 | |
| Continent | Europe |
|---|---|
| Region | Eastern Europe |
| Coordinates | 47°N29°E / 47°N 29°E /47; 29 |
| Area | Ranked 135th |
| • Total | 33,843.5 km2 (13,067.0 sq mi) |
| • Land | 98.6% |
| • Water | 1.4% |
| Coastline | 0.407 km (0.253 mi) |
| Borders | Total land borders:Moldova–Ukraine border,Moldova–Romania border |
| Highest point | Bălănești Hill 428.9 m |
| Lowest point | 2 m (Dniester River) |
Located inEastern Europe,Moldova is bordered on the west and southwest byRomania and on the north, south, and east byUkraine. Most of its territory lies in theBessarabia region, between the area's two main rivers, theNistru and thePrut. The Nistru forms a small part of Moldova's border with Ukraine in the northeast and southeast, but it mainly flows through the eastern part of the country, separating Bessarabia andTransnistria. ThePrut River forms Moldova's entire western boundary with Romania. TheDanube touches the Moldovan border at its southernmost tip, and forms the border for 200 metres (656 ft).
| Location: | Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania |
|---|---|
| Geographic coordinates: | 47°00′N29°00′E / 47.000°N 29.000°E /47.000; 29.000 |
| Map references: | Commonwealth of Independent States |
| Area: |
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| Area – comparative: |
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| Land boundaries: |
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| Coastline: | 0 km (0 mi) (landlocked) |
| Maritime claims: | none (landlocked) |
| Natural resources: | lignite, phosphorites, gypsum, arable land, limestone |
| Land use: |
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| Irrigated land: | 2,283 km2 (881 sq mi) (2011) |
| Total renewable water resources: | 11.65 km3 (2.8 cu. mi.) |
| Natural hazards: | landslides (57 cases in 1998) |
Moldova's proximity to theBlack Sea gives it a mild and sunny climate.
Moldova'sclimate is moderately continental: the summers are warm and long, with temperatures averaging about 20 °C (68 °F), and the winters are relatively mild and dry, with January temperatures averaging −2 °C (28 °F). Annual rainfall, which ranges from around 600 millimeters (24 in) in the north to 400 millimeters (16 in) in the south, can vary greatly; long dry spells are not unusual. The heaviest rainfall occurs in early summer and again in October; heavy showers and thunderstorms are common. Because of the irregular terrain, heavy summer rains often cause erosion and river silting.
Weather records:The highest temperature ever recorded was 42.4 °C (108.3 °F) atFălești on 7 August 2012.[1]The lowest temperature ever recorded was −35.5 °C (−31.9 °F) on January 20, 1963, atBrătușeni.[1]
Chișinău's climate. (Central Moldova)
| Climate data for Chișinău (1991–2020, extremes 1886–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 15.5 (59.9) | 20.7 (69.3) | 25.7 (78.3) | 31.6 (88.9) | 35.9 (96.6) | 37.5 (99.5) | 40.1 (104.2) | 39.2 (102.6) | 37.3 (99.1) | 32.6 (90.7) | 23.6 (74.5) | 18.3 (64.9) | 40.1 (104.2) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 1.1 (34.0) | 3.4 (38.1) | 9.2 (48.6) | 16.4 (61.5) | 22.3 (72.1) | 26.1 (79.0) | 28.4 (83.1) | 28.3 (82.9) | 22.3 (72.1) | 15.5 (59.9) | 8.1 (46.6) | 2.7 (36.9) | 15.3 (59.5) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −1.8 (28.8) | −0.2 (31.6) | 4.5 (40.1) | 11.0 (51.8) | 16.8 (62.2) | 20.7 (69.3) | 22.9 (73.2) | 22.6 (72.7) | 17.0 (62.6) | 10.8 (51.4) | 4.8 (40.6) | −0.2 (31.6) | 10.7 (51.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −4.2 (24.4) | −3.0 (26.6) | 0.7 (33.3) | 6.3 (43.3) | 11.8 (53.2) | 15.9 (60.6) | 17.9 (64.2) | 17.5 (63.5) | 12.5 (54.5) | 7.1 (44.8) | 2.1 (35.8) | −2.5 (27.5) | 6.8 (44.2) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −28.4 (−19.1) | −28.9 (−20.0) | −21.1 (−6.0) | −6.6 (20.1) | −1.1 (30.0) | 3.6 (38.5) | 7.8 (46.0) | 5.5 (41.9) | −2.4 (27.7) | −10.8 (12.6) | −21.6 (−6.9) | −22.4 (−8.3) | −28.9 (−20.0) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 36 (1.4) | 31 (1.2) | 35 (1.4) | 39 (1.5) | 54 (2.1) | 65 (2.6) | 67 (2.6) | 49 (1.9) | 48 (1.9) | 47 (1.9) | 43 (1.7) | 41 (1.6) | 555 (21.9) |
| Average extreme snow depth cm (inches) | 7 (2.8) | 6 (2.4) | 3 (1.2) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 1 (0.4) | 3 (1.2) | 20 (7.9) |
| Average rainy days | 8 | 7 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 10 | 132 |
| Average snowy days | 13 | 13 | 8 | 1 | 0.03 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.4 | 5 | 11 | 51 |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 82 | 78 | 71 | 63 | 60 | 63 | 62 | 60 | 66 | 73 | 81 | 83 | 70 |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 75 | 80 | 125 | 187 | 254 | 283 | 299 | 295 | 226 | 169 | 75 | 58 | 2,126 |
| Averageultraviolet index | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Source 1: Pogoda.ru.net,[2]NOAA (sun, 1961–1990)[3] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: Weather Atlas (UV)[4] | |||||||||||||
Bălți's climate. (Northern Moldova)
| Climate data for Bălți | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | −0.5 (31.1) | 1.3 (34.3) | 7.0 (44.6) | 15.9 (60.6) | 22.0 (71.6) | 24.9 (76.8) | 26.2 (79.2) | 26.0 (78.8) | 21.8 (71.2) | 15.2 (59.4) | 7.6 (45.7) | 2.1 (35.8) | 14.1 (57.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −7.5 (18.5) | −5.4 (22.3) | −1.6 (29.1) | 4.5 (40.1) | 9.9 (49.8) | 13.1 (55.6) | 14.5 (58.1) | 13.5 (56.3) | 9.5 (49.1) | 4.3 (39.7) | 0.3 (32.5) | −4.0 (24.8) | 4.2 (39.6) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 31 (1.2) | 28 (1.1) | 28 (1.1) | 44 (1.7) | 55 (2.2) | 86 (3.4) | 79 (3.1) | 49 (1.9) | 43 (1.7) | 22 (0.9) | 34 (1.3) | 30 (1.2) | 529 (20.8) |
| Average precipitation days | 11 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 11 | 120 |
| Source: World Weather Information Service[5] | |||||||||||||
Tiraspol's climate. (Central Moldova)
| Climate data for Tiraspol | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 0.7 (33.3) | 2.3 (36.1) | 7.8 (46.0) | 16.5 (61.7) | 22.5 (72.5) | 25.8 (78.4) | 27.4 (81.3) | 27.3 (81.1) | 23.0 (73.4) | 16.1 (61.0) | 8.6 (47.5) | 3.3 (37.9) | 15.1 (59.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −6.1 (21.0) | −4.3 (24.3) | −0.7 (30.7) | 5.1 (41.2) | 10.3 (50.5) | 13.8 (56.8) | 15.5 (59.9) | 14.7 (58.5) | 10.3 (50.5) | 5.3 (41.5) | 1.3 (34.3) | −2.8 (27.0) | 5.2 (41.4) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 33 (1.3) | 35 (1.4) | 28 (1.1) | 35 (1.4) | 52 (2.0) | 72 (2.8) | 63 (2.5) | 49 (1.9) | 38 (1.5) | 26 (1.0) | 36 (1.4) | 38 (1.5) | 495 (19.5) |
| Average precipitation days | 11 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 11 | 11 | 116 |
| Source: World Weather Information Service[6] | |||||||||||||
Cahul's climate. (Southern Moldova)
| Climate data for Cahul, Moldova | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 0.2 (32.4) | 1.8 (35.2) | 7.9 (46.2) | 15.9 (60.6) | 21.6 (70.9) | 25.0 (77.0) | 26.8 (80.2) | 26.5 (79.7) | 22.6 (72.7) | 15.9 (60.6) | 8.5 (47.3) | 2.6 (36.7) | 14.6 (58.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −5.7 (21.7) | −3.7 (25.3) | −0.2 (31.6) | 5.6 (42.1) | 11.1 (52.0) | 14.5 (58.1) | 16.0 (60.8) | 15.7 (60.3) | 11.9 (53.4) | 6.6 (43.9) | 1.9 (35.4) | −2.7 (27.1) | 5.9 (42.6) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 36 (1.4) | 39 (1.5) | 33 (1.3) | 41 (1.6) | 56 (2.2) | 76 (3.0) | 66 (2.6) | 56 (2.2) | 48 (1.9) | 28 (1.1) | 38 (1.5) | 40 (1.6) | 557 (21.9) |
| Average precipitation days | 12 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 11 | 12 | 122 |
| Source: World Weather Information Service[7] | |||||||||||||
Most of Moldova's territory is a moderate hilly plateau cut deeply by many streams and rivers. Geologically, Moldova lies primarily on the deep sedimentary rock that gives way to harder crystalline outcroppings only in the north. Moldova's hills are part of the largerMoldavian Plateau.
The northern landscape of Moldova is characterized by gently rolling uplands (up to 300 m or 984 ft, inelevation) interlaced with small flat plains in the valleys of the numerouscreeks (at 150 m or 492 ft elevation). These hills, which have an average altitude of 240 meters (787 ft) and a maximum altitude of 320 meters (1,050 ft), are divided into theNorthern Moldovan Plateau and theDniester Plateau, and continue further occupying the northern part of theChernivtsi oblast inUkraine. The eastern slopes of the Dniester Ridge (average 250 meters or 820 feet, max 347 meters or 1,138 feet), form the high right bank of the Dniester River.
To the south are located theBălți Plain and theMiddle Prut Plain, with an average of 200 meters (656 ft) and a maximum altitude of 250 meters (820 ft). Originallyforested, it has been extensively de-forested foragriculture during the 19th and 20th centuries. In contrast to the region to the north and south, which is more slant, this area is referred to asplain, although it hasrelief very different from that of flatland, and vegetation different from that of thesteppe.
The hills of central Moldova are divided into theCiulucuri Hills and theCodri Plateau, at an average elevation of about 350 to 400 m (1,148 to 1,312 ft), are ridges interlaced by deep, flat valleys, ravines, and landslide-scoured depressions. Steep forest-clad slopes account for much of the terrain, where the most common trees are hornbeam, oak, linden, maple, wild pear, and wild cherry. The termcodri refers more generally to forests, yet since in Moldova most of them were preserved in the central part, Codri sometimes can colloquially refer to the remaining forests in the hills west and north ofChișinău. The Dniester Hills border the Ciulucuri Hills to the north along the riverRăut.
The country's highest point,Bălănești Hill, which reaches 1,407 or 1,410 ft (428.9 or 429.8 m), depending on the source, is situated in the Corneşti Hills, the western part of the Codri Plateau. Northwest of it are the Ciulucului Hills (average 250 meters or 820 feet, max 388 meters or 1,273 feet). In the south, theTigheci Hills (average 200 meters or 656 feet, max 301 meters or 988 feet) are a prolongation, and run to the south parallel to the Lower Prut Valley.
To the south-east, the southern part of the Codri Plateau, which averages 150–200 meters (492–656 ft), max 250 meters (820 ft), and has numerous ravines and gullies, gradually merges into theSouthern Moldovan Plain, continued by in Ukraine by theBudjak Plain. Most ofGagauzia resides on theIalpug Plain.
Transnistria (the left bank of the Dniester) has spurs of thePodolian Plateau (Romanian:Podişul Podoliei,Ukrainian:Volyno-Podil's'ka vysochyna), (average 180 meters or 591 feet, max 275 meters or 902 feet), which are cut into by tributaries of the Dniester River. The southern half of Transnistria, theLower Dniester Plain, can be regarded as the western end of theEurasian steppe, and has an average elevation of 100 meters (328 ft), with a maximum of 170 meters (558 ft). The high right bank and low left bank of the Dniester are in sharp contrast here, where visibility is not impeded by forests.
About 75 percent of Moldova is covered by a soil type calledblack earth orchernozem. In the northern hills, more clay textured soils are found; in the south, red-earth soil is predominant. The soil becomes less fertile toward the south but can still support grape and sunflower production. The hills have woodland soils, while a small portion in southern Moldova is in thesteppe zone, although most steppe areas today are cultivated. The lower reaches of the Prut and Dniester rivers and the southern river valleys are saline marshes.
Drainage in Moldova is to the south, toward the Black Sea lowlands, and eventually into the Black Sea, but only eight rivers and creeks extend more than 100 kilometers (62 miles). Moldova's main river, theDniester, is navigable throughout almost the entire country, and in warmer winters it does not freeze over. ThePrut river is a tributary of theDanube, which it joins at the far southwestern tip of the country. Over 95% of the water circulation in Moldova flows into one of the two rivers – the Prut or Dniester. Of Moldova's well-developed network of about 3,000 creeks and streams, all draining south to the Black Sea, only 246 exceed 6 mi (9.7 km) in length, and only 8 exceed 60 mi (96.6 km).
Underground water, extensively used for the country's water supply, includes about 2,200 natural springs. The terrain favors the construction of reservoirs of various sizes.
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Moldova's natural habitat is characterized byforest steppes, a temperate-climate habitat type composed ofgrassland interspersed with areas ofwoodland orforest. A belt of forest steppes crossEurasia from eastern Europe to Eastern Siberia, forming a transition betweentemperate broadleaf and mixed forests andtemperate grasslands. In the 19th century, Moldova witnessed a sharp decrease in the forested areas, sacrificed for agriculture due to rich soil.
| land formation[8] | area, km2 | of which currently forests, km2 | % forests | habitat type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Moldavian Hills | 4,630 | 476 | 10.3% | forest steppe |
| Dniester–Răut Ridge | 2,480 | 363 | 14.6% | forest steppe |
| Middle Prut Valley | 2,930 | 312 | 10.6% | forest steppe |
| Bălți Steppe | 1,920 | 51 | 2.7% | steppe |
| Ciuluc-Soloneț Hills | 1,690 | 169 | 10.0% | forest steppe |
| Cornești Hills (Codru) | 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% | steppe |
| part ofPodolian Plateau | 1,920 | 175 | 9.1% | forest steppe |
| part ofEurasian Steppe | 1,920 | 140 | 7.3% | steppe |
| Total | 33,840 | 4,228 | 12,5% | forest steppe |
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Moldova's communist-era environmental legacy, like that of many other former Soviet republics, is one ofenvironmental degradation.Agricultural practices such as overuse ofpesticides and artificial fertilizers were intended to increase agricultural output at all costs, without regard for the consequences. As a result, Moldova's soil and groundwater were contaminated by lingering chemicals, some of which (includingDDT) have been banned in the West.
Such practices continue in Moldova to the present day.[9] In the early 1990s, use of pesticides in Moldova averaged approximately twenty times that of other former Soviet republics and Western nations. Also, poor farming methods, such as destroying forests to plant vineyards, have contributed to the extensive soil erosion to which the country's rugged topography is already prone.
party to:Air Pollution,Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants,Biodiversity,Climate Change,Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol,Desertification,Endangered Species,Hazardous Wastes,Ozone Layer Protection,Ship Pollution,Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
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