Overview of the information about Moldova

Republic of Moldova is the country location of which is defined by geographers like ‘South-East Europe’. However if to be above the battle Republic of Moldova is really situated in Central Europe being equally distant from Ural Mountains on the East and Atlantic ocean on the West as well as from Mediterranean on the South and Scandinavia on the North of Europe. Thereby, Moldova is nodal point for both ‘East-West’ and ‘South-North’. Thus, Moldova is mediating between the states of Central and East Europe. The capital of Republic of Moldova is called Chisinau.

Furthermore, Moldova is situated on the far South-West of East European Plain and it occupies the major part of Dniester and Prut interfluves area and also ribbon on the left coast of Dniester in its downstream. The country doesn’t have access to sea. However geographically it belongs to Black Sea region; herewith Moldova has access to Danube (the coastline is shorter than 1 km). Moldova has common border with 2 states: Ukraine on the East and Romania on the West. Territory of Moldova covers 33700 sq. km. The biggest length from North to South is about 350 km and from West to East is about 150 km. The most northerly point is village Naslavcea; the most southerly point is village Giurgiuleşti; the most westerly point is village Criva; the most easterly point is village Palanca.

Moldovan sceneries are extraordinary picturesque. They represent hilly river-cut plain. Moldova is represented by East European Plain scenery both from North to South and from West to East. Northern part of country is more hilly if compare to the Southern one which is distinguished by lakes, rivulets and other tanks. All rivers in Moldova belong to Black Sea basin. The biggest rivers are Dniester and Prut.

Climatically Moldova is situated in temperate continental zone of Mediterranean temperate winds. Big temperature fluctuations are rare. Precipitation occurs all the year long. Winters are green and short; summers are hot and longstanding. Average temperature in January is -4C and in July +21C.Absolute minimum is -36C; absolute maximum is +41C. Average annual precipitation fluctuates between 380 mm and 550 mm.

Population of Moldova accounts about 3400 inhabitants. Density of population is 111,4 people per sq. km. Moldova is one of thinly peopled country in Europe that may be determined by relatively small territory of the country. Population is spread over the territory of the country quite regularly.

Moldovan nation was formed mostly from different northern Thracian tribes to which belong Getae (they lived along both coasts of Danube, and also in Dobrudja and Moldova), Tyragetae (they lived inside Dniester basin), Carpians (they lived in Central Moldova), Costoboci (they lived in Northern Moldova), Dacians (they lived in Carpathian Mountains zone and on the West of Transilvania) and others. Ancient Greek writers, beginning from the 6th century BC, call the tribes living in Carpathian-Danube region and having the same language, origin and culture to be ‘Getae’. Ethicon ‘Dacians’ for the first time is mentioned in the middle of the 1st century BC in ‘The Commentaries of Caesar’ (about Gallic War). Historians use double name “Getae-Dacians” from 19th century till modern times.

Nowadays in Republic of Moldova live representatives of several ethnic groups. Among them there are 64,5% of Moldavians, 13,8% of Ukrainians, 13% of Russians and other ethnic groups (Gagauzes, Bulgarians, Jews, Belorussians, Germans and others). Major part of population lives in rural area; urban population constitutes 45%. The capital Chisinau (more than 700 000 inhabitants), Tiraspol (about 200 000 inhabitants), Balti (160 000), Bender (140 000) are the largest cities of Republic of Moldova.