The Downy Oak Reserve

The Downy Oak Reserve is a forest reserve located in the vicinity of the village of Criș, at an altitude of 500 - 650 m, on an area of 11.9 ha. The downy oak is a relatively small local tree with a broad crown and a sinuous trunk, whose shoots are downy, hence its name. They are found almost everywhere in Romania, in the form of sparse forests, stands or thickets, in the lowland and forest-steppe region. The trees are 80 - 100 years old, with average diameters of 20-24 cm. The fauna is characteristic of the forests in the high hills, the most frequently observed species being deer, rabbit, wild boar and pheasant.  Sometimes, hornbeam is also found around the downy oak, which has good fruit for food consumption (syrups, jams).