Country Information on Romania 

Terrain

The country's topography is highly varied. Central Romania is occupied by the Transylvanian Plateau, which is almost completely surrounded by the Carpathian Mountains. In Southwestern Romania their southern range merges into the Banat Mountains. West of this mountainous circle the Banat is situated, a lowland area, which merges into the Great Hungarian Plain. In the country's south the vast lowlands of Walachia extend into Bulgarian territory. In Eastern Romania the foothills of the Eastern Carpathian Mountains lead up to the highlands of Moldova.

Climate

The Transylvanian Plateau, the Carpathian Mountains, and the lowlands in Western Romania are characterized by continental climate. Temperature varies a great deal in the course of a year, warm summers are contrasted by very cold winters. The areas near the Black Sea enjoy a maritime influence, which causes a more moderate range of temperatures. Precipitation is stronger during the warmer seasons, with the mountains getting the largest quantity.

Fauna/Flora

Outside the mountainous regions, natural vegetation was pushed back on a large scale. The forests which used to grow mainly in the lowlands have been cleared extensively to make room for cultivation. In most parts of the country there is an enormous diversity of animal species. 60% of all bears indigenous to Europe, 40% of all European wolves, and 60% of the world's pygmy cormorant population have their habitat in Romania. Among the larger mammals, primarily found in the Carpathian Mountains, are the chamois, roe deer, wild boar, and lynx. Bird life is abundant. The Danube delta region is a stopover point for migratory birds and has partly been turned into a nature preserve. In the rivers and in the Black Sea there are pike, sturgeon, carp, flounder, herring, salmon, perch, and eel.

History/Politics

Romania roughly occupies ancient Dacia, which was a Roman province in the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD. After the Romans left the region, the area was overrun successively by the Goths, the Huns, the Avars, the Bulgars, and the Magyars. After a period of Mongolian rule (13th century), the history of the Romanian people became in essence that of the two Romanian principalities (Moldavia and Walachia) and of Transylvania, which for most of the time was a Hungarian dependency. The princes of Walachia (in 1417) and of Moldavia (mid-16th century) became vassals of the Ottoman Empire, but they retained considerable independence. With the victory of the Ottoman Empire over Hungary at the Battle of Mohács in 1526, the principalities of Walachia and Moldavia came under Turkish rule, which lasted for three centuries. From 1750 on, the principalities came increasingly under Russian influence, which did not start waning until one century later. After Russia's defeat in the Crimean War, the European powers ended the Russian protectorate. Romania was split into various principalities, but was under the joint control of France, Great Britain, Austria, Prussia, Russia, and Turkey. Meanwhile, the wish for a national union was becoming a major concern. In 1859, Colonel Alexandru Ion Cuza was elected to the thrones of Moldavia and Walachia, creating a national state in 1861, which was recognized as the autonomous principality of Romania by the Turkish sultan. In 1881, Romania proclaimed itself a kingdom. The country remained officially neutral until 1916, when Romanian troops invaded Hungarian Transylvania. However, the Romanian forces were defeated by the Austro-German and Bulgarian armies in less than six months, and by late January 1917, the victorious powers controlled the major part of the country.

After the victory of the Allies in November 1918, Romania re-entered the war and re-occupied Transylvania and other territories. By the treaty of Saint Germain Romania was awarded sovereignty over several territories and thus it more than doubled its total area. After World War I, the government had to face domestic problems. During World War II, Romania sided with Germany and entered the war against the Soviet Union in 1941. In 1944, the Soviet Union signed an armistice with Romania in Moscow. A coalition government was instituted, which was approved by the USSR and included the Communist Party, the National Liberal Party, and the National Peasants' Party. After the Romanian King Michael had to abdicate under Communist pressure, the government immediately proclaimed Romania a people's republic, based on the constitution of the USSR. In 1965, Ceausescu became party secretary and in 1967 chairman of the State Council. While in foreign affairs Ceausescu pursued a policy of openness, in domestic affairs he followed an orthodox Communist line. In December 1989, Ceausescu was arrested and executed. In May 1990, the National Salvation Front won multiparty parliamentary and presidential elections, and Ion Iliescu was elected Romanian president. In December 2000, Ion Iliescu was re-elected president. Romania is a candidate for membership in the European Union.

Economy

The economic reform programmes introduced in 1990 called for a devaluation of the currency, a halt to subsidies for most consumer goods, and the privatisation of state-owned enterprises, so as to facilitate Romania's transition to a market-based economy. Major exports are finished products, machines and implements, energy sources, minerals, metals, and food. In 1999, Romania's unemployment rate amounted to 8.1%, gross domestic product was -3.2%.

Culture

Romanian culture has its origins primarily in the culture of the Romans, with strains of Slavic, Hungarian, Greek, and Turkish influences. Poems, folk tales, and music have always held a central place in Romanian culture. Literature, art, and music attained maturity in the 19th century. Several Romanian musicians achieved international recognition in the 20th century. The best-known among them were the violinist and composer Georges Enesco and the pianist Dinu Lipatti. Eugene Ionesco is one of Romania's internationally best known writers ("Theatre of the Absurd").