The geography of Moldova
The Republic of Moldova is situated on the second meantime zone. It occupies the biggest part of the territory between Prut and Nistru, and a narrow strip of the river Nistru in its middle and inferior course (waterway). On the map the Republic of Moldova, in accordance to the configuration of its frontiers is alike a grape. The toatal area is 33 843 square km, the republic occupies in this respect the 32nd place in Europe. The distance between the north extreme limit and the south extremity limit is 350 km, and from east to west is 150km. An important specific feature of the economic-geographical position of the Republic of Moldova is the fact that the Ukraine is its neighbour.
The south frontier of the republic lies till the Black Sea, the entrance to the sea is opened by the liman Nistru and delta Danube. These are the ways the Republic of Moldova has economic relations with the countries situated in the Danubian basin (area).
The extreme points:
- The lowest point: Nistru river –2m
- The highest point – Mount Bălăneşti –430m
- North extreme: Naslavcea
- South extreme: Giurgiulesti
- West extreme: Criva
- East extreme: Palanca
Relief:
The actual natural conditions of the Republic of Moldova formed in the biggest part on the influence of physic-geographical neighbouring regions: the south-west part of the Plain of East Europe and the mountainous system Carpaţi. That is why, in spite of the relatively short area, the territory of the republic has a diverse character, heterogeneous and natural contrastant conditions.
The relief is uniform, uneven, characterized by the alternation of plains and altitude. The climate has a passing character from the climate of the West Europe to the climate of the East Europe. The climate is moderately continental with mild winters and hot summers. The network of rivers formed by the rivers Prut and Nistru, but also of a number of short and unimportant rivers, most of them in summer dray some portions. The soil is very varied, black soil (chernozem) predominates. The natural vegetation that in past occupied big territories, now occupies only an unimportant area, but it has a diversity of species. The fauna of the republic is poorer than in past. From our formerly forests and steppes in the last centuries a lot of species of animals disappeared, or if they didn’t disappear their number decreased numerically. However, in the Republic of Moldova remained some species of animals and rare plants, different monuments of the still-life nature, natural territorial complexes that have a specific unrepeatable structure.
Dates regarding the plains, plateau and the altitudes of Moldova
|
|
The name of the plain, plateau, the altitude |
The average altitude |
The maximum altitude |
In which part of the republic is situated |
|
1. |
The plateau of Moldova |
240 |
320 |
in the Nord |
|
2. |
The plain of the North of the Republic of Moldova |
200 |
250 |
In the Nord |
|
3. |
The altitude Ciuluc |
250 |
388 |
In the centre |
|
4. |
The altitude of Nistru |
250 |
347 |
In the East |
|
5. |
The altitude of the Central Moldova |
300 |
429 |
In the centre |
|
6 |
The plain of the South of Moldova |
150—200 |
250 |
In the South |
|
7. |
The altitude of Tigheci |
200 |
301 |
In the South-west |
|
8. |
The south-west parts of the Podolia tableland |
180 |
275 |
In the North-east, on the left part of the river Nistru |
|
9. |
The Plain of the Inferior Nistru |
100 |
170 |
In the South-east, on the left part of the river Nistru |
Climate:
On the territory of the republic the atmospheric circulation is characterized by the preponderance of masses of warm air, in certain periods is wet, this one comes from West, from the Atlantic Ocean. Periodically, on the territory of Moldova there are other masses of air: the warm and wet air that comes from Mediterranean Sea, that brings abundant rains: the soft air, moderately continental from the east and south-east of the Plain of the East Europe conditioned the scorching heat and drought, the invasion of the arctic air causes an unexpectedly change of the weather and an ebbing of the temperature.
The average annual temperature of the air on the whole territory of the republic has positive values. It oscillates from +7,5°C in the north (Briceni) to +10°C in the south (Cahul).
The territory of Moldova takes part of the zone with insufficient humidity. The average annual quantity of precipitations is about 400— 550 mm, that are from 550mm in the north-west to 400mm in the south and south-east.
Winter
Beginning with the invasion of masses of cold air from east and north-east, that leads to the ebbing of the temperature. The average air temperature in January is -5°C in the north of the republic (Briceni) and -3°C in the south (Cahul). In certain years, when arctic masses of air are present for a long time on the territory, in the republic there are the lowest temperatures: -30 -36°C.
Spring
In spring the eastern circulation of masses of air characterized for winter months, step-by-step is replaced by the western circulation, but in this time on the territory of the republic the cyclones penetrate. There is an increase of the solar radiation. Every-day positive temperatures are established and grow day by day. The weather is unstable determined by the invasion of the cold arctic air that brings the spring frosts.
Summer
In summer is sunny, warm and droughty. The solar radiation attains maxim heights. Average values of temperature in July are +19,5°C (Briceni) and +22°C (Cahul). Sometimes from the south come masses of tropical air, which bring droughty and warm weather with temperatures to 30 – 35°C.
Autumn
The first part of the autumn is characterized by a calm, sunny and warm weather. Step by step, in the second part of the season, there is an intensification of the penetration of masses of cold air from east and north-east, which determines the ebbing of the temperature of the air.
Water resources are about 6-7 mlrd m3 per year. There are about 85% of them, which are for water surface and 15% for underground water. Water surface is represented in the biggest part by the rivers Nistru and Prut, a less weight will be for rivers and lakes. The anual volume of water consumed is in average about 1,2 mlrd m3.