 Romania is an Eastern European country lying half way between the Equator and the North Pole (45° North) and at approximately half way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Ural mountains (25° East). The total area is 237,500 km2. The National Day of Romania is on December 1st. Its significance is well known by all Romanians living all over the world because the Great Union was accomplished at Alba Iulia on December 1st, 1918. Until then, Romanian territories were under foreign rule. Our grandfathers still have in their souls the emotions they lived on that occasion! It was a great festivity and they danced, sang patriotic songs or old folk ones, they laughed and embraced all together in tears. In memory of that unique event of Romanian history, this special date was chosen in 1990 - after the victory of the Revolution against Communist Regime - to be Romanian National Day. The Capital of Romania is Bucharest (Bucuresti) and the total population is approx. 23 millions people. Romanian borders to the North-East and East on the Republic of Moldova (681.3 km), to the North and East on Ukraine (639.4 km), to the South-East on the Black Sea (245 km), to the South on Bulgaria (631.3 km), to the South-West on Yugoslavia (544.3 km), and to the West on Hungary (444.8 km). |
 The Romanian climate is a moderately temperate continental with local characteristics determined by the season and the geographical features. Depending on the latitude and the altitude the average annual temperatures decrease gradually from South (11°C) to North (8.5°C). In January - the coldest month of the year - the average temperatures vary from -8°C in North-Eastern Moldavia and -2°C in the Western Plain. A great part of precipitation consists of snowfalls in the mountains (where snow layers last almost 150 days a year) which permits the practice of winter sports during several months. |
 Romania has a geographic personality which can be described in a single word as "balanced". Its land includes almost equal shares of mountains (31%), hills and tablelands (36%), fields and river meadows (33%).The Carpathians have a central position and they have played an important role for Romanian climate, soils, waters, vegetation, history and traditions. Generally speaking, the rivers flow radial all over the territory with the exception of those of Moldavia region. |
 The lowlands of the Tisza to the West, of the Romanian Plain to the South and the Moldavian Plain to the East were created by the alluvial material carried by the rivers through thousands of years from the Carpathians and deposited here. The Danube collects all the Southern rivers of Romania and flows through the country over the length of 1,075 km out of its total of 2,857 km. It is navigable throughout its whole course and forms the natural Romanian border in the South side. After Volga, Danube is the largest river in Europe. Any tourist must see the splendor of the famous gorges cut by Danube into limestone (145 km) between Cazane and Iron Gates. On the other side, Danube created a beautiful Delta before reaching Black Sea. There are three branches called Chilia, Sulina and St. Gheorghe and countless channels. |
 Most of the Romanian lakes are natural (over 2,300). They are used for pisciculture, sports and recreation. A special beauty have mountain lakes lying at an altitude over 1,800 m in the Rodna, Fagaras, Paring and Retezat mountains. Worth to mention two examples: Lacul Rosu (Red Lake) which appeared after the sliding of the rocky sides of the mountain into the Bicaz valley and Sfinta Ana (Saint Ana Lake) which was formed in a former volcanic crater. Over 2,000 mineral springs are to be found near volcanic mountains, oil fields, natural gas and salt deposits as well as near depths of the Carpathian area. Some of them are hot water springs which have a great healing power (Baile Herculane, Calan, Baile Geoagiu). The richest districts in mineral and thermal springs lie along the mountains. |
 Among the greatest gifts given by nature is the Black Sea coast. The water has a salinity of 17-21% and an average temperature of 25°C during summer time. The sand beaches are generally natural ones. They are 400-500 m wide at Mangalia and Techirghiol, and 50-200 m wide on the rest of the littoral.The high intensity of solar radiation is said to have stimulating and healing effects. These features attract tourists from many countries to spend a few days in this benefic complex of water, sand, air and sun. |
 Romania has wide-spread old forests specific to Central Europe. These forests have a mixed types of trees from oak trees and beeches to conifers which reach the higher levels of woods. On the top of the mountains live an alpine and sub-alpine flora painting with many colors the landscape. In the Retezat Massif grows a great variety of flora (almost 300 species), only 16% are Carpathian endemic plants. This area is a National Park well-known in the entire world. Also in Piatra Craiului (King's Stone) you may find rare species of plants. |
 If you want to admire a truly bizarre landscape, come to visit Vulcanii Noroiosi (Muddy Volcanoes). Here hot gases from underneath escape to the surface and combine with underground water and minerals. The result is perceived as natural geysers and boiling pools of mud. This unique view can be found near the curvature of the Carpathian mountains where is the intersection of three tectonic plates. |
 Romania has a high touristic potential. Each geographic region has its particular beauty during spring, summer, autumn and winter. You may find many interesting places to relax during your vacation or for medical treatment. Also you might be interested in visiting some historical places which testify the millenary civilization developed on Romanian territory over 2,000 years. People are warm and enjoy talking to you. In the past ten years, many touristic chalets and small motels having modern facilities were built all over the country, especially in the mountains. |
| Search carefully through this site and you will find useful information for travelling to Romania. We are sure that once spending here your vacation, you will be eager to discover its beauty again. Ask those who did that experiment and came back home with strong impressions, feelings and thoughts, and you will understand why we are telling you that! All people living in Romania or abroad are invited to express their opinions, questions or even to create a new chapter of this virtual guidebook. We welcome you all with great pleasure, hoping to build a place where different people who love to talk about this country can become good friends for life. |