Romania

Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Bulgaria to the south, Moldova to the east, and the Black Sea to the southeast. It has a mainly continental climate, and an area of 238,397 km2 (92,046 sq mi) with a population of 19 million people. Romania is the twelfth-largest country in Europe and the sixth-most populous member state of the European Union. Europe's second-longest river, the Danube, empties into the Danube Delta in the southeast of the country. The Carpathian Mountains cross Romania from the north to the southwest and include Moldoveanu Peak, at an altitude of 2,544 m (8,346 ft). Bucharest is the country's largest urban area and economic hub. Other major urban centres include Cluj-Napoca, Timișoara, Iași, Constanța and Brașov. Settlement in the territory of modern Romania began in the Lower Paleolithic, later becoming the kingdom of Dacia before Roman conquest and Romanisation. The modern Romanian state emerged in 1859 through the union of Moldavia and Wallachia and gained independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1877. During World War I, Romania joined the Allies, and after the war, territories including Transylvania and Bukovina were integrated into Romania. In World War II, Romania initially aligned with the Axis but switched to the Allies in 1944. Following the war and occupation by the Red Army, Romania became a socialist republic and a member of the Warsaw Pact. After the 1989 Revolution, Romania began a transition towards democracy and a market economy. Romania is a developing country with a high-income economy, recognized as a middle power in international affairs. It is a unitary republic with a multi-party system and a semi-presidential representative democracy. It hosts several UNESCO World Heritage Sites and is a growing tourist attraction, receiving 13 million foreign visitors in 2023. Its economy ranks among the fastest growing in the European Union, primarily driven by the service sector. Romania is a member of several international organizations, including the European Union, NATO, and the BSEC.