North East Region of Romania

Located in the North East of Romania, with a total area of 36,850 sq. km and a number of 3,674,367 inhabitants, the North-East Region is the largest of all the eight development regions in Romania.

Main characteristics of the region
The region is composed from 6 administrative structures.
Geographically, the region is neighboring Ukraine in the North, Galati and Vrancea counties in the South (South-East Region), Republic of Moldova at the East and the counties of Maramures and Bistrita-Nasaud (North-West Region), as well as Mures, Harghita and Covasna counties (Centre Region).

Relief
The West of the region is bordered by the Carpathian Mountains with heights of nearly 2,000 meters in the North (Pietrosu, Rarau, Giumalau, Ocolasu Mare and Hasmasu Mare Peaks) and height drop toward South (Ciuc Mountains, Trotus Mountains and, to a low extent, Vrancea Mountains).

The Sub-Carpathians have heights ranging between 7-800 meters and surround the mountains like a tight belt. Going further, the Eastern half is split in two large areas: the Moldavian Plain in the North and Barlad Plateau in the South.

The North-West part of the region is known as Plateau of Suceava, is 500 meters in height and famous for its “obcine” (slight waving of the ground constituted as a chain of petrified waves)

Climate
The relief induces several types of climate.
In the region’s mountain area (West of Suceava, Neamt and Bacau counties) the climate is moderate continental, with hot summers and cold winters rich in snowfalls. In the Sub-Carpathian area, which includes hills and plains (East parts of Suceava, Neamt, Bacau, Botosani, Iasi and Vaslui counties), the climate is continental, with hot and dry summers and cold winters.

Hydrological network
The region is crossed by eight important water-streams, which stretch on North-South direction. The biggest hydrographical basins being Siret (42,890 sq. km) and Prut (10,990 sq. km). Prut river it is the natural border of Romania with the Republic of Moldova along circa 680 km.

Main urban centers of the region
Bacau County is located in the Eastern half of the country. Towns within Bacau County like Targu Ocna and Trotus have been developed thanks to the existing natural resources (mountains of salt). The Slanic Moldova health resort obtained an international fame due to its healing waters rich in salt. In present the resort is fowling down due to lack of new investment in tourism sector. The economic sector is composed form a wide range of enterprises from the industrial sector, business infrastructure and banking sector as well as public and private education institutions.

Botosani County is located in the North extremity of Romania, between the superior water courses of Siret River at the West and Prut River at the East.
It offer specially development potential in agriculture.

Iasi County is located in the Central-Eastern part of Moldavia, in the middle basins of the Prut and Siret Rivers.
Iasi City, is the largest city in the region  being an important academic center with its seven higher education institutions. Iasi is also the location of an important research-development nucleus for the industrial sector, represented by most of its branches. Here there is the greatest Orthodox bower in Romania – the Metropolitan Cathedral (1840-1880). With the occasion of celebrating 2,000 years of Christianity, the city of Iasi had been nominated as being one of the 5 European cities intended for international pilgrimage.

Neamt County is located in the Central-Northern part of Moldavia, in the basins of Bistrita, Siret and Moldova Rivers.
The county capital is located in Piatra-Neamt were it also located the Regional Development Agency for North East of Romania. It is an important touristic and industrial county with various both historical and architectural monuments. Here you can find most of the Romanian famous monasteries: Agapia, Varatec, Secu, Sihastria.

Suceava County is located in the North of Moldavia, in the superior basins of Siret and Bistrita Rivers.The churches like Voronet and Sucevita with external paintings of Suceava are famous and known worldwide. They were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, alongside Putna and Probota.

Vaslui County is located in the Eastern part of Romania, on the middle course of the Barlad River. The agriculture and the vineyards (the remarkable wines of Husi) are the most important assets of the county.

Road and railway access to the main centers of the region.
Road access:

• Bucuresti – Bacau – Roman – Suceava – Siret (border check and cross-point) – E85 European road;
• Suceava – Vatra Dornei – Cluj Napoca (E576) which connects with E60 European road Cluj Napoca – Oradea’
• Bacau – Brasov – Pitesti, E577 European road (which links with E70 Europeanl road Craiova – Vidin – Scopje);
• Bucuresti – Barlad – Albita – Chisinau – E581European road that crosses Vaslui County.
• Roman -Tg. Frumos, which turns-out to Botosani (E58) and Iasi – Sculeni (E 583).

Railway access:

• Bucuresti – Bacau – Roman – Suceava – Siret – Ukrain – main line 500
• Bucuresti – Iasi – Ungheni – Republic of Moldova – main line 600.

Airports of the region:

• Bacau Airport – domestic and international flights
• Iasi Airport – domestic and international flights.
• Suceava Airport – domestic and international flights.