Geography Romania
is situated in south-eastern Europe between latitudes 43 37' 07" north
and longitudes 20 15' 44" east, extending approximately 480 km north to
south and 640 km east to west. The country has an area of 237,750 sq. km
and a population of over 23,000,000 of which 89% are Romanians, 7% Hungarians,
2% Gypsies, with small minorities of Germans, Slovaks, Turks, Russians,
Bulgarians, Croats, Tartars, Czechs, Greeks, Jews, Americans, Polish, Albanians...
The mighty Danube forms the southern boundary of the country terminating in the Delta on the Black Sea, a heaven for countless native and migratory birds. Countries sharing borders with Romania are: Hungary, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Republic of Moldavia and Ukraine. HistoryThe territory of Romania has been inhabited since the Paleolithic period.
Over the years a Romanian identity progressively developed, with the 13th and 14th centuries formation of the feudal states of Wallachia and Moldavia. Centuries of struggles against the Turks ensued in these states. Meanwhile Transylvania was successively occupied by the Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian Empires. Finally Moldavia and Wallachia were united in 1859, independence was achieved in 1877 and union with Transilvania in 1918. Communist rule established after the 2nd World War lasted 45 years and was ended by the December revolution of 1989. ClimateThe climate is temperate-continental, characteristic of Central Europe (hot summer cold winters, very distinct seasons, abundant snowfalls especially in the mountains). Warmest areas are in the south.Annual average rainfall is 677mm, more in the mountains (1,000 - 1,400) and less on the coast below 400m).
Major cities and populationsBucharest (2,300,000); Brasov (353,000); Iasi (330,000); Cluj-Napoca (318,000); Constanta (316,000); Sibiu (169,000); Târgu Mures (165,000); Suceava (106,000)Language The
official language is Romanian, of Latin origin. English, French and German
are widely spoken.
ReligionMost Romanians are Orthodox Christians (87%). Catholics of Oriental and Roman rites are well represented (5%). There are also Reformed / Lutheran (3%), Unitarian (1%), Neo-Protestant, Armenian, Moslem and Jewish communities. Religious freedom is guaranteed by Romanian Constitution.Political system and public administrationIn accordance with the Constitution adopted in 1991, Romania is parliamentary republic, with two chambers. The president of the country, the deputies and the senators are elected every four years by universal secret ballot.Romania is a multi-party state: many parties are currently registered, but only important ones are represented in Parliament. The ethnic minorities also have representation. Democratic rights and freedom are guaranteed by the Constitution. The national flag is tricolor: red, yellow and blue. Romania's national day is December 1, the day when the national unitary state was founded in 1918. Romania's territory is divided in 40 districts administered by the prefects; the mayors of municipalities, towns, communes and villages are subordinated to the district administrations. Bucharest, the capital, has its own administration, similar to those of the districts. |
The
Carpathians mountains are in the center of the country, bordered on both
sides by hills and plateaus and finally the great plains of the outer rim.
Forests cover over a quarter of the country and the fauna is one of the
richest in Europe including wolves, bears, deer, lynx and chamois.
Present-day
Romania was first inhabited by the Dacians, fierce warriors subdued by
the Romans under Trajan in two extremely difficult campaigns at the beginning
of the 2nd century AD. The relatively brief Roman occupation,
165 years, nevertheless left as a lasting legacy the Latin language which
survived the many subsequent invasions of migratory peoples.