Geography of Romania

Romania is a country in southeastern Europe. It occupies among other parts of the Carpathian Mountains and the vast plains in the lower reaches of the Danube.

  • 3.1 Economic Geography 3.1.1 Agriculture
  • 3.1.2 industry
  • 3.1.3 energy
  • 3.1.4 Foreign Trade
  • 3.1.5 traffic 3.1.5.1 Water transport
  • 3.1.5.2 Road Network
  • 3.1.5.3 rail network
  • 3.1.5.4 Air traffic
  • 3.2.1 Population Geography
  • 3.2.2 settlement geography

Territory and borders

Romania lies from 43 ° 37 '7 " and 48 ° 15 '06 ' N latitude and 20 ° 15 ' 44 ' and 29 ° 43 '6" East Longitude.

The northernmost point is located on the banks of the Prut River ( Prut ) near the village of Horodiştea (municipality Păltiniş in a circle Botosani ) at the border with Moldova. The southernmost point of Romania is the bank of the Danube southeast of the city in a circle Zimnicea Teleorman. The westernmost point of the country is located on the territory of the municipality Beba Veche ( Timiş county ) on the Serbian border, the eastern end of the south shore of Sulinaarms at its mouth in the Black Sea) in Sulina ( Tulcea County ).

The total length of the border is 3149.9 km; of which 1085.6 km on land, 1816.9 km of rivers and 247.4 km of maritime borders. Moldova is the neighboring country with the longest common border with Romania; which 681.3 km are formed entirely from the river Prut. Of the 649.4 km long border with Ukraine are 31.7 km sea border to the Black Sea; the remaining 617.7 km divided into two sections north-west and south-east of Moldova; 343.9 km fall on rivers (mainly Prut and Danube ), 273.8 km on land. The southern neighbor Bulgaria, the limit length of 631.3 km, the longest section ( 470.0 km ) is formed by the Danube; 139.1 km are land and 22.2 km sea border. The border with Serbia is 564.4 km long; 256.8 km are on the land and 289.6 km of rivers (mainly the Danube ). To the north-western neighbors Hungary, Romania has omitted a limit length of 448.0 km, of which 32.1 kilometers are rivers (mainly Mureş ) and 415.9 km on land. The maritime boundary to the open sea is according to official figures 193.5 km.

The floor area of Romania amounts to 238,391 km ². Of these, 38% are arable land and 19% pasture, 27% ​​wooded, 4% of inland waters (lakes, rivers) covered. The remaining 12 % are occupied wasteland (eg mountains), or with buildings and transport facilities.

The highest peak is the Moldoveanu in the Fagaras Mountains with 2,544 m, the lowest point of the coast of the Black Sea.

Physical Geography

Geomorphological structure

The territory of Romania is divided scenically diverse. From the north to the southwest of the country, the Carpathians (Romanian carpati ) in an S-shaped arc through the whole country. From this arch branches in the west of the country from the massif of the Western Romanian Carpathians ( Carpatii Occidentali ). The Southern Carpathians ( Carpatii Meridionali ) are in full, the West Romanian Carpathians almost completely and the Eastern Carpathians ( Carpatii ORIENTALI ) to about 40 % on Romanian territory. These three sub- massifs of the Carpathians almost completely enclose an approximately 300 - Situated at 600 meters above sea level plateau, the Transylvanian Basin ( Podişul Transilvaniei ). To the west and northwest it has small Romania shares in the Great Hungarian Plain ( Câmpia de Vest).

To the east and south of the Carpathian Mountains in the east in the Vltava Highlands ( Podişul Moldovei ) is the Subcarpathian ( Subcarpaţi ) upstream, in the south into the Wallachian Plain ( Câmpia Română ) passes. On the northeast of the country, between the rivers Siret and Prut, the Moldova - depth plane ( Câmpia Moldovei ). The small area east of the lower reaches of the Danube is dominated by hills ( Dobrogea Highlands, rum. Podişul Dobrogei ).

A total of 31 % of the Romanian territory of mountains are covered; 36 % are on hills and uplands and 33 % on lowlands.

Climate Geography

Romania has a temperate seasonal climate in the area of the continental climate. It is depending on the season within the country quite pronounced temperature and precipitation differences. In principle, the climate is east and south of the Carpathians continental, which is reflected especially in hotter summers. The country is shielded from the Balkan Mountains and the Dinaric Alps to Mediterranean influences. The coldest month is usually January, the warmest August. The long-term annual mean temperatures of the larger cities are between 7.5 ° C ( Suceava ) and 11.5 ° C ( Calafat ). The coldest ever recorded temperature was -38.5 ° in Romania C (25 January 1942 Bod ), the warmest 44.5 ° C (August 10, 1951 in Brăila ). Through the cold winter is relatively long solid snow (25 days on the Black Sea coast, 55 days in the Transylvanian Basin). The precipitates depend inter alia on the altitude; tend to take them off to the southeast. In Constanta on the Black Sea, the long-term average precipitation is 368 mm per year, in Târgu Jiu 726 mm. The wettest month in most cities in June, the lowest rainfall in January, February or March. In the peak region of the Carpathians can be up to 2,000 mm annual rainfall. Under meteorologists is discussed whether the heaping up lately and floods tend to be increasing temperatures due to climate change.

Reserves

The versatile structured landscape of Romania on the one hand and the increasing threat of nature by civilization influences the other hand, has led in recent decades to step up efforts for nature conservation. Numerous attractive and ecologically valuable regions were placed under protection. In 2007 their share was 37% at the surface of the country. In particular, there

  • 79 Scientific Reserves ( Rezervaţii ştiinţifice ) with an area of 1,006 km ²
  • 13 national parks ( Parcuri national), 3159 km ²
  • 190 natural monuments ( Monuments ale naturii ), 182 km ²
  • 671 nature reserves ( Rezervaţii natural), 1365 km ²
  • 14 natural parks ( Parcuri natural), 7374 km ²
  • 3 biosphere reserves ( Rezervaţii ale biosferei ), 6644 km ²
  • 5 wetlands of international importance (Zone umede de importanta international), 6166 km ²
  • 108 Special ornithological reserves ( Arii de PROTECTIE speciala avifaunistică ), 2993 km ²
  • 273 places of general interest ( Situri de importanta comunitară ), 32,841 km ²

National Parks

In Romania, in 2007 there were 13 national parks with a total area of ​​3159 km ². These are:

  • Buila - Vanturarita, Vâlcea county, founded in 2004, 42 km ²
  • Călimani, circles Bistrita-Nasaud, Suceava and Mureş, founded in 1990, 240 km ²
  • Ceahlău, Neamţ county founded in 2004, 84 km ²
  • Cheile Bicazului - Hasmas, Neamţ and Harghita counties, established in 2000, 66 km ²
  • Cheile Nerei - Beusnita, district Caras -Severin, founded in 2000, 371 km ²
  • Cozia, Vâlcea county, founded in 2003, 171 km ²
  • Defileul Jiului, counties Gorj and Hunedoara, founded in 2005, 111 km ²
  • Domogled - Valea Cernei, circles Caras -Severin, Mehedinţi and Gorj, founded in 1990, 601 km ²
  • National Park Muntii Măcinului, Tulcea County, founded in 2003, 113 km ²
  • Rodna, Bistrita-Nasaud circles, Maramures and Suceava founded in 2000, 464 km ²
  • Piatra Craiului National Park, circles Arges and Brasov, founded in 1990, 148 km ²
  • Retezat, Hunedoara County, founded in 1935, 380 km ²
  • Semenic - Cheile Carasului, Caras -Severin county, established in 1990, 367 km ²

Other protected areas

Three areas have been designated as a biosphere reserve ( Rezervaţii ale biosferei ). They covered 2007, a total area of ​​6644 km ². This is to be

  • The Danube Delta (Delta Dunarii ), Tulcea and Constanta counties, 5800 km ²
  • Pietrosu Rodnei, Maramureş County, 464 km ²
  • Retezat, Hunedoara County, 380 km ²

The 14 natural parks are

  • Maramureş Mountains, Maramureş County, 1489 km ²
  • Iron Gates Natural Park, circles, Caras -Severin and Mehedinţi 1157 km ²
  • Geopark Mehedinţi Plateau, circle Mehedinţi, 1060 km ²
  • Geopark of Dinosaurs - Hatzeger country, Hunedoara County, 1024 km ²
  • Natural Park Apuseni, counties Bihor and Cluj, 758 km ²
  • Putna - Vrancea, Vrancea County, 382 km ²
  • Bucegi, circles Arges, Brasov, Dâmboviţa and Prahova, 327 km ²
  • Vânători Neamt, Neamt county, 308 km ²
  • Comana, Giurgiu County, 250 km ²
  • Balta Mica a Brailei, Braila county, 175 km ²
  • Lunca Mureşului, Arad and Timis counties, 172 km ²
  • Grădiştea Muncelului - Cioclovina, Hunedoara County, 100 km ²
  • Defileul Mureşului Superior, Mureş county, 92 km ²
  • Lunca Joasă a Prutului Inferior, Galaţi county, 82 km ²

The UNESCO drew seven areas or cultural-historical regions of Romania as a "World Heritage " from, including the Danube Delta is a landscape area; it stands on an area of ​​about 312,000 ha under UNESCO protection.

Woodland

About 27 % of the country is covered by forest. Much of it consists of deciduous forests. In the lower regions (up to about 600 meters ) oak, holm oak, cornelian cherries, mountain maples, linden and ash dominate. In particular, in the course of the river Danube and the Danube Delta there are riparian forests with willows and poplars. At higher altitudes (about 1200-1400 m) grow mainly beech and oak trees. Above them are predominantly conifers ( pines, spruces, larches, pines) to be found. The tree line is at about 1900 meters. In the southern parts of the country grow Mediterranean trees such as chestnut trees. Overall, the beech ( 31%) is the most common tree, followed by spruce ( 22%) and the oaks.

Rivers and Lakes

Almost the entire country is part of the river system of the Danube (Romanian Dunărea ). Only in the far east of the country, in Dobrogea, lead some smaller rivers directly into the Black Sea.

The Danube touches on a length of 1075 km Romanian territory. It is the largest river of the country. On Iron Gate has an average water flow of 5,300 m³ / s, before the Danube Delta in the amount of Izmail 6,470 m³ / s It forms a long section of the border with Bulgaria. A particular ecosystem, this represents approximately 5650 km ² large Danube Delta, which is part of about 80 % to Romania, to a lesser extent to the Ukraine.

Important - all left - Romanian tributaries of the Danube, the Tisza ( Tisa ), the Jiu ( Shield ), the Olt (Alt ), the Arges, the Ialomiţa the Siret ( Siret ) and the Prut River ( Prut ). The Prut it covers the entire border between Romania and Moldova. The Mures ( Mures ) is 761 km, the longest river on innerrumänischem territory. About the largest catchment area under the Danube tributaries of the Siret has with 42,890 km ². The most important artificial waterway is the Danube -Black Sea canal between Cernavoda and Constanta with a length of 64 km.

The complex geological and geomorphological conditions led to the development of various forms of natural lakes. The most important are:

  • Glacial lakes ( Bucura Lake, Hunedoara County, 10.5 ha; Balea Lake, Sibiu county, 4.7 ha)
  • Volcanic crater lakes ( Sfânta Ana Lake, Harghita County, 22.0 ha)
  • Lakes in karst depressions ( Zaton Lake District Mehedinţi 20 ha)
  • Natural reservoirs ( Lacul Rosu, Harghita County 13 ha)
  • Klastokarst lakes ( Ianca Lake, Braila county, 322 ha)
  • Lakes on river banks ( Oltina Lake District Constanţa, 2509 ha; Iezerul Mostiştei, district Calarasi, 1860 ha)
  • Lakes at the mouth of rivers ( Tasaul Lake, 2335 acres; Techirghiol Lake, each county Constanta, 1161 ha)
  • Lagoons ( Razim Lake, Tulcea county, 41500 ha; Sinoie Lake District Constanta, 17150 ha)
  • Bog lakes ( Brates Lake District Galaţi, 2111 ha, Bistret Lake, Dolj county, 1867 ha)
  • Lakes in the Danube Delta ( Dranov Lake, 2170 acres, Lacul Rosu, each Tulcea County, in 1445 ha)

The largest artificial reservoir is around 700 km ², followed at the Iron Gate on the Danube from Ostrovu Mare ( Danube, 79 km ², Circle Mehedinţi ), Stanca - Costeşti ( Prut River, 59 km ², county Botosani ) and Izvorul Muntelui - Bicaz ( Bistrita, 31 km ², Neamţ county ).

Mineral resources

Romania is rich in mineral resources. To be supported include oil, gas, lignite and hard coal, iron ore, bauxite, salt, gold, silver and uranium. Oil is obtained mainly in the area of Ploiesti in Prahova Valley. The most important lignite deposits are located in the southwest of the country.

Human Geography

Economic Geography

See also Main article Romania's economy.

The gross domestic product (GDP ) in 2008 was 137 billion euros per head 6,500 € ( Germany € 30,400 ); which is about 25 %, based on purchasing power parities about 46 % of the EU average. The gross value added was distributed as follows among the individual sectors of the economy:

  • Agriculture 7%
  • Industry (raw materials, manufacturing, energy, water) 26%
  • Construction 12 %
  • Trade, transport and communication 26%
  • Business activities and financial services 14%
  • Other services (including public ) 15%

The unemployment rate in 2009 was about 6 % quite low; on the other hand, the employment rate in 2008 was 59.0 %, well below the EU average of 65.9 %. Labour productivity per hour worked is compared to the EU low, but has risen from 2000 to 2008 from 19 to 31% of the EU average. The annual earnings in industry and services in 2006 with 3,713 euros the second lowest in the EU ( EU average 31 302 euros ).

GDP is distributed very differently to the regions of the country. While in Bucharest and in its immediate surroundings, the per capita GDP is based on purchasing power standards above the EU average ( 113% ) are achieved only 29% in the northeast of the country.

Agriculture

The agricultural area is approximately 137,500 km ². Approximately 4.6 % of which are irrigated, 1.0% organic management. The main crops grown are wheat, maize, barley, wine, potatoes, sunflower and sugar beet. In Romania, in 2007 there were 3.931 million agricultural holdings, which corresponds to 29 % of all farms in the EU and thus representing the highest absolute number in the EU.

Industry

The industry of Romania is changing. This is due in particular to the decline of many unprofitable companies particularly hard hit from the period before 1989. Were mining, chemical industry, textile industry and mechanical engineering. Because hesitant been commissioned attack reforms has been recorded only since about 2000, an increase in industrial production. Important branches are the raw material processing industry, the textile industry, the furniture and the automotive industry, building materials, food, and the wood and paper industry. Major industrial sites are - in addition to the capital, Bucharest - in the west of the country, the regions around Timişoara and Arad, Transylvania Cluj- Napoca, Sibiu and Brasov, in Wallachia the area of Pitesti and Ploiesti as well as on the lower Danube Galaţi and Brăila.

Energy

Total production of primary energy in 2007 was 27.6 million tonnes of oil equivalent. These distributed to 33.4 % natural gas, 24.8% from fossil fuels, 17.5 % of crude oil, 17.1 % renewable energy and 7.2 % nuclear energy. Renewable energies in turn came to 70.5 % from biomass and waste, 29.1% from hydropower and 0.4 % from geothermal energy. Wind and solar energy was practically not produced. It had net 12.8 million tonnes of oil equivalent to be imported, so that the total primary energy consumption was 40.6 million of oil equivalent. Thus, about 25 % of Romania's energy needs come from abroad. The final energy consumption in 2007 was 24 million oil equivalent. The gross electricity generation in 2007 was 61.7 gigawatt-hours.

Foreign trade

The Romania's foreign trade is in deficit; 2008 were imports worth 56.2 billion euros exports of 33.6 billion euros.

Traffic

In inland transport 75.3 % of the expenditure passenger kilometers were made by car in 2007, 15.3% by buses and 9.4% by railways, roads and subways. In freight tonne-kilometers in 2008 to 19.5% distributed on railways, 69.8 % to trucks and to 10.7% on the inland waterways. Overall, in 2008 the inland freight transport amounted to 80.83 billion ton-kilometers

Water transport

By far the most important sea port is Constanta; over a certain importance has also Mangalia. Water transport, there are mainly in Romania on the Danube, the Danube-Black Sea Canal and the Bega Canal, which connects the city of Timişoara on Serbian territory with the Danube. The total length of navigable rivers is 1647 km, 132 km of navigable channels. The most important river ports on the Danube are Moldova Nouă, Orşova, Drobeta- Turnu Severin, Calafat, Corabia, Turnu Măgurele, Zimnicea, Giurgiu, Olteniţa, Calarasi, Cernavoda, Hârşova, Măcin, Brăila, Galaţi, Tulcea and Sulina.

Road network

The road network of Romania has a length of 81,713 km roads. Of these, currently (2009) 321 km of motorways.

Rail network

The route network of the Romanian railway company CFR comprises 10,784 km (as of 2009 ). Of these, 4002 km electrified and 2909 km on multiple fronts. 2007 were registered 7.271 billion passenger-kilometers ( pkm ) in national railway transport; corresponding to 337 pkm per capita, less than half the EU average.

Traffic

The main airports for passenger are in Bucharest ( Henri Coanda Otopeni and Baneasa ), Constanta ( Mihail Kogălniceanu ), Timişoara ( Traian Vuia ), Cluj - Napoca, Iasi, Arad, Oradea, Baia Mare, Targu Mures, Suceava, Bacau, Deva, Sibiu, Craiova and Tulcea. In national and cross-border air traffic in 2008 8.031 million passengers were registered; corresponding to 0.4, add per inhabitant per year. The domestic air cargo traffic is very low ( 291 tonnes in 2008 ).

Social Geography

Population Geography

In Romania, in 2008 lived around 21.5 million people. At the last census in 2002, known from the then 21.68 million inhabitants 89.5 % of Romanian nationality. 6.6% described themselves as Hungarians, 2.5% as Roma, 0.3% each as Ukrainians and German. Here, the actual proportion of Roma should be significantly higher - about 10% - are.

As in other European countries, the number of births has declined significantly in recent decades. The total fertility rate is 1.30 children per woman and is therefore even lower than in Germany. The population pyramid differs only slightly from the EU average; Teenagers and young adults are a bit stronger, seniors represent something weaker. In all EU countries, Romania has recorded between 2000 and 2008 the strongest population decline (-4.1 %). The birth rate in 2008 was 10.3 / 1,000 inhabitants and was slightly lower than in the EU as a whole ( 10.9 ). The life expectancy at birth was indicated for men with 69.7, for women 76.9 years in 2007.

In Romania, very few foreigners; their share in 2007 was only a little more than 0.1 %.

Reliable information on migration movements are only to a small extent. Officially emigrated between 2000 and 2003 from approximately 43,500 citizens. Many Romanians working abroad are not covered by the statistics because they have not signed off their Romanian residence. 2007 estimated the National Trade Union Block Romania that 3.4 million Romanians working abroad, of which only 1.2 million legal.

Settlement geography

In Romania, the regional population density on clear, but no extreme differences. The average population density is 94/km ². Apart from the capital, Bucharest, Ilfov County in the area of the capital, has the densest population of 188 inhabitants / km ², followed by Prahova ( 183/km ²). Most sparsely inhabited are the Tulcea county on the Danube Delta ( 31/km ²) and the circle Caras -Severin in the mountains of Banat ( 38/km ²).

Sulina branch Moldoveanu Peak Siret River Mediterranean Basin Domogled-Valea Cernei National Park Rodna National Park Retezat National Park Apuseni Natural Park Bucegi Mountains Mureş Floodplain Natural Park Tilia Fraxinus Olt River Danube–Black Sea Canal Prahova River Wood economy Pulp and paper industry Units of transportation measurement Drobeta Turnu Severin Baia Mare Airport Suceava Airport Geography of Bulgaria Geography of Ireland Geography of Montenegro Geography of Serbia Geography of Slovakia Geography of Ukraine Geography of Kosovo Geography of Africa
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