ROMANIA : GEOGRAPHY
AND NATURE
Romania is situated in the southeastern part
of Central Europe and shares borders with Hungary to the northwest,
Yugoslavia to the southwest, Bulgaria to the south, the Black Sea and
Ukraine to the southeast and to the north and the Republic of Moldova to
the east. Romania spans a total surface of 237,500 square kms. (roughly
91,800 sq.miles).
The country is historically composed of three regions: West of the
mountains lies Transylvania , the south plains are called Wallachia and
the north-eastern region is called Moldavia. On December the 1st, 1918,
Transylvania united with the other two, forming the state called
Romania. Nowadays, to celebrate that moment, December 1st is Romania's
national holiday.
Romania's climate is continental, with hot summers and cold winters.
Winters in the mountains are particularly severe. Precipitation varies
from region to region with highest levels in the mountains. On the whole
the climate is good for farming. Bucharest, on the Walachian Plain, has
an average July temperature of 74° F (23.3° C) and a January temperature
of 27° F (-2.8° C). Annual precipitation averages 22.8 inches (58
centimeters).
A large part of Romania's borders with Serbia and Bulgaria is formed by
the Danube. This is the country’s longest river . It flows for 668 miles
(1,075 kilometers) through Romanian territory to the Black Sea. Most
other rivers are tributaries of the Danube; the major ones are the Jiu,
Olt, Arge, and Ialomia--all of which flow across the Walachian Plain.
The Siret and the Prut flow from the northeast. The second longest
river, the Mure, flows for 477 miles (768 kilometers) westward to join
in Hungary the Tisza, a tributary of the Danube. There are no lakes of
any large size.
Romania's territory features splendid mountains, beautiful rolling
hills, fertile plains and numerous rivers and lakes The most fertile are
the black-earth soils of the plains, but much of the country is covered
by brown forest soils of moderate fertility. The soils of the mountain
and hill regions are less fertile. The Carpathian Mountains traverse the
center of the country bordered on both sides by foothills and finally
the great plains of the outer rim. Forests cover over one quarter of the
country and the fauna is one of the richest in Europe including bears,
deer, lynx, chamois and wolves.