The mountains, the Romanian Carpathians, feature three main groups: the Eastern Carpathians (from the northern border to Prahova Valley) with the highest peak, Pietrosul (2303 m), in Rodna Mount; the Southern Carpathians (from Prahova Valley to the Timis-Cerna-Bistra-Strei corridor) reaching its highest altitude in the Fagaras Mountains (Moldoveanu Peak - 2543 m); and the Western Carpathians (from the Danube Valley to the South to the Somes Valley to the North) with the highest altitude in the Cucurbata Peak (1848 m).

Inside the Carpathian arc lies the Plateau of Transylvania (its altitude varies between 400 to 700 m): to the North-West-the Somes Plateau, to the East-the Plateau of Moldavia, to the South-the Plateau of Dobrudja.

The largest plain lies in the South, running along the Danube, and it is the main agricultural zone of this country.

The Danube Delta, located north of the Plateau of Dobrudja, is the most recent form of relief in Romania. It has three main arms: Chilia, Sulina and Sfantul Gheorghe through which the Danube flows into the Black Sea. The Danube Delta stretches on the Romanian territory over an area of 4340 sq km, of which 78% is subject to flooding.

The hydrographic network of Romania has as its main component the Danube river which flows on the Romanian territory along 1075 km (out of the total length of 2850 km). Other major flowing waters: Mures (768 km), Olt (736 km), Prut (716 km), Siret (598 km), Ialomita (410 km), Somes (388 km), Arges (344 km), Jiu (331 km), Buzau (324 km), Bistrita (290 km).

There are some 2,300 lakes scattered all over the country (plus 1150 ponds) taking 2620 sq km. The largest lakes: Razelm (415 sq km), Sinoe (171 sq km), Brates (21 sq km), Tasaul (20 sq km), Techirghiol (12 sq km), Snagov (5.8 sq km).

The climate is temperate continental, with slight ocean influences in the West, Mediterranean in the South-West, and excessively-continental in the North-East. The annual average temperature varies between 8°C in the North and 11°C in the South. Annual average waterfalls do not exceed 700 mm.

The population of Romania was, of 22,430,457 inhabitants on January 1, 2001 (source: National Statistics and Economic Studies Institute), with a density of 95.7 inhabitants per square km.

Outside this country's borders yet live some 9 million Romanians. In Europe, in the Republic of Moldova over 4 million – as well as in Ukraine, Hungary, Serbia, Greece, and Albania. In the United States of America and Canada live about 2 million Romanians. Still in Europe, there are also Romanian communities in France, Germany and other countries.

Per groups of age the distribution of the population is the following: 0-14 years - 22.7%; 15-18 years - 7.4%; 20-34 years - 22.3%; 35-54 years - 25.3%; 55-69 years - 11.4%; 70-79 years - 6.4%; over 80 years - 4.5%.

Men account for 49.1% of the country's population and women for 50.9%.

The rural population - 54.3%; urban population - 45.7%.

Ethnic structure: 89.47% of the population are Romanians, 7.12% Hungarians, 1.76% Roma; 1.65% other nationalities.

The census taken on January 7, 1992 shows that 86.8% of the population is of Orthodox religion, 5.0 - Roman Catholic, 1.0% - Greek-Catholic, 3.5% - Reformed, Evangelical of Augustan Confession - 0.2%, Evangelical Synodo-Presbterian - 0.1%, Unitarian - 0.3%, Christians of Old Rite - 0.1%; Baptists - 0.5%, Adventists - 0.3%, Pentecostal - 1%, Christians after the Gospels - 0.2%, Mosaic - 0.1%, Muslim - 0.2%, Orthodox of old style - 0.1%, Others - 0.6%, Without any religion - 0.1%, Undeclared religion - 0.2%.