Romania
Romania
- Capital
- Bucharest
- Population
- 19,286,123
- Region
- Europe
- Languages
- Romanian
Romania's Palace of the Parliament in Bucharest is the heaviest building in the world, constructed with approximately 700,000 tonnes of steel and bronze combined with vast amounts of marble. It is so massive that it is reportedly visible from space and contains a network of underground tunnels designed to withstand nuclear attacks. The interior is equally lavish, featuring crystal chandeliers and hand-woven carpets that were so large they had to be assembled inside the building.
Currency
The official currency is the Romanian Leu, which carries the ISO code RON. Interestingly, the modern Leu banknotes are made of polymer rather than paper, making them incredibly durable, waterproof, and difficult to counterfeit.
Flag symbolism
The vertical tricolor of blue, yellow, and red represents the historical provinces of Wallachia and Moldavia. Cobalt blue signifies liberty and the sky, while the chrome yellow represents justice and the wealth of the country's grain fields. The red stripe symbolizes fraternity and the many sacrifices made by heroes throughout the nation's struggle for independence.
Emblem history
The coat of arms features a golden eagle holding a cross in its beak, a sword for strength, and a mace for sovereignty. On its chest lies a shield divided into five sections representing the traditional regions: the eagle of Wallachia, the aurochs of Moldavia, the bridge and lion of Oltenia and Banat, the seven towers of Transylvania, and the dolphins of the Black Sea coast. This design traces its roots back to the 19th century and was officially reinstated after the fall of communism to honor the historical unification of the Romanian lands.