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Moldova

geography Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Moldova is a landlocked country located in Eastern Europe.

Location Moldova Europe
Location Moldova Europe

This means it has no direct access to an ocean. It sits between Romania to the west and Ukraine to the north, east, and south.

Moldova - Location Map (2013) - MDA - UNOCHA
Moldova - Location Map (2013) - MDA - UNOCHA

The Prut river forms the western border with Romania. On the eastern side, the Dniester river flows through the land. A strip of land called Transnistria sits on the east bank of this river.

Even though it is landlocked, Moldova has a small river port. This port sits at the village of Giurgiulești on the Danube river.

The land in Moldova is mostly hilly rather than flat. These hills are part of the Moldavian Plateau. The country has different types of landscapes like the Bălți steppe and the Bugeac Plain.

Peisaj din raionul Ungheni-2
Peisaj din raionul Ungheni-2

Most of the ground is covered in very rich, dark soil. This soil is called Chernozem and covers about three-quarters of the country. Forests cover about 11% of the land. In these wooded areas, you might see animals like red deer or wild boar.

Orhei Moldova
Orhei Moldova

The weather is moderately continental. This means summers are long and warm. Winters are usually mild and dry.

The history of this region goes back a very long time. Evidence shows people lived here over 800,000 years ago. In the 1350s, the Principality of Moldavia emerged. This was a medieval state that came before modern Moldova.

DragosIofMoldavia
DragosIofMoldavia

Over the years, many different groups controlled the land. This included the Roman and Byzantine empires. Later, the Ottoman Empire held influence over the area. In 1812, the Russian Empire took control of the eastern part. This area became known as Bessarabia.

Moldova became an independent country in 1991. This happened as the Soviet Union was ending.

Parliament Building in Chișinău
Parliament Building in Chișinău

The capital city is Chișinău. It is the largest city and a main center for culture. About one third of the people live in the Chișinău metro area. The country has about 2.38 million people living there. In 2020, Maia Sandu was elected as the first female president. She wants Moldova to join the European Union.

European Union Moldova Locator
European Union Moldova Locator

Moldova was granted candidate status for the union in June 2022.

Today, Moldova is a parliamentary republic. This means the president is the head of state. The prime minister is the head of government. The country is a member of many groups like the United Nations.

Nativity Cathedral - Moldova (by David Stanley)
Nativity Cathedral - Moldova (by David Stanley)

It also belongs to the Council of Europe and the World Trade Organization. Moldova works with many neighbors to grow its economy. Much of its work comes from the service sector. The country is working hard to improve its development and innovation.

Annual growth of GDP for Moldova, Romania, and Ukraine, 1980 to 2028
Annual growth of GDP for Moldova, Romania, and Ukraine, 1980 to 2028
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🖼️ Images & Media (27)
Imnul Republicii Moldova US NAVY.ogg
File:Location Moldova Europe.png
Location Moldova Europe.png
File:Moldova - Location Map (2013) - MDA - UNOCHA.svg
Moldova - Location Map (2013) - MDA - UNOCHA.svg
File:DragosIofMoldavia.jpg
DragosIofMoldavia.jpg
File:Malul abrupt al Nistrului Naslavcea-Verejeni Ocnita (11).jpg
Malul abrupt al Nistrului...
File:Peisaj din raionul Ungheni-2.jpg
Peisaj din raionul Ungheni-2.jpg
File:Rezervatia „LaCastel Gordinesti” Edinet (10).jpg
Rezervatia „LaCastel Gordinesti” Edinet (10).jpg
File:Moldova Competitiveness Project, USAID Moldova (48121769796).jpg
Moldova Competitiveness Project, USAID...
File:Orhei Vechi, Moldova - Flickr - Dave Proffer (13).jpg
Orhei Vechi, Moldova - Flickr - Dave...
File:Saiga antelope at the Stepnoi Sanctuary.jpg
Saiga antelope at the Stepnoi Sanctuary.jpg
File:Parliament Building in Chișinău.jpg
Parliament Building in Chișinău.jpg
File:Batumi International Conference, on 19 July 2021 05 (cropped).jpg
Batumi International Conference, on 19...

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