Desertification in Oltenia

The Desertification in Oltenia affects parts of the Walachian Plain, in the Romanian region of Oltenia covering the area between the city of Calafat ande the town of Dăbuleni, spanning an area of about 80,000 hectares (200,000 acres), or 6% of Dolj County.

Labelled by the press as the Oltenian Sahara' (Romanian: Sahara Olteniei) [1], the sandy areas in the region have extended because of the deforestation that occurred in the 1960s. Consequently, due to the sudden desertification in the area, the name "Oltenian Sahara" has quickly caught on among the locals. Dăbuleni has likewise gained the nickname the "capital" of the Oltenian Sahara and it is the only place in Europe where an official Sand Museum exists. Further desertification is unlikely due to the planting of trees and other plants in the area.