Romania is bordered on the north and northeast by Moldova, on the east by Ukraine, on the west by Hungary and Yugoslavia, and on the south by Bulgaria. In addition, there is 209 km of coastline, where it borders the Black Sea in the southeast.
A series of mountain ranges curves through northern and central Romania, forming a circular pattern. The mountains surround a vast flatland known as the Transylvanian Plateau. Transylvania is the country's largest and most varied region. It extends throughout central and northwestern Romania, and includes most of the country's mountains, the Transylvanian Plateau, and the northwestern plain. The plateau and plain have good soil for farming. The plateau and the mountains yield valuable forest products and minerals. The beauty of the mountains and their ski slopes and other recreation facilities make them a favorite vacation area. Several cities have grown up in Transylvania because of its rich resources.
