Constanța
| Constanța | |||
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| Coordinates: 44°10.4′N 28°38.3′E / 44.1733°N 28.6383°ECoordinates: 44°10.4′N 28°38.3′E / 44.1733°N 28.6383°E | |||
| Country | Romania | ||
| County | Constanța County | ||
| Founded | 7th century B.C. as Tomis | ||
| Government | |||
| • Mayor | Radu Ștefan Mazăre | ||
| Area | |||
| • City | 124.89 km (48.2 sq mi) | ||
| • Metro | 1,013.5 km (391.3 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 25 m (82 ft) | ||
| Population (est. 2010) | |||
| • City | 301,221 | ||
| • Density | 2,418/km (6,262.6/sq mi) | ||
| • Metro | 446,595 | ||
| • Ethnic groups | Romanians, Greeks, Tatars, Turks | ||
| Postal code | 900xxx | ||
| Languages | Romanian | ||
| Website | www.primaria-constanta.ro | ||
| Sister cities: Sulmona, Turku, Yokohama, Brest, Istanbul, Rotterdam, Odessa, Boulogne-sur-Mer, Dobrich, Thessaloniki, Mobile, Trapani, Sidon, Lattakia, Heraklion, İzmir, Alexandria, Santos, Havana, Shanghai, Perugia, Novorossiysk. | |||
Constanța (Romanian pronunciation: ; historical names: Tomis, Greek: Κωνστάντζα or Κωνστάντια, Konstantia, Bulgarian: Кюстенджа or Констанца, Turkish: Köstence) is the oldest extant city in Romania, founded around 600 BC. The city is located in the Dobruja region of Romania, on the Black Sea coast. It is the capital of Constanța County and the largest city in the region.
The city of Constanța is one of the most important in Romania, one of four roughly equal-size cities which rank after Bucharest. The Constanța metropolitan area, founded in 2007, comprises 14 localities located at a maximum distance of 30 km (19 mi) from the city, and with 446,595 inhabitants it is the second largest metropolitan area in Romania, after Bucharest.
The Port of Constanța has an area of 39.26 km (15.16 sq mi) and a length of about 30 km (19 mi). It is the largest port on the Black Sea, and one of the largest ports in Europe.
History
Geography
Climate
Constanța has a moderate continental climate with considerable maritime and some subtropical influences. There are four distinct seasons during the year.
Summer (late May to mid September) is warm, dry and sunny with a July and August average of 23 °C (73 °F). Constanța rarely experiences very hot days often found in the interior, because of the moderating influence of the Black Sea. Nights are warm because of the heat stored by the sea.
Autumn starts in mid or late September; days are long and relatively warm. Nights can still be tropical (temperatures above 20°C) on an average of 10 days in September. September is often warmer than June, because of the heat accumulated by the Black Sea. The first frost occurs on average in mid November.
Winter is much balmier compared to other cities in southern Romania. Snow is not abundant but the weather can be very windy and thus, unpleasant. Winter arrives much later than in the interior and December weather is often mild with high temperatures reaching 12 °C (54 °F). Average January temperature is 1 °C (34 °F). Winter storms when the sea becomes particularly treacherous are a common occurrence between December and March.
Spring arrives early but it's quite cool. Often in April and May the Black Sea coast is one of the coolest places in Romania found at an altitude lower than 500 m (1,640.42 ft).
4 of the warmest 7 years since 1889 occurred after the year 2000 (2000, 2001, 2007 and 2008). The winter and the summer of 2007 were respectively the warmest and the second warmest in recorded history with January (+6.5°C) and June (+23.0°C) breaking all-time records. Overall 2007 was the warmest year since 1889 when weather recording began.
Demographics
Economy
Transport
The opening, in 1895, of the railway to Bucharest, which crosses the Danube by a bridge at Cernavodă, brought Constanța a considerable transit trade in grain and petroleum, which are largely exported; coal and coke head the list of imports, followed by machinery, iron goods, and cotton and woollen fabrics.
Tourism
Situated at the crossroads of several commercial routes, Constanța lies on the western coast of the Black Sea, 185 miles (298 km) from the Bosphorus Strait. An ancient metropolis and Romania's largest sea port, Constanța traces its history some 2,500 years. Originally called Tomis, legend has it that Jason landed here with the Argonauts after finding the Golden Fleece.
One of the largest cities in Romania, Constanța is now an important cultural and economic center, worth exploring for its archaeological treasures and the atmosphere of the old town center. Its historical monuments, ancient ruins, grand Casino, museums and shops, and proximity to beach resorts make it the focal point of Black Sea coast tourism. Open-air restaurants, nightclubs and cabarets offer a wide variety of entertainment. Regional attractions include traditional villages, vineyards, ancient monuments and the Danube Delta, the best preserved delta in Europe.
Main sights
Neighborhoods
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Politics
The current mayor of Constanța is Radu Ștefan Mazăre (Social Democratic Party).
The Constanța Municipal Council, elected in the 2008 local government elections, is made up of 27 councilors, with the following party composition:
Media
Sports
Constanța is home to several football clubs, with FC Farul playing in the Romanian second division. There are two rugby teams in Constanța: RC Farul Constanța, who play in Divizia Națională BRD, and Constructul Cleopatra Constanța, who play in Divizia A. One of the top Romanian handball clubs, HCM Constanța, is also based in the city. Olympic champion gymnast, Simona Amanar, was born in Constanța.
International relations
Twin towns — Sister cities
Constanța is twinned with:
Consulates
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Natives of Constanța
Education
See also
References
- Notes
Studies
External links
- Official administration site
- Constanța Seaport official site
- Photos Of Constanța
- Map
- A presentation video of Constanța
- RC Farul Constanța
- Constanța local transport pictures (RATC)
- MA in Black Sea Cultural Studies. International Hellenic University-School of Humanities
- Constanța Online
Retrieved from : http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Constan%C8%9Ba&oldid=463542779
