SOME PRESENT-DAY FEATURES OF THE RURAL SETTLEMENTS FROM

THE EASTERN PART OF THE JIU VALLEY

Andra Costache, George Murătoreanu

andramih@yahoo.com; muratoreanug@yahoo.com
Universitatea Valahia din Târgovişte

Abstract. The paper is focused on the traditional, rural-like settlements from the
eastern part of the Jiu Valley industrial region. There are emphasized their
demographic and economic features, the environmental pressures existing at the level
of each community, the issues of accessibility and opportunities for economic
diversification.
Key words: rural settlements, Jiul de Est River basin, development after mine closure

INTRODUCTION

During the 20th century, the development of mining in the Jiu Valley industrial
region triggered significant socio-economic and environmental changes, with multiple
consequences on the human settlements. Thus, the traditional, rural settlements
experienced a decline of their human capital, as a consequence of the population
decrease, demographic ageing and of the new structure of the active population. On
the other hand, the natural capital of these settlements was also degraded through
deforestation, decrease of the areas covered with hayfields and arable land and land
degradation (quarry mining, waste dumps and soil pollution). Beside the human
induced environmental change, the traditional communities of the Jiu Valley are
exposed to natural hazards, such as floods and mass movements.

Fig.1. The Jiu Valley: towns and their peripheral areas

 The paper is focused on the 8 permanent rural settlements from the Jiul de Est
River basin: Dâlja Mare, Dâlja Mică, Peştera, Slătinioara, Tirici, Cimpa, Răscoala and
Jieţ. Although they are now seen as peripheral areas (Negulescu et al., 2004) of the
towns Petrila and Petroşani, (to which they belong, as administrative units), these
settlements preserved their rural features and they are inhabited, in most of the cases,
by the native population of traditional farmers (momârlani) – fig.1.
Most of the studied settlements have a small demographic size (fig.2a.) and
high shares of the aged population (above 20%), emphasizing a clear tendency of
demographic ageing. Except Dâlja Mică and Tirici, the share of employed population
is below the Jiu Valley’s average (28%), reaching the lowest values at Slătinioara
(16%) and Răscoala (22%).
The population’s economic structure emphasizes the predominance of the
primary sector and a high dependency of labor force on mining activities, which, in
some cases, triggers a high sensitivity to economic changes. In each of the studied
communities, except Peştera and Dâlja Mică, more than 45% of the employed
population depends on mining (fig.2b.).

a. b.
Fig.2. a. Demographic size of the studied settlements; b. The share of the labor force employed in
mining industry (2002)

Given the relatively low level of human capital, the future development of the
studied communities depends mainly on factors such as: the presence of traditional
activities and of opportunities for economic diversification; the environmental
pressures existing at the level of each community; and isolation.

PRESENT-DAY FEATURES OF THE STUDIED SETTLEMENTS

Dâlja Mare and Dâlja Mică are situated on the right slope of Jiul de Est and
on the interfluve Jiul de Est-Aninoasa, both strongly fragmented by the tributaries of
Jiul de Est River (e.g. Dâlja Mică and Valea Lacului). Although the distance to
Petroşani is of about 1.5 km in a straight line, the settlements are characterized by a
high degree of isolation, because of the difficult access. A positive element in point of
the accessibility is the new (shorter) road built between Petroşani and Dâlja Mare,
achieved after the closure of the Dâlja mine, as a part of ecological reconstruction
works (2003). The link between the two settlements is also difficult, the access path
being situated along the valley of Dâlja Mică brook.
Both are scattered settlements, with unsystematic texture; the houses are either
isolated, either organized in groups of maximum 5 households (e.g. in the valley of
Dâlja Mică). The main economic activities are subsistence agriculture and livestock
breeding, based on the alpine and sub-alpines hayfields and pastures.
According to the 2002 Population Census, the highest share of employees
hired in the mining sector in the Jiu Valley was recorded at Dâlja Mare (71%); in
Dâlja Mică, the share of the population employed in this field was of only 27%. After
2003, when Dâlja mine and all its annexes began the process of closure and ecological
reconstruction, the local miners looked for other jobs (ecological reconstruction of the
areas affected by mining) or returned to traditional activities (agriculture and livestock
breeding). It is noteworthy that the settlements preserve the traditional features and
the social networks are still well developed.
The relief fragmentation is accentuated, which generates, on a lithologic basis
specific to inner mountainous depressions (sandstones, marls, clays with coal
intercalations), the exposure to mass movements and erosion (landslides, sheet
erosion). The land use, which is specific of the agro-pastoral economy, prevents the
occurrence of these processes, the area of the two localities being characterized by a
morpho-dynamic equilibrium. The two settlements are also exposed to floods
occurred on the tributaries of Jiul de Est, which have a torrential regime.
The impact of mining industry on landscape is relatively low. There are
however several unused buildings and production facilities in Dâlja Mare and a waste
dump partly covered by grass in the north-eastern part of the same locality. By the
accumulation of precipitation water, within the waste dump a lake appeared, with
hydrophilic vegetation.
The settlement has a natural potential for rural tourism, but the development of
this activity is limited by the still difficult access, by the perception of the natives
concerning this activity and by the endowments of houses.

Slătinioara is situated nearby Petroşani town, on the left side of Jiul de Est
and on the interfluve Jiul de Est-Maleia. Though the distance to Petroşani is short, the
access is difficult, as there is only one road, which starts from Maleia Valley, the rest
of the access ways being paths and unpaved roads; in fact, Slătinioara and Dâlja are
the most isolated settlements in the region. Some of the sideways go along the
secondary hydrographic arteries with temporary character.
Slătinioara is a scattered settlement and the main activities are specific to the
traditional agro-pastoral economy – livestock breeding (the hayfields have a large
extension), subsistence agriculture on very small plots of land, in the gardens of the
household.
In terms of environmental pressures, the slopes are generally stable, the only
present-day geomorphological processes being sheet and gully erosion. The
settlement is also exposed to high flood waves, occurred on the tributaries of the Jiul
de Est (Valea Staicului and Slănitioara).

Peştera is a rural settlement developed at 4 km away from Petroşani, along

Jupâneasa Valley, downstream of the confluence with Galbena brook and on the
interfluve Jupâneasa-Jigurleasa. The access is relatively easy, the connections with the
main town of the region being ensured by road and by railway.
Peştera is a linear, scattered settlement. Beside traditional agro-pastoral
activities, the economic profile is given by tourism; more than a half (63%) from the
employed population works in the tertiary sector (services), while only 8% work in
mining industry.
 The natural tourism potential (the cave called Pestera Bolii, limestone relief
with thermophilous endemic flora), the good accessibility, the absence of mining
activities and the low exposure to extreme events (floods) are the main advantages for
the development of alternative economic activities (especially tourism) in this
settlement.

Răscoala is developed on the valley of Răscoala brook (fig.3), a tributary on

the right side of Jiul de Est River. The access is relatively easy, being only 800-900 m
away from Cimpa microbus station, which ensures the connection with the towns
Petrila and Petroşani. It is a linear settlement, with around 70 households spread over
a length of 2.5 km along the valley (households are more numerous on the left side of
Răscoala brook). The main economic activities are the subsistence agriculture and
livestock breeding; agriculture is adapted to mountainous conditions, yet diversified
(fodder plants, cereals, vegetables, fruit bearing trees). Large areas are covered by
pastures and hayfields.

Fig.3. The structure of the settlements from the eastern part of the Jiu Valley (Cimpa, Răscoala, Tirici)

The underground coal exploitation did not affect the landscape, the
environmental pressures being related with the potential of floods occurrence in the
small hydrographic basin of Răscoala brook (e.g. the overflow of August 2004).
However, the brook is regularized downstream, near the confluence with Jiul de Est.
The high accessibility and the tourist potential (natural and anthropic –
traditional households) are advantages for rural tourism development.

Tirici is developed on a large alluvial fan formed by Copăciosul brook, a

tributary situated on the right of Jiul de Est. Relatively good accessibility, the distance
to Cimpa microbus station being of only 800-900 m. A linear, grouped settlement,
Tirici is the smallest hamlet of the Jiu Valley, being formed of around 18 households,
concentrated on a length of about 400-500 m, on the right side of Jiul de Est.
Livestock breeding is the main economic activity, which also influenced the
land use. The degree of forestation differs on the two slopes of Jiul de Est, that is:
very accentuated on the left, on the slopes of Cimpa Hill, and moderate on the right,
on Dealul Alb, where forests have been replaced by hayfields and pastures.
The landscape has not been affected by mining activities. In this sector, Jiul de
Est has sometimes a torrential regime, the settlement being exposed to flooding. In
order to partly control this situation, the natives have built lateral dams out of mine
wagons filled with rocks.

Cimpa developed along Jiul de Est and its tributaries and it benefits of a good
accessibility. It is a grouped settlement, with two major areas: traditional households
upstream, duplexes and workers’ blocks of flats downstream. There is no clear
delimitation between the residential areas of Cimpa and Petrila.
Mining activities have not triggered major changes in the landscape, the
presence of the extractive industry being pointed out only by the buildings, production
facilities and a waste dump. The waste dump, situated on the left side of Jiul de Est, is
partly covered by grass and is continued by natural slopes with hayfields.
The forests have a large extension, especially on the slopes, both the
households and the productive units being surrounded by woods.
Jiul de Est River is regularized downstream of the confluence with Răscoala
brook, which prevents the occurrence of floods.

Jieţ is the largest settlement with rural features in the eastern part of the region
and is situated along Jieţ river (a tributary of Jiul de Est, situated on its left), being
located on the waterside terrace. Easy access, both from Petrila, via Lonea district,
and from Petroşani, via Maleia Valley; both roads are modernized. The settlement is
also directly linked to Rusu chalet, the most important access point in Parângul Mic
Mountain, which constitutes an advantage for tourism development.
The settlement is linear and scattered, being around 2 km long. The
households are exclusively on the right side of Jieţ and all of them have traditional
features. The main economic activities are now related with agro-pastoral economy
and forestry.
As consequence of economic activities (mining activities, agriculture and
wood industry), a massive deforestation resulted on both slopes of Jieţ Valley.
Between the settlement and the minor riverbed of Jieţ it was built a lateral dam, under
the form of an ample embankment, aimed to prevent floods. Another form of
anthropic relief is the complex of dams situated on the interfluve Jieţ-Maleia, on the
left side of Jieţ River. The dams are covered by grass, and in between them, in the
former Jieţ quarry, a lake appeared.

CONCLUSIONS

The field observations in the eastern part of the Jiu Valley allowed us to
identify two main categories of rural settlements, according to the factors influencing
their development opportunities:
- Rural settlements with well developed traditional or alternative
activities, good accessibility and relatively low level of environmental
pressure/change (Răscoala, Peştera, Jieţ and Cimpa); these features are
 reducing the influence of some restrictive factors, such as the low human
capital and the poor endowments of the households, and they are providing
development opportunities, after the mine closure.
- Rural settlements where the poor infrastructure, the difficult access or the
environmental pressure/change are worsening the impact of demographic and
economic conditions, reducing the range of options for their future
development (Dâlja Mare, Dâlja Mică and Slătinioara).

References
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(2005), Human vulnerability to environmental change in the mining
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of research results. A project of the Advanced Institute on Vulnerability to
Global Environmental Change,
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***, (2002), Recensământul populaţiei şi locuinţelor 18 martie 2002, Institutul
Naţional de Statistică, Bucureşti
***, Topographical map L-34-95-D-b, 1:25 000