Constanţa
From Freepedia
| Image:Constanta in Romania.png | |
| County | Constanţa |
| Mayor | Radu Ştefan Mazăre |
| Area | 1121.66 km² |
| Population - 2002 (census) | 310,471 276.8/km² |
| Ethnic groups | Romanians, Turks, Tatars |
| Working languages | Romanian |
| Sister cities | Sulmona, Turku, Yokohama, Brest, Istanbul, Rotterdam, Odessa, Boulogne-sur-Mer, Dobrich, Thessaloniki, Mobile, Trapani, Saida, Lattakia, Heraklion, Izmir, Novosibirsk, Alexandria, Santos, Havana |
| Geographical co-ordinates | 44°10′ N 28°09′ E |
| Postcode range | 900xxx |
| Municipal Website: http://www.primaria-constanta.ro | |
Constanţa (old names: Kustendji, Kustendja, Köstence, Constantza, Tomis) is a seaport on the Black Sea and the capital of Constanţa County, Romania.
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Geography
In the vicinity there are mineral springs, and the sea-bathing also attracts many visitors in summer. The chief local industries are tanning and the manufacture of petroleum drums. Mamaia is a beach resort immediately to the north.
Transport
The opening, in 1895, of the railway to Bucharest, which crosses the Danube by a bridge at Cernavodă, brought Constanţa 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.
A2 freeway, linking Constanţa to Bucharest is currently under construction, parts of it are already opened to traffic.
The harbour, protected by breakwaters, with a lighthouse at the entrance, is well defended from the North winds, but those from the South, South-East, and South-West prove sometimes highly dangerous. The Black Sea squadron of the Romanian fleet is stationed here. A large canal connects the Black Sea, at Constanţa to the Danube River.
Image:Constanta sunset.jpg Image:Constanta april.jpg
History
Constanţa is the Constantiana which was founded in honour of Constantia, sister of Constantine the Great (274-337). The earliest known usage of this name was "Κωνστάντια" ("Constantia") in 950. It lies at the seaward end of the Great Wall of Trajan (Valu lui Traian), and has evidently been surrounded by fortifications of its own. In spite of damage done by railway contractors there are considerable remains of ancient masonry walls, pillars, etc. An impressive public building, thought to have originally been a port building, has been excavated, and contains the substantial remains of one of the longest mosaic pavements in the world.
A number of inscriptions found in the town and its vicinity show that Constanţa lies where once Tomis stood. The Roman poet Ovid (43 BC-17) spent here his last eight years in exile. A statue of Ovid stands in the Ovid Square (Piaţa Ovidiu) of Constanţa, in front of the History Museum (the former City Hall).
A railroad linking Constanţa to Cernavodă was opened in 1860 and had an important role in the development of Constanţa after the independence of Romania, as Constanţa was a transit point for much of Romania's exports.
Population
In 2002, the population of Constanţa city proper was 310,471. The urban area around Constanţa, however, includes the town of Năvodari, with a population of 32,400, increasing the total population of the Constanţa urban area to 342,926.
Historical population
Newspapers and Magazines
- Cuget Liber
- Adolescentul
- Litoral
- Telegraf
- Observator de Constanţa
- Independent
- Atac de Constanţa
- Jurnalul de Constanţa
Television Stations
Births
Image:Constanta romania.jpg Constanţa was the birthplace of:
- Gheorghe Hagi, Romania's most famous soccer player
- Cătălina Ponor, triple gold medalist in Athens 2004
- Simona Amânar, famous gymnast
- Andrei Pavel, tennis player
- Daniela Sofronie, Romanian Gymnast
Airport
Constanţa International Airport, (CND)
Education
- Ovidius University
- Constanţa Maritime University (UMC)
- "Mircea cel Bătrân" Naval Academy
- The Ovidius High School
