My first preference for the location of the Dragon Research Center is Area (1). The tallest peak (+8300 ft) in the country is in Area (1a). Although, I think the Dragon Research Center is probably in Area (1b). The combination of these three areas is about 160 miles wide (E->W) and about 40 miles tall (N->S) at the widest point. The boundaries between these sections have very few roads and towns, and most roads are in deep valleys making it easy for Dragons to fly quickly over them.

Area (1) in The Southern Carpathian Mountains is also known as the Transylvanian Alps. The Carpathian Mountains contain over 10,000 caves which are very convienent places for Dragons to sleep and nest.

My second preferences is for Area (4). While the mountains are not as rugged as Area (1), they are ancient old growth and largely unspoiled forest with beech trees over 400 years old. If you extend Area (4) into the Ukraine then the range for the dragons is extensive (See Maps).

The added advantage of Area (4) is that it simultaneously allows the study of both Romanian Longhorn and Ukrainian Ironbelly in their shared habitat.

Since wizards travel by Apparating, it is possible for the main research center to be in Area (1) while observation outposts are station in several other areas.

[Note: Below, WIDE refers to West to East Distance in MILES. TALL refers to North to South Distance in MILES.]

(1a)
about 50 miles wide x 30 miles tall Elevations typically 3500 to 7000 ft.; peak 8300ft

(1b)
about 30 wide x 40 tall Elevations typical 4000 to 6500 ft; peak 6700 ft

(1c)
about 94 wide x 22 tall at narrowest x 42 tall at widest Elevations typically 4000 to 6500 ft; peak 7200 ft

Areas (2) to (4) - The Eastern Carpathian Mountains. The north are near the Ukraine border is one of the few remaining unspoiled ancient forest in Europe with Beeche trees as old as 400 years.

(2)
about 40 wide x 30 tall Elevations typically 3000 to 4000 ft; peak 5300 ft

(3)
about 40 wide x 25 tall Elevations tyipically 3000 to 4500 ft; peak 6000 ft

(4)
about 73 miles diagonal top left to bottom right x 30 miles tall Elevation 3000 to +5000 ft; peak 6000 ft

(5)
about 56 miles diagonal top left to bottom right x 8 miles tall at narrowest x 40 miles tall at widest. Elevation 3500 to 4500; peaks 5400

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