Bucegi Mountains 5.44

The Bucegi Mountains NameThe exact origin of the name "Bucegi" is disputed by philologists. "Buceag" or "bugeac" seems to be the source of the name, a word designating in the language of mountain people both the moss in the forest and the wilderness or the junipers. Archaic version of the name "Bucegi" is "Buceci", name still used today by elders in the mountains, and about which linguists say it's derived from "huceag", "buceag" or "bugeac".Linguist Sextil Pușcariu claims that the name of Bucșoi, one of the mountains that reach the Omu Peak, derives from "Buc", "Bucur", just as "Buceci", "Bugeci" derives from "Buc" with the same suffix like "Măneciu" or "Moeciu". And "Bucur" is a genuine Dacian name. In Iorgu Iordan's work, Toponimia romînească, the name of the mountains is derived from Slavic buk, meaning "beech".RangesThe mountains are grouped in three ranges: Bucegi Mountains (Omul Peak - 2505 meters) Leaota Mountains (Leaota Peak - 2133 meters) Piatra Craiului Mountains (Baciului Peak - 2238 meters) The Bran Pass separates the Piatra Craiului and Leaota ranges; it was marked by border crossings between Wallachia and Transylvania, and was defended by the Bran Castle.