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{{for|the river in Brașov and Prahova Counties|Azuga (river)}}
{{more citations needed|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox Romanian subdivision
|type               = town
|county             = Prahova
|map_caption        = Location in Prahova County
|official_name      = Azuga
|image_shield       = ROU PH Azuga CoA.png
|image_map          = Azuga jud Prahova.png
|image_skyline      = Valea Azuga 1.jpg
|leader_name        = Ciprian-George Barbu<ref>{{cite web |url=https://prezenta.roaep.ro/locale27092020/romania-pv-final |title=Results of the 2020 local elections |publisher=Central Electoral Bureau |access-date=9 June 2021 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>
|leader_party       = PNL
|term               = 2020&ndash;2024
|coordinates        = {{coord|45|26|42|N|25|33|19|E|region:RO|display=inline,title}}
|elevation          = 930
|elevation_min      = 
|elevation_max      = 
|area_total         = 83.04
|population_as_of   = 
|population_total   = auto
|population_footnotes = 
|postal_code        = 105100
|area_code          = (+40) 02 44
|website            = {{url|http://www.primariaazuga.ro}}
}}
{{Historical populations
|source = Census data{{citation needed|date=November 2013}}
|1956 |3732
|1966 |4808
|1977 |5397
|1992 |6487
|2002 |6119
|2011 |4289
|2021 |3901
}}

[[File:Prelucrare 3D pentru Azuga, Romania.gif|frame|3D rendition of Azuga]]
'''Azuga''' is a small [[resort town]] in the mountains of [[Prahova County]] in the historical region of [[Muntenia]], [[Romania]]. It is located at the foot of the [[Baiu Mountains]] and contains several ski slopes, including the longest ski run in Romania, the Sorica.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rennon |first=Rosemary K. |title=Language and Travel Guide to Romania |publisher=Hippocrene Books, Inc. |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-7818-1150-7 |pages=160–161 |language=english}}</ref> Once heavily industrialized, Azuga contains a bottled water factory, (a leftover from a notable beer factory that brewed Azuga Beer, now produced elsewhere in Romania under license), a sparkling wine factory, [[wine tasting]], and lodging (Cramele Rhein, owned by [[Halewood International]]). The town offers a view over the [[Bucegi Mountains]], from street level to the top of the Sorica mountain, where a gondola arrival station is located. Azuga is one of the most famous mountain resorts of [[Prahova Valley]].

Until the winter of 2002, Azuga was known as an industrial town. After that date, the town was turned into a resort to capitalize on the mountain landscape of the [[Baiu Mountains]]. Shortly after, the Sorica slope was certified by the [[International Ski Federation]]. Today, Azuga houses many hotels and hostels that provide accommodation for tourists. Accommodation in local homes can also be found for a lower price. The town formerly had several other factories including a beer factory, a glassware factory and a wool cloth factory, but those factories were demolished. The refractory materials factory, while still standing, is closed.

==Natives==
* [[Stelică Morcov]] (born 1951), light-heavyweight freestyle wrestler 
* [[Simona Păucă]] (born 1969), artistic gymnast 
* [[Alexandru Vagner]] (1989–2022), footballer 
* [[Gheorghe Voicu]] (born 1950), biathlete
* [[Ion Zangor]] (1938–1973), bobsledder

==Climate==
Azuga has a warm-summer [[humid continental climate]] (''Dfb'' in the [[Köppen climate classification]]).

<div style="width:70%;">
{{Weather box
| location = Azuga
| metric first = yes
| single line = yes
| Jan high C = -2
| Feb high C = -0.4
| Mar high C = 3.3
| Apr high C = 8.8
| May high C = 14
| Jun high C = 17.3
| Jul high C = 19.2
| Aug high C = 19.4
| Sep high C = 14.8
| Oct high C = 10
| Nov high C = 5.1
| Dec high C = -0.1
| year high C = 
| Jan mean C = -5.8
| Feb mean C = -4.4
| Mar mean C = -0.9
| Apr mean C = 4.4
| May mean C = 9.7
| Jun mean C = 13.3
| Jul mean C = 15.2
| Aug mean C = 15.3
| Sep mean C = 10.7
| Oct mean C = 5.8
| Nov mean C = 1.4
| Dec mean C = -3.8
| year mean C = 
| Jan low C = -9.3
| Feb low C = -8.1
| Mar low C = -5
| Apr low C = -0.1
| May low C = 5.1
| Jun low C = 8.9
| Jul low C = 10.8
| Aug low C = 11.1
| Sep low C = 6.9
| Oct low C = 2.3
| Nov low C = -1.5
| Dec low C = -6.9
| year low C = 
| Jan precipitation mm = 46
| Feb precipitation mm = 44
| Mar precipitation mm = 62
| Apr precipitation mm = 93
| May precipitation mm = 134
| Jun precipitation mm = 138
| Jul precipitation mm = 136
| Aug precipitation mm = 110
| Sep precipitation mm = 74
| Oct precipitation mm = 59
| Nov precipitation mm = 52
| Dec precipitation mm = 51
| year precipitation = 
| date = May 2021
| source = https://en.climate-data.org/europe/romania/prahova/azuga-12797/
| collapsed = Y
}}
</div>

==Tourism==
The town is an emerging ski resort, with extensive development in tourism infrastructure.

Sorica is a ski slope with a length of over {{convert|2100|m|abbr=off}} and a vertical drop of {{cvt|561|m}}. The slope is recommended for both beginners and experienced skiers.

There are also two slopes descending the Cazacu Mountain, one is {{cvt|1920|m}} long (with a drop of 530 m) and the other, more suitable for beginners, is {{cvt|400|m}} long, with a drop of 115 m. Slopes are equipped with ski lifts and a Leitner gondola lift, which goes to the top of Sorica slope, allowing skiers to choose between the two main slopes (access to Cazacu slope requires some tens of meters of ascending, possibly by a small ski lift).

Because of the almost constant winds on the ridge during winter, the uppermost station is a few meters below the top. A higher station would have likely had icing issues, making morning startups difficult as sometimes the only alternative is the snow groomer - snowmobiles not being able to travel in fresh high snow.

In the summer, Azuga is a hiking destination, being a starting point for trips to various mountain destinations in [[Predeal]], [[Bușteni]], or [[Sinaia]]. Unpaved [[forest road]]s attract many bicycle enthusiasts, who can ride along the [[Azuga (river)|Azuga River]], which is peppered with small wooden [[artificial waterfall]]s that oxygenate the water for the many [[trout]]s that naturally populate the river.

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Gallery
|File:Vedere spre Azuga - panoramio.jpg|Panoramic view
|File:GaraAzuga.jpg|Azuga Old train station
|File:Azuga3.jpg|Buildings in Azuga
|File:Azuga. (24306763401).jpg|Houses in Azuga
}}
{{commons category|Azuga}}
{{wikivoyage|Azuga}}

{{Romanian mountain resorts}}
{{Prahova County}}

[[Category:Towns in Romania]]
[[Category:Prahova Valley]]
[[Category:Populated places in Prahova County]]
[[Category:Ski areas and resorts in Romania]]
[[Category:Localities in Muntenia]]