Majestic mountains, rolling plains, the Danube, and the Black Sea—all contribute to the geographical diversity of Romania, the gateway between the Balkans and Central Europe. The country is bordered by Hungary, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, and the Black Sea. The central part of the country is dominated by the great arc of the Carpathian Mountains, with their alpine peaks and thick beech, fir, and spruce forests.