Bacău (Romanian pronunciation: [baˈkəw] , German: Barchau, Hungarian: Bákó) is the main city in Bacău County, Romania. As of 2011 census, it has a population of 133,460, making it the 15th largest city in Romania. The city is situated in the historical region of Moldavia, at the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains, and on the Bistriţa River (which meets the Siret River about 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) to the south of Bacău). The Ghimeş Pass links Bacău to Transylvania.