not enough strong territorial approach within TSP and TA.

Volume IX |

The Subsidence Caused by the Waste-Coal Self-Ignition Process in the Anina Town (Romania). Preliminary Study

Abstract: Uncontrolled subterranean coal fires, mainly developed through the process of self-ignition, represent a challenging hazard of local dimension, but with global-scale distribution. One important effect of this spontaneous ignition process is the surface subsidence. Porosity and particle size fraction of the coal particles in the deposit, water and oxygen play the main role. Anina sterile heaps present a non-typical situation of waste-coal self-ignition. The fine coal is found in the sterile heaps distributed all over the actual urban area, being covered by human activities and residential buildings, so that, the human risk is present in several forms.