Romania

Romania is a Southeastern European country situated at the crossroads of Central, Eastern, and Balkan Europe. Its physical geography is distinguished by remarkable diversity, with the Carpathian Mountains forming a broad arc through the center of the country. These mountains, created during the Alpine orogeny, divide Romania into distinct geographical regions and are surrounded by extensive plateaus, hills, and fertile plains. The Transylvanian Plateau occupies the interior of the Carpathian arc, while the Wallachian and Moldavian plains extend to the south and east. The Danube River, Europe’s second-longest river, forms much of Romania’s southern border before flowing into the Danube Delta, one of the largest and best-preserved wetlands in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The delta supports exceptional biodiversity, including numerous fish, bird, and plant species. Romania also has a short coastline along the Black Sea, which moderates the climate of the eastern region and supports tourism, fisheries, and maritime trade. The climate is predominantly temperate continental, characterized by warm summers, cold winters, and moderate precipitation, although mountain regions experience cooler temperatures and higher rainfall.

Romania’s history reflects its strategic location between major empires and cultural spheres. The territory was originally inhabited by the Dacians, an ancient people whose kingdom was conquered by the Roman Empire under Emperor Trajan in AD 106. Roman rule introduced Latin language and culture, which remain evident in the Romanian language, a Romance language unique in Eastern Europe. Following the withdrawal of Roman administration, the region experienced successive migrations and invasions by Goths, Huns, Slavs, and other groups. During the Middle Ages, the principalities of Wallachia, Moldavia, and Transylvania emerged as important political entities, often resisting the expansion of the Ottoman Empire while also experiencing periods of Ottoman influence. In the nineteenth century, Wallachia and Moldavia united in 1859, forming the foundation of the modern Romanian state, which gained full independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1877. After the First World War, Romania expanded significantly through the union of Transylvania, Bessarabia, and Bukovina, creating what became known as Greater Romania. During the Second World War, the country initially allied with the Axis Powers before changing sides in 1944. Following the war, Romania became a communist state under Soviet influence until the 1989 Romanian Revolution overthrew the regime of Nicolae Ceaușescu. Since then, Romania has developed as a democratic republic, joining NATO in 2004 and the European Union in 2007.

Agriculture has long been one of Romania’s most important economic sectors due to its extensive fertile plains and favorable climatic conditions. The country possesses some of the most productive agricultural land in Eastern Europe, particularly within the Wallachian Plain and the western lowlands. Major crops include wheat, maize, barley, sunflower, rapeseed, and sugar beet, while vineyards and orchards produce grapes, apples, plums, and other fruits. Romania is among Europe's leading producers of maize and sunflower seeds. Livestock farming, including cattle, sheep, pigs, and poultry, is widespread, with sheep grazing playing a particularly important role in mountainous regions. Although agriculture remains significant, the sector is characterized by a combination of large commercial farms and numerous small family holdings, creating challenges for productivity and modernization.

Forestry is another important component of Romania’s economy, with forests covering nearly one-third of the country's territory. The Carpathian Mountains contain extensive mixed and coniferous forests dominated by beech, spruce, fir, and oak. These forests provide valuable timber resources for the construction, furniture, and paper industries while also supporting high levels of biodiversity, including large populations of brown bears, wolves, and lynx. Sustainable forest management has become increasingly important in response to concerns about illegal logging and habitat conservation.

Romania’s fisheries are relatively modest compared with its agricultural sector but remain economically important in certain regions. Freshwater fishing is concentrated in the Danube River and the Danube Delta, where species such as carp, pike, catfish, and sturgeon have traditionally been harvested. The Black Sea also supports commercial fisheries targeting species such as anchovy, sprat, and turbot, although catches have declined because of overfishing and environmental changes. In recent decades, aquaculture has expanded to supplement wild fish production. Overall, Romania’s economy continues to benefit from its diverse natural resources, combining productive agricultural land, extensive forests, and valuable freshwater and marine ecosystems with increasing industrial and service-sector development.

2008 Gerold and Klaudia came via Hungary during the summer holidays to Romania, with our old bus. Since 10 months Romania is a member of the EU (quite heterogeneous the EU). Via Arad, then to Sibiu, today's Subiu (a beautiful city). Further through the South Carpathians, the East Carpathians (beautiful landscape) and the cities Brasov, Galati and some more. We visited the presumed castle of Dracula (castle Bram near Brasov) and his native town Sighisoara. We have been there for a total of 7 days. Beautiful wooden houses, slow streets, still much to repair, nice and diligent people, still a lot of horse work and a rich biodiversity. The agriculture lies between medieval and medieval, very heterogeneous and culturally rooted, but very beautiful. I especially liked the open-air museum ASTA. We made a detour to the Republic of Moldova. Here at the castle Bram in central Romania (actually Walachia and not Transylvania) Dracula is said to have started as a vampire on his bloodsucker tours in the 15th century.

In 2010 we spent 7 days in Bucharest at the 15th CIEC World Conference (Moderation Organic fertilizer session). Very pleasant, comfortable and simple. There we visited the Chauchescu Palace, the 2nd largest building in the world (35 ha base). Very impressive and megalomaniac: it goes down in history. Also the castle of the 1st king Charles the 1st in Sinaia was impressive.