Capital Bucureşti Population 1.924.959 Co-ordinates 44 26 7 N, 26 6 10 E Language Romanian Political system Republic Area 238.391 km² Population -2.303.522 inhabitants
Romania is a country located atd in South-Eastern Central Europe, North of the Balkan Peninsula, on the Lower Danube, within and outside of the Carpathian arch, bordering the Black Sea.
Geography Romania's land is distributed roughly equally between mountainous, hilly and lowland territories. The Carpathian Mountains dominate the center of Romania, with fourteen of its mountain ranges reaching above the altitude of 2,000 meters. Romania's geographical diversity has ld led to an accompanying diversity of flora and fauna.
Environment A high percentage of natural ecosystems (47% of the land area of the country) is covered with natural and semi-natural ecosystems. Since almost half of all forests in Romania (13% of the country) have been managed for watershed hd conservation rather than production, Romania has one of the largest areas of undisturbed forest in Europe.
Education Since the Romanian Revolution of 1989, the Romanian education system has been in a continuous process of reform that has been both praised and criticized. According to the Law on Education adopted in 1995, the Educational System is regulated by the Ministry of Education and Research.
Education
Culture Romania has its unique culture, which is the product of its geography and of its distinct historical evolution. Like Romanians themselves, it is fundamentally defined as the meeting point of three regions: Central Europe, Eastern Europe, and the Balkans, but cannot be truly included in any of them. The Romanian identity yformed on a substratum of mixed Roman and quite possibly Dacian elements, with many other influences. Modern Romanian culture emerged and developed over roughly the last 250 years under a strong influence from Western culture, particularly French and German culture.
Arts The Romanian literature began to truly evolve with the revolutions of 1848 and the union of the two Danubian Principalities in 1856. The Origin of the Romanians began to be discussed in Transylvania as well and Romanian scholars began studying in France, Italy and Germany. The German philosophy and French culture were integrated into modern Romanian literature and a new elite of artists led to the emmergence of some classic writers in the Romanian literature such as Mihai i Eminescu, George Coşbuc, Ion Slavici. i Although they remain little known outside Romania, they are very appreciated within Romania for giving birth to a true Romanian literature by creating modern lyrics with inspiration from the old folklore tales. Eminescu is considered the most important t and influential l Romanian poet, and is still very much loved for his creations.
Mihai Eminescu
Customs
Arts
Arts After the world wars, communism brought heavy censorship and used the cultural world as a means to better control the population. The freedom of expression was constantly restricted in various ways, but the works of Nichita Stănescu, Marin Sorescu or Marin Preda managed to escape censorship, broke with "socialist realism" and were the leaders of a small "Renaissance" in Romanian literature. Romanian cinema has recently achieved worldwide acclaim with the appearance of such films as The Death of Mr. Lazarescu, directed by Cristi Puiu, (Cannes 2005 Prix un certain regard winner), and 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, directed by Cristian Mungiu (Cannes 2007 Palme d'or winner). Administrative divisions Romania is divided into forty-one counties as well as the municipality of Bucharest (Bucureşti) - which is its own administrative unit. Each county is administered by a county council.
Arts
Sports Football is by far the most popular sport in Romania. The governing gbody is the Romanian Football Federation, which belongs to UEFA. At international level, the Romanian National Football Team has taken part 7 times in the Football World Cup, and it had the most successful period throughout the 1990s, when during the 1994 World Cup in the United States, Romania reached the quarter-finals and was ranked by FIFA on the 6th place. The core player of this "Golden Generation"and perhaps the best known Romanian player on the international plane is Gheorghe Hagi.Famous currently active players are Adrian Mutu and Cristian Chivu. The most famous football club is Steaua Bucureşti, who, in 1986, became the first Eastern European club ever to win the prestigious European Champions Cup title, and who played the final again in 1989. Another successful Romanian team Dinamo Bucureşti played a semifinal in the European Champions Cup in 1984 and a Cup Winners Cup semifinal lin the 1990
Team Dinamo Bucureşti
Ilie Năstase Tennis is the second most popular sport in terms of registered sportsmen. Romania reached the Davis Cup finals three times (1969, 1971, 1972). The tennis player Ilie Năstase won several Grand Slam titles and dozens of other tours, and was the first player to be ranked as number 1 by ATP from 1973 to 1974. Popular team sports are rugby union (national rugby team has so far competed at every Rugby World Cup), basketball and handball.
Romanian gymnastics has had a large number of successes - for which hthe country became known worldwide. In the 1976 Summer Olympics, the gymnast Nadia Comăneci became the first gymnast ever to score a perfect "ten". She also won three gold medals, one silver and one bronze, all at the age of fifteen. Her success continued in the 1980 Summer Olympics, where she was awarded two gold medals and two silver medals. Ndi Nadia Comăneciă
Romania participated for the first time in the Olympic Games in 1900 and has taken part in 18 of the 24 summer games. Romania has been one of the most successful countries Summer Olympic Games (15th overall) with a total of 283 medals won throughout the years, 82 of which are gold medals.