Moldova is an Eastern European nation that used to be known as Bessarabia. It was a part of the Romanian principality till it was surrendered to Russia.
The country remained under the Russian Empire till the end of World War I, after which it was a part of Greater Romania. Then, it reverted to Russian control, and after World War II ended, it was a part of the Moldovian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic.
The country finally gained independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union in August 1991.
Moldovia became a member of the United Nations in 1992.
Today, Moldova is renowned all over the world for its delicious wine. Wine-making has become a family business, and these wineries are also being exported all over the world.
Nistreana and Codru are two towns that house some of the best wines. Codru even houses the world’s most extensive wine cellars.
Visit its capital city, Chisinau, to check out Soviet-style architecture. Also, visit the National Museum of History to learn about the art and ethnographic collections. Here, you can see the cultural links that Moldova has with Romania.
Geography
Ukraine borders Moldova to the east, north, and south whereas, Romania bounds the country to the west. It lies to the east of the Carpathian Mountains.
Deep sedimentary rocks cover the southwestern portion. You can find harder crystalline rocks in the north.
The hilly plains have an average elevation of 482 feet cut by a network of river valleys, gullies, and ravines.
The Codri Hills lie at an elevation of about 1,150-1,300 feet. The highest point of elevation of Moldova is at Mount Balanesti in the west at the height of 1,407 feet.
The Balti steppe and uplands characterize the northern landscapes.
As you see, Moldova has a well-established network of rivers and streams that drain on the Black Sea. However, these rivers only exceed 10 km in length, and few only exceed 100 km.
Moreover, many of these streams dry up in summer.
The country also boasts 2,000 natural springs.
In addition, Moldova’s soils are also varied and highly fertile. It has chernozem-rich black soils that cover three-fourths of the country. It has helped produce grain, sugar beets, and tobacco in the north.
Towards the south, grapes and sunflowers are grown.
Climate
The climate of the country is warm and moderately continental. It has a long frost-free period with a mild winter.
The average temperature is about 8 degrees Celsius in the north and about 10 degrees in the south.
The lowest temperature is about -36 degrees Celsius in the north, and the highest is about 41 degrees Celsius in the south.
Precipitation occurs in the warmer months. Heavy summer showers have caused erosion and river silting in places with irregular terrain.
Nature and Wildlife
The country’s northern and central regions are forest zones, whereas the steppe belt intersects the south.
Moldova has an abundant flora population and houses over 1,500 plant species. The scenic forests cover about 3,000 square kilometers of land, especially in the central Codri Hills.
In Moldova’s forests, you will find hornbeam, oak, maple, linden, beech, wild pear, and wild cherry.
With time, deforestation has reduced the forested areas and has caused soil erosion, flooding, and desertification. Therefore, the government has worked towards afforestation.
Its steppes which used to be covered with grass, now have been cultivated.
Animal life in Moldova is also rich. The country houses wild boar, badgers, wildcats, muskrat, wolves, ermines, polecats, hares, foxes, roe deer, and martins.
You can also find fallow deer, Siberian stages, and spotted deer in the country.
It houses residents and migratory birds. Moldova’s rivers offer sanctuary for migratory ducks, wild geese, herons, and white-tailed sea eagles. Other birds found in Moldova are the woodlark, song thrush, blackbird, hawk, jay, and long-eared owl.
