LANDSCAPE AND ENVIRONMENT IN THE MIDDLE AGES

The landscape of Satu Mare County suffered significant changes during the 20th century. The aspect of the landscape and the natural environment before the 19th century is preserved only by the historical sources. The western part of the county, near to Carei was dry and hilly zone with small sand-dunes, temporary water courses and few forests. The central part of the county was dominated by the large marshland of Ecedea (hung. Ecsed). Together with the wide and marshy valley of the Ier (Ér), the wetlands reached from the hills of Tăşnad and Codru as far to north as the confluence of Crasna with the Someş River. The settlements and the roads were established on high and dry places.
The most densely inhabited region of the county was the valley of the River Someş, with two continuous rows of settlements. Toward the East and South of this line to the mountains of Oas, the peaks of Codru and to Bihor the whole land was covered by forests. The names of settlements show that they were formed on forest clearings as near as the villages next to the city of Satu Mare: Peleş, Pelişor and Lazuri.