geography of moldova

8/14/2019 Geography of Moldova

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Geography of

Moldova

Summary:

- Geography- Basic data

- Climate

- Topography

- Natural habitat

- Current issues



Geography

Located in southeastern Europe, Moldova is borderedon the west by Romania and on the north, south, and

east by Ukraine. Most of its territory lies between thearea's two main rivers, the Dniester and the Prut. ThePrut River forms Moldova's entire western boundarywith Romania.

According to the WWF, the territory of Moldova canbe subdivided into three eco-regions: the CentralEuropean mixed forests, the East European foreststeppe (the most territory of the country), and Pontic

steppe (in the south and southeast).



Basic dataLocation: Eastern Europe, northeast of RomaniaGeographic coordinates: 47°00′N 29°00′E

Area:- Total: 33,843 km²- Land: 33,371 km²- Water: 472 km²Land use:- Arable land: 53%

- Permanent crops: 14%- Permanent pastures: 13%- Forests and woodland: 13%- Other: 7% (1993 est.)Extreme points:

- The lowest point: Nistru river −2 m - The highest point – Bălăneşti Hill +430 m - North extreme: Naslavcea- South extreme: Giurgiuleşti - West extreme: Criva

- East extreme: Palanca



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Climate

Climate:

Moldova's proximity to the Black Sea gives it a mild and

sunny climate. Moldova's climate is moderatelycontinental: the summers are warm and long, with

temperatures averaging about 20 °C, and the winters are

relatively mild and dry, with January temperatures

averaging −4 °C. Annual rainfall, which ranges from

around 600 millimeters (23.6 in) in the north to 400

millimeters in the south, can vary greatly; long dry spells

are not unusual.

Weather records:

The highest temperature ever recorded: +41.5 °C on July21, 2007 (Camenca). The lowest temperature ever

recorded: −35.5 °C on January 20, 1963 (Brătuşeni, Edineţ

county).



Topography

Most of Moldova's territory is a moderate hilly plateaucut deeply by many streams and rivers. Geologically,

Moldova lies primarily on deep sedimentary rock thatgives way to harder crystalline outcroppings only inthe north. Moldova's hills are part of the MoldavianPlateau, which geologically originate from the

Carpathian Mountains.Dniester Hills (up to 300 m).

Moldavian Plain has an average of 200 meters.

Central Moldavian Plateau, at an average elevation

of about 350 to 400 m.Podolian Plateau (average 180 meters, max 275meters).



Natural habitatLand formation Area, km² Of which currently

forests, km²Forests,% Habitat type

Northern MoldavianHills 4,630 476 10.3% Forest steppeDniester-Rāut Ridge 2,480 363 14.6% Forest steppe

Middle Prut Valley 2,930 312 10.6% Forest steppe

Bălţi Steppe 1,920 51 2.7% Steppe

Ciuluc-Soloneţ Hills 1,690 169 10.0% Forest steppe

Corneşti Hills 4,740 1,300 27.5% Forest

Lower Dniester Hills 3,040 371 12.2% Forest steppe

Lower Prut Valley 1,810 144 8.0% Forest steppe

Tigheci Hills 3,550 533 15.0% Forest steppe

Bugeac Plain 3,210 195 6.1% SteppePart of PodolianPlateau 1,920 175 9.1% Forest steppe

Part of EurasianSteppe 1,920 140 7.3% Steppe

Total: 33,840 4,228 12,5% forest steppe



C t i



Current issues

Moldova's communist-era environmental legacy, likethat of many other former Soviet republics, is one of

environmental degradation. Agricultural practicessuch as overuse of pesticides and artificial fertilizerswere intended to increase agricultural output at allcosts, without regard for the consequences. As aresult, Moldova's soil and groundwater were

contaminated by lingering chemicals, some of whichhave been banned in the West.

Such practices continue in Moldova to the presentday. In the early 1990s, use of pesticides in Moldovaaveraged approximately twenty times that of otherformer Soviet republics and Western nations. Inaddition, poor farming methods, such as destroyingforests to plant vineyards, have contributed to theextensive soil erosion to which the country's ruggedtopography is already prone.

geography of moldova

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