RISCURI ȘI CATASTROFE, AN XXI, VOL. 28, NR. 1/2021 137 NATURAL HAZARDS OF IZVORUL CRIȘULUI GHEORGHEROŞIAN 1 , CSABAHORVATH 2 , LIVIU MUNTEAN 1 Abstract: Natural hazards of Izvorul Crișului. The presence of the Izvorul Crisului local territorial administrative unit (commune), in the western part of the Transylvanian Depression, not far from its border with the Apuseni Mountains, implies the existence of various natural hazardous processes. Their manifestation, in the presence of anthropic components and their activities and goods, determines their hazard attributes. Of the possible natural hazards (geological, geomorphological, atmospheric, hydrological, biological, etc.), only the geomorphological, hydrological, and meteorological ones will be addressed in this paper. The presence of these natural processes may cause material damage and victims, for this it is necessary to know their magnitude. Thus, the present study aims to identify the potential hazards which exist in the Izvorul Crisului administrative unit and to assess the susceptibility to these natural processes. To achieve this objective, specific maps will be made, which finally, beside the supporting role for the analysis of natural processes, will become tools for the management of these conditions, tools to reduce the induced risks. Keywords: natural process, hazard, susceptibility 1. INTRODUCTION The Izvorul Crișului territorial administrative unit is located in the most western part of the Transylvanian Basin. Regionally, it overlaps with the following morpho-structural units (Figure 1): Păniceni Plateau, Huedin Basin and Almaș-Agrij Basin (Pop, 2001; Roșian, 2020). From an administrative perspective, it belongs to the Cluj County and it is a commune composed of four villages: Izvoru Crișului (commune seat), Nearșova, Șaula and Nadășu. It has 1.620 inhabitants, grouped into 775 households. The manifestation of some hazardous processes, within the studied territory, is related to the existence of a natural setting, superimposed on the specific relief of the contact zone between the Transylvanian Basin and the Apuseni Mountains. 1 Babeș–Bolyai University, Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, 400294, Fântânele Street, No. 30, Cluj–Napoca, Romania; e-mail: georgerosian@yahoo.com; liviumuntean@yahoo.com 2 Babeş-Bolyai University, Faculty of Geography, 400006, Clinicilor Street, No. 5-7, Cluj-Napoca, Romania; e-mail: hcsaba@gmail.com