Q&A: Geography

This is the third post in a "Q&A" series I'm writing in response to questions I received while in the US about Romania. I'm posting a new topic each Monday throughout the spring & summer months. Today's topic: Romanian geography. 

Q: What is the capital of Romania? 

One of the main boulevards
in Bucharest

A: Bucharest (or București in Romanian) is the capital city of Romania, with a population of 1.7 million. Bucharest is sometimes confused with Budapest, the capital of Hungary. Although the cities have similar-sounding names in English, their etymologies are entirely different. According to legend, Bucharest was founded in the 14th century by a shepherd named Bucur. Budapest, however, was formed in 1873 when the  neighboring cities of Buda and Pest united to form a single city. 

Q: What’s the weather like in Romania? 

A: Romania has 4 seasons like all the places in the US where I have ever lived. The winters can be quite cold and snowy, and the summers can be very hot. The part of Romania where I live is probably most comparable with Boston as far as overall weather goes. My favorite times of year are May and September.

Q: Does Romania suffer from natural disasters like tornadoes and hurricanes?
A: It is extremely rare for Romania to be affected by tornadoes or hurricanes. It is, however, more likely for flooding to occur after long periods of rain or following a quick spring thaw. Earthquakes have also been known to affect the part of Romania south of the Carpathian Mountains.

Q: How large is Romania?
A: 238,500 square kilometers (92,085 square miles). To compare it to US states, it is slightly smaller than the state of Oregon, and roughly twice the size of Pennsylvania. 

Q: What is the landscape like? 

A: Romania has a wide variety of landscapes. I live in Transylvania, in an area with rolling hills. I often comment that Transylvania reminds me of where I grew up in Pennsylvania. There are also places in Romania with large mountains (the Carpathian mountain range separates Transylvania from the rest of Romania), as well as flat plains. The 5-hour train ride from Bucharest to Sighisoara takes me through flat plains, the mountains, and finally the rolling hills of Transylvania. Here are a few pictures of Romania's varied landscape:

Rolling hills of Transylvania:

Black Sea:

Carpathian Mountains:

Check out other facts about Romania by clicking here.