Bacău (UK: /ˈbækaʊ/ BAK-ow, US: /bəˈkaʊ/ bə-KOW, Romanian: [baˈkəw] ; Hungarian: Bákó; Latin: Bacovia) is the main city in Bacău County, Romania. At the 2016 national estimation it had a population of 196,883, making it the 12th largest city in Romania. The city is situated in the historical region of Moldavia, at the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains, and on the Bistrița River (which meets the Siret River about 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) to the south of Bacău). The Ghimeș Pass links Bacău to the region of Transylvania.