GeographyGeography ofof RomaniaRomania

With an area of 238,391 square kilometers, Romania is the twelfth largest country in Europe. Situated in the northeastern portion of the largest country in Europe. Situated in the northeastern portion of the Balkan Peninsula, the country is halfway between the equator and the North Pole and equidistant from the westernmost part of Europe--the Atlantic Coast--and the most easterly--the Ural Mountains. Romania has 3,195 kilometers of border. Republic of Moldova lies to the east; Bulgaria lies to the south, Serbia to the southwest, and Hungary to the west. In the southeast, 245 kilometers of Black Seacoastline provide an important outlet to the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.

LocationLocation

SoutheasternSoutheastern EuropeEurope, , borderingbordering the the Black SeaBlack Sea and and DanubeDanube, , withwith the the CarpathianCarpathian mountainsmountains in in itsits center. center. ControlsControls mostmost easilyeasily traversabletraversable landland routeroute betweenbetween

the the BalkansBalkans, , MoldovaMoldova and and UkraineUkraine

GeographicGeographic coordinatescoordinates:: 4646°°N 25N 25°°EE

AreaArea Total:Total: 238,391 km² 238,391 km² landland:: 231,231 km² 231,231 km² waterwater:: 7,160 km²7,160 km²

LandLand boundariesboundaries --totaltotal:: 3,149.9 km 3,149.9 km LandLand boundariesboundaries --totaltotal:: 3,149.9 km 3,149.9 km

--border border countriescountries: : BulgariaBulgaria 631 km, 631 km, HungaryHungary 448 km, 448 km, MoldovaMoldova 681 km, 681 km, SerbiaSerbia 546 km, 546 km, UkraineUkraine ((northnorth and and

easteast) 649 km. ) 649 km.

TraditionallyTraditionally Romania Romania isis divideddivided intointo severalseveral historichistoric regionsregionsthatthat no no longerlonger performperform anyany administrativeadministrative functionfunction::DobrujaDobruja isis the the easternmosteasternmost regionregion, , extendingextending fromfrom the the northwardnorthward coursecourse of the of the DanubeDanube toto the the shoresshores of the Black of the Black Sea. Sea. MoldaviaMoldavia stretchesstretches fromfrom the the Eastern CarpathiansEastern Carpathians toto the the PrutPrutRiverRiver on the Moldovan and Ukrainian border. on the Moldovan and Ukrainian border. WallachiaWallachia reachesreaches southsouth fromfrom the the TransylvanianTransylvanian AlpsAlps toto the the Bulgarian border and Bulgarian border and isis divideddivided byby the the Olt Olt RiverRiver intointo OlteniaOlteniaon the west and on the west and MunteniaMuntenia on the on the easteast. The . The DanubeDanube formsforms a a natural border natural border betweenbetween MunteniaMuntenia and Dobruja. and Dobruja. natural border natural border betweenbetween MunteniaMuntenia and Dobruja. and Dobruja. The westThe west--central central regionregion, , knownknown as as TransylvaniaTransylvania, , isis delimiteddelimitedbyby the arc of the Carpathians, the arc of the Carpathians, whichwhich separatesseparates itit fromfrom the the Maramureş Maramureş regionregion in the in the northwestnorthwest; ; byby the the CrişanaCrişana areaarea, , whichwhich borders borders HungaryHungary in the west; and in the west; and byby the the BanatBanat regionregionof the of the southwestsouthwest, , whichwhich adjoinsadjoins bothboth HungaryHungary and and SerbiaSerbia. It . It isis these areas west of the Carpathians.these areas west of the Carpathians.

TopographyTopographyRomania'sRomania's natural natural landscapelandscape isis almostalmost evenlyevenly divideddivided amongamongmountainsmountains (31 (31 percentpercent), ), hillshills (33 (33 percentpercent), and ), and plainsplains (36 (36 percentpercent). These ). These variedvaried reliefrelief formsforms spread spread ratherrathersymmetricallysymmetrically fromfrom the the CarpathianCarpathian MountainsMountains, , whichwhich reachreachelevationselevations of more of more thanthan 2,500 2,500 metersmeters, , toto the the DanubeDanube Delta, Delta, whichwhich isis justjust a a fewfew metersmeters aboveabove sea sea levellevel..

The arc of the Carpathians The arc of the Carpathians extendsextends overover 1,000 1,000 kilometerskilometersthroughthrough the center of the country, the center of the country, coveringcovering anan areaarea of 71,000 of 71,000 throughthrough the center of the country, the center of the country, coveringcovering anan areaarea of 71,000 of 71,000 squaresquare kilometerskilometers. These . These mountainsmountains are of are of lowlow toto mediummediumaltitudealtitude and are no and are no widerwider thanthan 100 100 kilometerskilometers. . TheyThey are are deeplydeeply fragmentedfragmented byby longitudinal and longitudinal and transversetransverse valleysvalleys and and crossedcrossed byby severalseveral majormajor riversrivers. . ThereThere are are permanentpermanentsettlementssettlements herehere at at aboveabove 1,200 1,200 metersmeters..

Romania'sRomania's Carpathians are Carpathians are differentiateddifferentiated intointo threethree rangesranges: : the the Eastern CarpathiansEastern Carpathians, the , the SouthernSouthern CarpathiansCarpathians ororTransylvanianTransylvanian AlpsAlps, and the , and the Western CarpathiansWestern Carpathians. . EachEach of of these these rangesranges has has importantimportant distinguishingdistinguishing featuresfeatures. The . The Eastern CarpathiansEastern Carpathians are are composedcomposed of of threethree parallelparallel ridgesridgesthatthat runrun fromfrom northwestnorthwest toto southeastsoutheast. The . The westernmostwesternmost ridgeridgeisis anan extinctextinct volcanicvolcanic rangerange withwith manymany preservedpreserved conescones and and craterscraters. The . The rangerange has has manymany largelarge depressionsdepressions, in the , in the largestlargestof of whichwhich the the citycity of of BraşovBraşov isis situatedsituated. The . The Eastern Eastern of of whichwhich the the citycity of of BraşovBraşov isis situatedsituated. The . The Eastern Eastern CarpathiansCarpathians are are coveredcovered withwith forestsforests. . TheyThey alsoalso containcontainimportantimportant ore ore depositsdeposits, , includingincluding goldgold and and silversilver, and , and theirtheirmineral mineral waterwater springssprings feedfeed numerousnumerous healthhealth resorts.resorts.

Bucegi MountainsBucegi Mountains

The The SouthernSouthern CarpathiansCarpathians offeroffer the the highesthighest peakspeaks at at MoldoveanuMoldoveanuPeakPeak (2,544 m) and (2,544 m) and NegoiuNegoiu (2,535 m) and more (2,535 m) and more thanthan 150 glacial 150 glacial lakeslakes. . TheyThey havehave largelarge grasslandgrassland areas and areas and somesome woodlandswoodlands butbutfewfew largelarge depressionsdepressions and and subsoilsubsoil resourcesresources. At . At higherhigher elevationselevations, , the the windwind and rain and rain havehave turnedturned the the rocksrocks intointo spectacularspectacular figures figures suchsuch as as BabeleBabele

The The Western CarpathiansWestern Carpathians are the are the lowestlowest of the of the threethree rangesranges and are and are fragmentedfragmented byby manymany deepdeepstructuralstructural depressionsdepressions. The Western Carpathians are the . The Western Carpathians are the mostmost denselydensely settledsettled, and , and itit isis in the in the northernmostnorthernmost areaarea of of thisthis rangerange, the , the ApuseniApuseni MountainsMountains, , thosethose permanentpermanent settlementssettlements can can bebe foundfoundat the at the highesthighest altitudes.altitudes.

Romania'sRomania's lowestlowest landland isis foundfound on the on the northernnorthern edgeedge of the of the DobrujaDobruja regionregion in the in the DanubeDanube DeltaDelta. The . The delta delta isis a triangular a triangular swampyswampy areaarea of of marshesmarshes, , floatingfloating reedreed islandsislands, and , and sandbankssandbanks, , wherewhere the the DanubeDanube endsends itsits trektrek of of almostalmost 3,000 3,000 kilometerskilometers and divides and divides intointo threethree frayedfrayed branchesbranches beforebeforeemptyingemptying intointo the Black Sea. The the Black Sea. The DanubeDanube Delta Delta providesprovides a a largelarge partpart of the of the country'scountry's fishfishproductionproduction, and , and itsits reedsreeds are are usedused toto manufacture manufacture cellulosecellulose. The . The regionregion alsoalso servesserves as a as a naturenaturepreserve preserve forfor rarerare speciesspecies of of plantplant and animal and animal lifelife includingincluding migratorymigratory birdsbirds

HydrographyHydrography: : RiversRivers

AfterAfter enteringentering the country in the the country in the southwestsouthwest at at BaziasBazias, the , the DanubeDanubetravelstravels somesome 1,075 1,075 kilometerskilometers ((almostalmost 40% of 40% of itsits entireentire lengthlength) ) throughthrough oror alongalong RomanianRomanian territoryterritory, , formingforming the the southernsouthern frontierfrontierwithwith Serbia and Bulgaria. Serbia and Bulgaria. VirtuallyVirtually allall of the of the country'scountry's riversrivers are are tributariestributaries of the of the DanubeDanube, , eithereither directlydirectly oror indirectlyindirectly, and , and byby the the time the time the Danube'sDanube's coursecourse endsends in the Black Sea, in the Black Sea, theythey accountaccount forfornearlynearly 40 40 percentpercent of the total of the total dischargedischarge. The . The mostmost importantimportant of of nearlynearly 40 40 percentpercent of the total of the total dischargedischarge. The . The mostmost importantimportant of of these these riversrivers are the are the Mureş Mureş RiverRiver, the , the Olt Olt RiverRiver, the , the PrutPrut, the , the SiretSiretRiverRiver, the , the Ialomiţa Ialomiţa RiverRiver, the , the SomeşSomeş RiverRiver, and the , and the Argeş Argeş RiverRiver. .

The The DanubeDanube isis byby farfar Romania'sRomania's mostmost importantimportant riverriver, , notnot onlyonly forfortransportationtransportation, , butbut alsoalso forfor the the productionproduction of of hydroelectrichydroelectric powerpower. . OneOne of of Europe'sEurope's largestlargest hydroelectrichydroelectric stationsstations isis locatedlocated at the at the IronIronGatesGates, , wherewhere the the DanubeDanube surges surges throughthrough the the CarpathianCarpathian gorgesgorges. .

ClimateClimateBecauseBecause of of itsits position on the position on the southeasternsoutheastern portionportion of the of the EuropeanEuropeancontinentcontinent, Romania has a , Romania has a climateclimate thatthat isis transitionaltransitional betweenbetween temperatetemperateand continental. and continental. ClimaticClimatic conditionsconditions are are somewhatsomewhat modifiedmodified byby the the country'scountry's variedvaried reliefrelief. The Carpathians . The Carpathians serveserve as a as a barrierbarrier toto AtlanticAtlantic air air massesmasses, , restrictingrestricting theirtheir oceanicoceanic influencesinfluences toto the west and center of the the west and center of the country, country, wherewhere theythey makemake forfor mildermilder winterswinters and and heavierheavier rainfallrainfall. The . The mountainsmountains alsoalso block the continental block the continental influencesinfluences of the of the vastvast plainplain toto the the northnorth in the in the UkraineUkraine, , whichwhich bringbring frostyfrosty winterswinters and and lessless rain rain toto the the southsouth and and southeastsoutheast. In the extreme . In the extreme southeastsoutheast, , MediterraneanMediterraneaninfluencesinfluences offeroffer a a mildermilder, , maritimemaritime climateclimate. The . The averageaverage annualannualtemperaturetemperature isis 1111 °°C in the C in the southsouth and 8and 8 °°C in the C in the northnorth. In . In BucharestBucharest, , the the temperaturetemperature rangesranges fromfrom −30−30 °°C in C in JanuaryJanuary toto 3535 °°C in C in JulyJuly, , withwithaverageaverage temperaturestemperatures of −3of −3 °°C in C in JanuaryJanuary and 23and 23 °°C in C in JulyJuly. . SomeSomeaverageaverage temperaturestemperatures of −3of −3 °°C in C in JanuaryJanuary and 23and 23 °°C in C in JulyJuly. . SomeSomemountainsmountains areas areas receivereceive more more thanthan 1,0101,010 mm of mm of precipitationprecipitation eacheachyearyear. . AnnualAnnual precipitationprecipitation averagesaverages aboutabout 635635 mm in central mm in central TransylvaniaTransylvania, 521, 521 mm at Iaşi in Moldavia, and mm at Iaşi in Moldavia, and onlyonly 381381 mm at mm at Constanţa on the Black Sea.Constanţa on the Black Sea.

TemperateTemperate; ; coldcold, , cloudycloudy winterswinters withwith frequentfrequent snowsnow and and fogfog; ; sunnysunnysummerssummers withwith frequentfrequent showersshowers and and thunderstormsthunderstorms. . WintersWinters generallygenerallyare are fromfrom NovemberNovember toto MarchMarch. The . The springssprings are short, are short, occasionallyoccasionallyturningturning rightright intointo summersummer. . SummerSummer lastslasts fromfrom MayMay toto AugustAugust. . TheyTheyhavehave a a prolongedprolonged autumnautumn, , fromfrom SeptemberSeptember toto NovemberNovember. .

Bran Bran CastleCastle waswas builtbuilt in 1212, in 1212, and and becamebecame commonlycommonly knownknownas as Dracula'sDracula's CastleCastle afterafter thetheas as Dracula'sDracula's CastleCastle afterafter thethemythsmyths thatthat itit waswas thethe home of home of VladVlad III III thethe ImpalerImpaler..

WhereWhere waswas Romania in Romania in thethe pastpastEuropeEurope??

THE DANUBE RIVER…THE DANUBE RIVER…

LOCATION OF LOCATION OF ROMANIAROMANIA

Romania Romania isissurondedsuronded bybyfivefive countriescountries: : UkranieUkranie, , UkranieUkranie, , Moldavia, Moldavia, BulgaryBulgary , , Serbia, and Serbia, and HungaryHungary and a and a sea sea whichwhich isiscalledcalled Black Black SeaSea

DID YOU KNOW….?DID YOU KNOW….?

AfterAfter thethe SecondSecond WorldWorld WarWar Romania Romania hadhad totogivegive RussiaRussia moneymoney butbut itit didn’tdidn’t havehave afterafter thethefightfight so so wewe gavegave toto RussiaRussia a a partpart of Romania of Romania fightfight so so wewe gavegave toto RussiaRussia a a partpart of Romania of Romania

whichwhich isis thethe presentpresent MoldovaMoldova..

AfterAfter thatthat MoldovaMoldova wantedwanted toto bebe independentindependent so so theythey finallyfinally bacamebacame independentindependent and and itit isis thethe

actual MOLDOVA.actual MOLDOVA.

QUESTIONSQUESTIONS1.1. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT ROMANIA? DO YOU LIKE IT?WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT ROMANIA? DO YOU LIKE IT?

2. DO YOU THINK THAT THE FLAGS ARE INTERESTING?2. DO YOU THINK THAT THE FLAGS ARE INTERESTING?

3. IS MOLDAVIA AN INDEPENDENT STATE OR DOES IT FORM 3. IS MOLDAVIA AN INDEPENDENT STATE OR DOES IT FORM PART OF ROMANIA?PART OF ROMANIA?

4. WHAT IS THE BIGGEST REGION THAT WAS PART OF 4. WHAT IS THE BIGGEST REGION THAT WAS PART OF ROMANIA IN THE PAST?(Transylvania, Moldavia or Wallachia)ROMANIA IN THE PAST?(Transylvania, Moldavia or Wallachia)ROMANIA IN THE PAST?(Transylvania, Moldavia or Wallachia)ROMANIA IN THE PAST?(Transylvania, Moldavia or Wallachia)

5. DO YOU THINK ROMANIA IS NOW 5. DO YOU THINK ROMANIA IS NOW BIGGER, BIGGER, SMALLER SMALLER OR THE SAME SIZE THAN IN THE PAST?OR THE SAME SIZE THAN IN THE PAST?

6.WAS MOLDOVA PART OF ROMANIA IN THE PAST?6.WAS MOLDOVA PART OF ROMANIA IN THE PAST?AND NOW?AND NOW?

QuestionsQuestions

1) 1) IsIs Romania in Romania in EuropeEurope? ? WhatWhat are the are the geographicgeographiccoordinatescoordinates??

2) 2) WhatWhat are the are the landland boundariesboundaries??

3) 3) WhatWhat are the are the severalseveral historichistoric regionsregions??

4) 4) HowHow manymany kilometerskilometers doesdoes thethe riverriver DanubeDanube traveltravel alongalong4) 4) HowHow manymany kilometerskilometers doesdoes thethe riverriver DanubeDanube traveltravel alongalongRomania? Romania? NameName twotwo importantimportant riversrivers..

5) 5) ExplainExplain the the climateclimate of Romania.of Romania.