Retezat National Park was founded in 1935 at the initiative of Emil Racoviţă and Alexandru Borza, and was the first national park in Romania. It has a unique glacial relief in the Romanian Carpathians, over 20 peaks higher than 2,000 metres as well as numerous glacial lakes – the largest is Bucura and the deepest, Zănoaga. In addition, more than one third of the plant species in Romania can be found here (1,190 all in all), 90 of which can no longer be seen anywhere else in the world. At present the protected area covers a surface of about 38,000 ha and is protected internationally, having been declared a Biosphere Reserve in 1979.
