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ROMANIA THE 45*PARALLEL OF NORTHERN LATITUDE, A FACT THAT SITUATES ROMANIA HALF WAY FROM BOTH THE NORTH POLE AND THE EQUATOR, CROSSES ROMANIA. THE EASTERN LIMIT OF THE 45*PARALLEL GOES THROUGH SULINA, THE LOCALITY SITUATED AT THE LOWEST ALTITUDE IN ROMANIA. MOREOVER, BETWEEN THE EXTREME EAST, SULINA AND THE EXTREME WEST, BEBA VECHE THERE ARE 740 KM AND 38 MINUTES TIME DIFFERENCE AT SUNRISE. NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES LIST THE FOLLOWING: HUNGARY, UKRAINE, THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDAVIA, BULGARIA AND SERBIA (YUGOSLAVIA). THE AREA OF THE COUNTRY MEASURES 238,190 SQ KM, THUS RANKING AMONG THE LARGEST STATES OF EUROPE. THE POPULATION OF ROMANIA IS OF 21.4 MILLION INHABITANTS, THE MAJORITY ROMANIANS - 86.6% AND OTHER NATIONALITIES SUCH AS: HUNGARIANS 7.1%, GYPSIES 1.8%, GERMANS 0.5%, CROATIANS, UKRAINIANS, POLISH, TURKISH, ETC.
RELIEF ROMANIA HAS A MOST VARIED RELIEF THAT INCLUDES THE CARPATHIANS AS WELL AS DANUBE DELTA AND THE BLACK SEA. TWO THIRDS OF THE CARPATHIANS ARCH IS TO BE FOUND ON THE TERRITORY OF OUR COUNTRY. MOREOVER, 38% OF THE DANUBE RIVER ALSO BELONGS TO ROMANIA, REPRESENTING ITS MOST IMPORTANT NAVIGABLE PART THAT ENDS WITH THE DANUBE DELTA THROUGH WHICH THE RIVER FLOWS INTO THE BLACK SEA. AS FAR AS THE BLACK SEA IS CONCERNED, ROMANIA INCLUDES 244 KM OF ITS SHORE THAT OPENS WATER ROUTES TOWARDS THE WORLD.
THE RELIEF OF ROMANIA DESCENDS GRADUALLY FROM ITS CENTER TO THE EASTERN, SOUTHERN AND WESTERN PARTS OFFERING NATURAL SETTINGS AND VARIOUS RESOURCES. THUS, THE RELIEF GOES FROM 2544 M IN FAGARASH MOUNTAINS TO 3 M ALTITUDE IN THE DANUBE DELTA THAT REPRESENTS THE MOST RECENT PIECE OF LAND IN OUR COUNTRY.
CLIMATE ROMANIA HAS A MODERATE TEMPERATE CONTINENTAL CLIMATE, WHICH REPRESENTS A TRANSITION AS COMPARED TO THE ONE IN WESTERN EUROPE WITH LOTS OF RAIN, THE ONE IN EASTERN EUROPE WITH ICY NORTH WINDS, AND FROSTY WEATHER IN WINTER, OR TO THE ONE IN SOUTHERN EUROPE WITH MEDITERRANEAN INFLUENCES MILD WEATHER AND LOTS OF RAIN IN WINTER. THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE IN THE HOTTEST SUMMER MONTH JULY, RAISES TO AROUND 24*C IN PLAIN AREAS AND TO 17*C IN MOUNTAINS AND EVEN 6*C AT AN ALTITUDE OF 2000 M. THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE IN THE COLDEST WINTER MONTH, JANUARY, VARIES BETWEEN 2* C IN PLAIN AREAS AND -11*C IN MOUNTAINS AND ALPINE ZONES.
THE HIGHEST TEMPERATURE REGISTERED ON THE TERRITORY WAS OF 44*C (ON 1951) AND THE LOWEST ONE WAS -38*C (ON 1942). AS A WHOLE, THE ROMANIAN WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE TO TOURISM DURING THE ENTIRE PERIOD OF THE YEAR.
BLACK SEA RESORTS
Holidays in a mediteranean style
Marvellous weather from spring to autumn and miles of golden sand make Romania's Black Sea resorts the ideal destination for beach holidays. One can find everything there: modern hotels and facilities, a busy night-life, a wide range of sports facilities and numerous inland attractions from castles to vineyards. Now, while the country is heading towards a promising future, the Black Sea is coming back onto the European touristic agenda.
From Wildlife to Watersports
Altogether, the Romanian Black Sea coast stretches out for 245 km (153 miles) from the fascinating unspoilt natural reserves of the Danube Delta to the leisure activities of numerous holiday centres. Whereas the Delta is strictly protected from intrusion, the southern 72 km (45 miles) area has been developed into a string of beach resorts and health spas catering for all ages and interests, from little children to exigent grandparents. All waited on by the employees of the local touristic and transport services in the city of Constanta. Furthermore, the Black Sea tides are practically not-existent, so swiming is safer than in most parts of the world.
MOUNTAINS FOR ALL SEASONS
Alpine Fun in Winter and Summer Access to Romania's mountains is guaranteed both by custom and by law. So you can walk or climb just about anywhere you like, both in winter and summer. The Carpathians provide a relaxing experience you will never forget. Top Value for Skiing In winter skiing is the obvious attraction. The best-known of a group of resorts is Poiana Brasov, 13 km (8 miles) from the city of Brasov, with chalet-like hotels and self-catering villas.
Well-preserved tracks of up to 4,500 m length range from difficult to easy. Most of the instructors are English, German or French speakers. Nightlife is intense, with bars, discos, folklore shows and cabarets.
In the same area of the southern Carpathians there are Sinaia, established as a winter resort in the 1870s, with ski slopes and a bobsleigh run; Predeal with 15 pistes and Busteni, also a centre of alpinism in summer.
Smaller resorts include Paltinis near Sibiu, Secu, Valiug, Trei Ape and Crivaia around the Semenic Mountains in the Banat, Durau near the legendary Mt Ceahlau in the Eastern Carpathians, and Borsa in Maramures.
Summer Pleasures
During the warm summer the cable-railways in the winter resorts are put to work for hikers, while other activities, like riding, tennis, fishing and canoeing, are at home.
In summer, the mountains are yours to explore, campsites are open, and hiking routes are well-marked.
NORTHERN MOLDAVIA
Bukovina is a Romanian region situated in the northern part of Moldavia. The name of Bukovina dates back to its annexation by the Hapsburgs in 1774 (which lasted until after WW I), and it means a land covered by beech forests. This part of Romania is especially beautiful, with a clean unspoiled nature, and a unique landscape: thick forests and imposing crests ("obcine"), branching off from the Carpathians, which allow a wonderful panorama of valleys, with houses scattered here and there, with large gardens and farm yards inviting one to lie down by the haystacks and look up at the blue sky with its marvelous hues.
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MARVELES OF NATURE
DANUBE DELTA ofeer an original landscapes, the paradise of rush bushes, of numerous fishes, the Danube Delta is a region of great touristic beauty and has a real scientific value. It has 5,050 square km (out of which 4,340 square km on the Romanian territory, the rest on Ukrainian territory), its average altitude is 31 cm, great part of the region being under water. Varied images appear in front of the visitor: sand banks, large ponds, numerous rush bushes, sand dunes, forests, canals shadowed by old willows. All these and a permanent metamorphosis, a permanent modification of the Delta's forms and dimensions amaze the Romanian and foreign tourists every year. The Danube Delta is considered the region "with the largest and thickest rush surface of the globe" (the numerous rush bushes preserve the natural balance); with the richest ornithological fauna of the world (more than 300 species); the youngest land in Europe (each year the land advances 40 m into the water); the largest sand dunes in Romania; the lowest level of mist in Romania; the lowest altitude of a town (Sulina-3.5 m); the shortest winter in the country (20 days with 00C). Due to its special morphological and hydrographical characteristics and to the originality of its flora and fauna, there have been established several complex natural preserves within this region: Letea Forest, Caraorman Forest,Rosca-Buhaiova-Hrecisca-Letea Saint George-Perisor-Zatoane, Periteasa-Leahova-Gura Portitei. Its fauna is very diverse, there is no similar place in Europe, it has species that are unique in the world. There can be remembered the following birds among the 300 species: pelicans, geese and ducks, storks, cormorants, egrets, flamingo, swans, most of them are declared monuments of nature protected by law. It should be mentioned that Delta's sky is crossed by six ways of the migratory birds, it is situated at halfway between Equator and North Pole (parallel 45), so it is often a stop for the migratory birds. Many of the Delta's fishes have economic value: sturgeon, stor sturgeon, sterlet-important for the caviar. There can be remembered the following mammals: hermine, wild cat, muskrat, raccoon dog, and tortoise. The unrivalled flora comprises, among other species: white and yellow water lilies, bulrush, bracken, different kinds of reeds, water iris. Besides this immensely rich floral landscape, there are 8,000 ha of forests with giant trees on whose trunks grow climbing plants like lianas. Charmed by everything, the tourists do not know what to admire fist of all: the rush waving when the wind is blowing, the variety of birds and vegetation or the fishermen's villages spread along the channels. Non of the nature's lovers will forget the days spent fishing or in the fishermen's cabins or in a tent, the soup made by fishermen that cannot be cooked like this anywhere else. PRESERVES AND MONUMENTS OF NATURE
Rosca-Buhaiova-Hrecisca -fauna preserve situated in Matita Depression between Letea and Chilia sand banks, surface-15,400 ha. Every spring the biggest pelican colony in Europe come here and make their nests. The luxuriant vegetation attracts colonies of egrets, spoon bills and yellow herons;
Perisoe-Zatoane -fauna preserve situated to the east of Daranov Depression (to the south of Sfantul Gheorghe
town). On its surface of 14,200 ha numerous swans, pelicans and cormorants make their nests. The nucleus of the preserve is represented by the lakes: Zatonul Mare and Zatonul Mic;
Periteasca-Leahova -fauna preserve situated in Razim-Sinoe lagoon (3,900 ha), the most famous region of cost birds. It includes some sand banks and the lakes: Leahova Mare and Leahova Mica, Periteasca, Pahane and Cosna ; Letea Forest -forest preserve situated on Letea sandbank (at 7 km south of Periprava). Great number of plants climbing around the tree trunks resembling tropical forests characterizes it. The tree that can be found here are: oak, elm, poplar, willow, etc;
Caraorman Forest-forest preserve, to the west of Caraorman sand bank, it is similar to Letea Forest, there are many tropical elements unique in the world;
Fossil Center-Agighiol, to the north of Razim lake;
"Wild strawbery Valley" Forest-Luncavita, situated in Macinului Mountains near Isaccea, it is a lonely spot where wild strawberry grow.
HISTORY AND LEGEND HAVE ONE NAME--TRANSYLVANIA
TRANSYLVANIA A Legendary Land Transylvania is by far the most romantic and inspiring of Romania's provinces. Its very name brings to mind visions of mountain peaks rising up to the sky above wooded valleys and sparkling streams, visions of high-roofed wooden churches, legendary castles and a troubled history. But there is much more to it: ski resorts and health spas, hiking trails and the Retezat National Park, fascinating medieval towns, art museums and good hotels. In Transylvania new vistas and leisure activities appear wherever you go
Brasov and Romania's Mountain Resorts
This medieval city, picturesquely situated nearby the Postavaru Mountain, is both fascinating in itself and is close to Transylvania's major mountain resort area, with first class hotels.
Look for its old Saxon architecture around the 14th century Black Church, the ruins of the citadel, and the 18th century Old Town Hall.
Medieval Sighisoara
Originally a Roman town, Sighisoara is one of the greatest medieval cities left in the world.
The Bran Castle and the Royal Resort of Sinaia
A trip to take from Brasov is to the castle of Bran, supposed to have been the home of Prince Vlad Tepes, who inspired Dracula's legend. The city has a walled citadel on the hilltop, secret gateways and passages, a 14th century Clock Tower and the house where Prince Vlad Tepes lived.
Also, don't miss the castle of Peles, fancifully built in 1883 at the foot of a mountain side for King Carol I, in Sinaia. This resort was first made popular by the King and it is worth a stay either in summer for its glorious mountain scenery, hiking and riding, or in winter for skiing, not to mention health cures.
Sibiu
Sibiu, also Saxon in origin, is a very pretty town, with cobbled streets and pastel colored houses. The open air Museum of Folk Technology in woodland by a lake is a "must" to visit, just as the Brukenthal Art Museum.
The town is well placed for excursions to mountain villages, such as Sibiel, where there is a fascinating museum of icons.
Further away near Deva stands the Corvin Castle, rebuilt in the 15th century in Gothic style by Prince Iancu Corvin, who gave it a sumptuous Knights Hall and towers and buttresses that remind one of the Chateaux de la Loire.
Banat
This south-western corner of the country has a drier, more Mediterranean climate than most of Romania and is also slightly different from the cultural point of view.Habsburg rule until 1918 gave it an Art Nouveau architecture, while almost 1,900 years earlier the Romans had established a spa at Baile Herculane that is still one of Romania's most fashionable ones.
Nearby Mount Domogled is a 60,000 ha protected area, while the Semenic Mountains have a few small ski resorts. Finally, the capital of Banat, Timisoara, is the city where the 1989 Revolution started.
ANOTHER BEAUTIFULL REGION OF ROMANIA
MARAMURES The fierce individuality of the Maramures mountain valleys in the north-west of Transylvania is legendary. Their inhabitants are of Dacian descent and their independence as a State reached its peak under Decebalus in the first century AD, before the Roman conquest. Wave after wave of invasions followed. A unique lifestyle
Nonetheless the villagers here continued to vividly assert the independence of their customs and their folklore. Today you can visit and admire their unique lifestyle. Few other parts of Europe have developed so distinctive a rural culture.
Agriculture has always been the lifeblood of existence in the mountains. Local traditions reflect this, as there are festivals in April, May, August and December. The one in December is held at Sighetu Marmatiei, with carnival parades and revellers wearing animal masks.
Sighetu Marmatiei
Sighetu Marmatiei is a typical Maramures town, famous for its markets, peasant costumes and lively atmosphere. The Museum of Maramures has many carnival masks among its exhibits. Here from you may easily drive to the mountain resort of Borsa and such villages as Bogdan-Voda and Rozavlea, renowned for their wooden architecture.
. The Maramures area is representative for the houses' decoration that contains numerous archaic ornamental elements. Due to the geographical environement, the dobrudjan folk architecture presents a particular and unitary style. The building material is varied here: stone, clay, rush, tiles and some wood in the North. The roofs were from reed and rush, being built later from tile and table. The dobrudjan houses have porches
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