|RNature and climate:|N The Carpathian Mountains and the Transylvanian Alps, with a highest peak, Moldoveanu reaching 2543 m.a.s.l., form a curve from Yugoslavia in southwest to Ukraine in north. The mountains are forested. South, east and west of these mountains are fertile plains. Where Danube River falls out in the Black Sea is a odd flood-land.
Danube River forms most of the border to Bulgaria and Yugoslavia in the south and Prut River forms most of the border to Ukraine in east and north.
Average temperature in January +1°C by the coast and between -2 and -4°C in the interior. In July between 17 and 23°C, coolest in the mountains.
Percipitation 400 mm by the coast and up to 1200 mm in the mountains.
|REconomy:|N 28% of the labour force is occupied in agriculture and 34% in industry and commerce.
Most important crops are grains, sunflower, vegetables, winegrapes, cotton and sugarbeats.
Fishing is extensive in the southern parts of Danube River.
Forestry is very extensive as is stockraizing.
Romania have vast mineral resources such as oil, natural gas, coal, iron, copper, manganese, lead, gold, bauxite and salt.
There are also great resources of hydroelectric power.
After World War II heavy industry based on coal, iron, copper, bauxite and oil has been developed and now dominates economy.
A great variety of products are manufactured such as tools for oilextraction, tractors and other machinery for agriculture, railroad vehicles, equipment for oil-, construction-, forestry- and chemical industries.
Foodprocessing, fishcanning and wining is extensive.
Many tourists, both from western and eastern Europe visit Romania.
|RHistory:|N The earliest known people in Romania were the Proto-Thracians. They were succeeded by the Dacians who created a strong military power.
In 106 AD it was conquered by the Romans and became a Roman province with the name Dacia. Then followed a time when people and language were Romanized.
In 271 AD the Romans withdrew from the province and centuries of freedom interchanged with conquests followed.
Goths and Huns invaded and in the 8th century Bulgarians. Then the Slavs and in the 13th century the Mongols. When the Mongols withdrew by the end of the 13th century the two independent principalities Moldavia and Walachia were formed.
During the 15th century these principalities became vassal states of the Ottoman Empire. During the 18th and 19th centuries the area was suffering from the disputes between Russia and the Ottoman Empire.
In 1856 Moldavia became independent under Ottoman sovereignty. In 1859 prince Alexander Cuza was elected ruler of both Moldavia and Walachia and in 1861 the name Romania was adopted.
Complete independence was recognized by the congress of Berlin in 1878 and in 1881 Romania was declared a kingdom.
At the start of World War I Romania declared neutrality, but in 1916 Romania declared war on Austria and conquered Transsylvania. This area was lost to Germany as the war continued, but at the peace negotiations Transsylvania, Bukovina and Dobrudsja were given to Romania.
The period between WWI and WWII was a period of political turbulence. The king went in exile twice and in 1940 Romania was forced to give Bessarabia to the Soviet Union and half of Transsylvania to Hungary.
In 1940 a pro-Hitler general seized power and in 1941 Romania declared war on the Soviet Union.
When Soviet troops invaded in spring 1944 the king seized power again, but after rigged elections in 1947 the communist party seized control and a people's republic was declared and the king was forced to abdicate. Romania now became a virtual Soviet colony and the Soviet forces were not withdrawn until 1958.
In 1965 Nicolae Ceauçescu seized powers. He persued a policy of independence from the Soviet Union. This policy was extremely national and ethnic minorities were suppressed in many ways.
Ceauçescu also tried to create a family dynasty in Romania.
In late 1989 there were big demonstrations calling for Ceauçescu's ouster. These demonstrations were met by brutal force by the secret police. Finally citizens and regular army forces fought together against the secret police. Ceauçescu was captured on December 23 along with his wife and on December 25 they were executed.
The new regime was rapidly recognized internationally, but the new men at power were mainly old communists and riots within Romania continued through 1990 and 1991.
