town, capital of Harghita județ (county), Romania. The town lies along the Olt River in the Ciuc Depression. It was an Iron Age settlement, and later Dacian and Szekler villages developed there; its history is presented in the county museum. Miercurea-Ciuc has become an important road focus and industrial town, producing timber products, tractors, clothing, and foodstuffs. The area has a tourist industry based on several small village spas in the Eastern Carpathian Mountains (particularly Tușnad), hiking paths in the nearby Harghita Mountains, and the neighbouring pilgrimage centre of Șimleu. Magyars form a large majority of the population. Pop. (2007 est.) 41,971.