Berca is a commune located in the hillside of Buzău County, Muntenia, Romania, in the valley of the river Buzău. It is an oil and natural gas extraction location.

Berca
St. Michael and Gabriel Church in Berca
St. Michael and Gabriel Church in Berca
Location in Buzău County
Location in Buzău County
Berca is located in Romania
Berca
Berca
Location in Romania
Coordinates: 45°17′13″N 26°40′55″E / 45.28694°N 26.68194°E / 45.28694; 26.68194
CountryRomania
CountyBuzău
SubdivisionsBăceni, Berca, Cojanu, Joseni, Mânăstirea Rătești, Pâclele, Pleșcoi, Pleșești, Rătești, Sătuc, Tâțârligu, Valea Nucului, Viforâta
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2024) Ionel Dobrița[1] (PSD)
Area
73.28 km2 (28.29 sq mi)
Elevation
150 m (490 ft)
Population
 (2021-12-01)[2]
7,741
 • Density110/km2 (270/sq mi)
Time zoneEET/EEST (UTC+2/+3)
Postal code
127035
Area code+(40) 238
Vehicle reg.BZ
Websiteprimariaberca.ro

The commune is composed of thirteen villages: Băceni, Berca, Cojanu, Joseni, Mânăstirea Rătești, Pâclele, Pleșcoi, Pleșești, Rătești, Sătuc, Tâțârligu, Valea Nucului, and Viforâta.

Landmarks

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The Mud Volcanoes

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The Berca Mud Volcanoes

The Berca Muddy Volcanoes geological and botanical reservation lies in the hills that surround the commune, near the Pâclele village. Mud volcanos, a rare geological phenomenon, occurs there when mud and gas are expelled from a depth of 3 kilometres (9,800 ft) through structures resembling real miniature volcanoes.

Rătești monastery

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The church of Rătești Monastery

Rătești Monastery is a medieval monastery, attested by documents from the 17th century. It is an Eastern orthodox monastery of nuns, and hosts a museum exhibiting religious books and items.

Demographics

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The Romanian census of 2002 reported a population of 9,602 for the Berca commune, making it one of the largest communes in the county; 99% of the inhabitants were ethnic Romanians. At the 2021 census, Berca had a population of 7,741, of which 88.88% were Romanians.[3]

Natives

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Pleșcoi

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Pleșcoi village is famous for its meat processing tradition. The Pleșcoi sausages are smoked mutton sausages with chili peppers and garlic. The name Pleșcoi sausages is a protected designation of origin in the European Union.

References

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  1. ^ "Results of the 2020 local elections". Central Electoral Bureau. Archived from the original on 9 October 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  2. ^ "Populaţia rezidentă după grupa de vârstă, pe județe și municipii, orașe, comune, la 1 decembrie 2021" (XLS). National Institute of Statistics.
  3. ^ "Populația rezidentă după grupa de vârstă, pe județe și municipii, orașe, comune, la 1 decembrie 2021" (in Romanian). INSSE. 31 May 2023.