Romania Travel Guide - Facts on Romania

History		Top of Page
	The principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia - for centuries under the suzerainty of the Turkish Ottoman Empire - secured their autonomy in 1856; they united in 1859 and a few years later adopted the new name of Romania. The country gained recognition of its independence in 1878. It joined the Allied Powers in World War I and acquired new territories - most notably Transylvania - following the conflict. In 1940, Romania allied with the Axis powers and participated in the 1941 German invasion of the USSR. Three years later, overrun by the Soviets, Romania signed an armistice. The post-war Soviet occupation led to the formation of a Communist "people's republic" in 1947 and the abdication of the king. The decades-long rule of dictator Nicolae CEAUSESCU, who took power in 1965, and his Securitate police state became increasingly oppressive and draconian through the 1980s. CEAUSESCU was overthrown and executed in late 1989. Former Communists dominated the government until 1996 when they were swept from power. Romania Romania joined NATO in March of 2004 and became a member of the European Union in January 1, 2007.
Geography		Top of Page
Location	Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Ukraine
Geographic Coordinates	46 00 N, 25 00 E
Area	Total: 237,500 sq km Land: 230,340 sq km Water: 7,160 sq km
Area - Comparative	Slightly smaller than Oregon
Land Boundaries	Total: 2,508 km Border countries: Bulgaria 608 km, Hungary 443 km, Moldova 450 km, Serbia and Montenegro 476 km, Ukraine (north) 362 km, Ukraine (east) 169 km
Coastline	225 km
Climate	Temperate; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow and fog; sunny summers with frequent showers and thunderstorms
Terrain	Central Transylvanian Basin is separated from the Plain of Moldavia on the east by the Carpathian Mountains and separated from the Walachian Plain on the south by the Transylvanian Alps
Elevation Extremes	Lowest point: Black Sea 0 m Highest point: Moldoveanu 2,544 m
Natural Resources	Petroleum (reserves declining), timber, natural gas, coal, iron ore, salt, arable land, hydropower
Geography Note	Controls most easily traversable land route between the Balkans, Moldova, and Ukraine
Natural hazards	Earthquakes, most severe in south and southwest; geologic structure and climate promote landslides
People		Top of Page
Population	22,303,552 (July 2006 est.)
Age Structure	0-14 years: 15.7% (male 1,799,072/female 1,708,030) 15-64 years: 69.6% (male 7,724,368/female 7,797,065) 65 years and over: 14.7% (male 1,347,392/female 1,927,625) (2006 est.)
Nationality	Noun: Romanian(s) Adjective: Romanian
Ethnic Groups	Romanian 89.5%, Hungarian 6.6%, Roma 2.5%, Ukrainian 0.3%, German 0.3%, Russian 0.2%, Turkish 0.2%, other 0.4% (2002)
Religions	Eastern Orthodox (including all sub-denominations) 87%, Protestant 6.8%, Catholic 5.6%, other (mostly Muslim) 0.4%, unaffiliated 0.2% (2002)
Language	Romanian (official), Hungarian, German
Literacy	Definition: age 15 and over can read and write Total population: 98.4% Male: 99.1% Female: 97.7% (2003 est.)

Government		Top of Page
Country Name	Conventional long form: none Conventional short form: Romania Local short form: Romania Local long form: none
Government Type	Republic
Capital	Bucharest
Administrative Divisions	41 counties (judete, singular - judet) and 1 municipality* (municipiu); Alba, Arad, Arges, Bacau, Bihor, Bistrita-Nasaud, Botosani, Braila, Brasov, Bucuresti*, Buzau, Calarasi, Caras-Severin, Cluj, Constanta, Covasna, Dimbovita, Dolj, Galati, Gorj, Giurgiu, Harghita, Hunedoara, Ialomita, Iasi, Ilfov, Maramures, Mehedinti, Mures, Neamt, Olt, Prahova, Salaj, Satu Mare, Sibiu, Suceava, Teleorman, Timis, Tulcea, Vaslui, Vilcea, Vrancea
Independence	9 May 1877 (independence proclaimed from Turkey; independence recognized 13 July 1878 by the Treaty of Berlin; kingdom proclaimed 26 March 1881; republic proclaimed 30 December 1947)
Flag Description	Three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; the national coat of arms that used to be centered in the yellow band has been removed; now similar to the flag of Chad, also resembles the flags of Andorra and Moldova
Economy		Top of Page
Overview	Romania began the transition from Communism in 1989 with a largely obsolete industrial base and a pattern of output unsuited to the country's needs. The country emerged in 2000 from a punishing three-year recession thanks to strong demand in EU export markets. Despite the global slowdown in 2001-02, strong domestic activity in construction, agriculture, and consumption have kept GDP growth above 4%. An IMF standby agreement, signed in 2001, has been accompanied by slow but palpable gains in privatization, deficit reduction, and the curbing of inflation. The IMF Board approved Romania's completion of the standby agreement in October 2003, the first time Romania has successfully concluded an IMF agreement since the 1989 revolution. In July 2004, the executive board of the IMF approved a 24-month standby agreement for $367 million. IMF concerns about Romania's tax policy and budget deficit led to a breakdown of this agreement in 2005. In the past, the IMF has criticized the government's fiscal, wage, and monetary policies. Meanwhile, macroeconomic gains have only recently started to spur creation of a middle class and address Romania's widespread poverty, while corruption and red tape continue to handicap the business environment. Romanian government confidence in continuing disinflation was underscored by its currency revaluation in 2005, making 10,000 "old" lei equal 1 "new" leu.
Currency	Leu (ROL) is being phased out in 2006; "new" leu (RON) was introduced in 2005 due to currency revaluation: 10,000 ROL = 1 RON
Currency Code	ROL
Communications		Top of Page
Telephone System	General assessment: poor domestic service, but improving
Internet Country Code	.ro
Transportation		Top of Page
Railways	Total: 11,385 km (3,888 km electrified) Standard gauge: 10,898 km 1.435-m gauge Narrow gauge: 427 km 0.760-m gauge (2002) Broad gage: 60 km 1.524-m gauge
Roadways	Total: 198,603 km Paved: 98,308 km (including 113 km of expressways) Unpaved: 100,295 km (2000
Waterways	1,724 km (1984)
Ports and Harbors	Braila, Constanta, Galati, Mangalia, Sulina, Tulcea
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