Research Activities. The Institute of Geography (IGAR) of the Romanian Academy, located in Bucharest, with two branches (in Cluj-Napoca and Iaşi), is the main institution of fundamental and applied geographical research in Romania. It carries out integrated research in Geomorphology, Hydrology, Biogeography, Climatology, GIS Systems, Human Geography and Environmental Geography focusing on investigating the relationships between the components of the physical and biotic environment (relief, water, soil, vegetation and fauna) and of the social and economic milieu, as well as their spatial distribution in connection with global environmental change.