Moldova <div style="float: right; margin: 0 0 1em 1em"> <table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="border: 1px solid #9866FF; background-color: #f3f3ff" width="200"> <tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center; border-bottom: 1px solid #C9AFFF; background-color: #ddddff">Flag</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center; padding: 2px">Image:md-flag.png</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" style="text-align: center; border-bottom: 1px solid #C9AFFF; border-top: 1px solid #C9AFFF; background-color: #ddddff">Quick Facts</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Capital'''</td><td>Chisinau</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Government'''</td><td>republic </td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Currency'''</td><td>Moldovan leu (MDL)</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Area'''</td><td>''total:'' 33,843 sq km ''water:'' 472 sq km ''land:'' 33,371 sq km</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Population'''</td><td>4,434,547 (July 2002 est.)</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Language'''</td><td>Moldovan (official, virtually the same as the Romanian language), Russian (official), Gagauz (a Turkish dialect)</td></tr> <tr><td valign="top" style="padding-left: 2px">'''Religion'''</td><td>Eastern Orthodox 98%, Jewish 1.5%, Baptist and other 0.5% (2000)</td></tr> </table> </div>  '''Moldova''' is a land locked country in Eastern Europe that is surrounded by Romania to the southwest, across the Prut river, and Ukraine to the northeast. Image:md-map.png|frame|Map of Moldova ==Regions== ; '''Administrative divisions''' : It is divided into 32 Rayons: 1. Anenii Noi 2. Basarabeasca 3. Briceni 4. Cahul 5. Cantemir 6. Calarasi 7. Causeni 8. Cimislia 9. Criuleni 10. Donduseni 11. Drochia 12. Dubasari 13. Edinet 14. Falesti 15. Floresti 16. Glodeni 17. Hîncesti 18. Ialoveni 19. Leova 20. Nisporeni 21. Ocnita 22. Orhei 23. Rezina 24. Rîscani 25. Sîngerei 26. Soroca 27. Straseni 28. Soldanesti 29. Stefan Voda 30. Taraclia 31. Telenesti 32. Ungheni An autonomous territorial unit (''unitate teritoriala autonoma''): *Gagausia (''Gagauzia'') And a territorial unit (''unitate teritoriala''): *Transnistria (''Stinga Nistrului'') - Break-away region east of the Dniester River, on the Ukrainian border, where Russian forces are supporting the Slavic majority population, mostly Ukrainians and Russians, who have proclaimed a "Transnistria" republic. ==Cities== *Chisinau (city)|Chisinau - Capital - An administrative municipality (''municipiul''). A nice city to go and visit for some days, and to walk around in. ==Other destinations== ==Understand== ===Climate=== Moderate winters, warm summers. ===Terrain=== Landlocked. Rolling steppe, gradual slope south towards the Black Sea. Well endowed with various sedimentary rocks and minerals including sand, gravel, gypsum, and limestone. ''Natural hazards'' : Experiences landslides (57 cases in 1998) due to extensive soil erosion from poor farming methods ; '''Elevation extremes''' : ''lowest point:'' Dniester River 2 m ''highest point:'' Dealul Balanesti 430 m ===History=== Formerly ruled by Romania, Moldova became part of the Soviet Union at the close of World War II. ; '''Independence''' : 27 August 1991 (from Soviet Union) ; '''National holiday''' : Independence Day, 27 August (1991) ; '''Constitution''' : new constitution adopted 28 July 1994; replaces old Soviet constitution of 1979 Although independent from the USSR since 1991, Russian forces have remained on Moldovan territory east of the Dniester River supporting the Slavic majority population, mostly Ukrainians and Russians, who have proclaimed a "Transnistria" republic. One of the poorest nations in Europe, Moldova became the first former Soviet state to elect a Communist as its president in 2001. ==Get in== People from most nations need a visa for entering Moldova, obtainable at your local Moldovan embassy. ===By plane=== There is the occasional plane flying to Chisinau airport from Bucharest, Budapest as well as some other major European airports. Prices are relatively high (flying with Malev via Budapest seems the least expensive). Moldova has a domestic air company. ===By train=== ===By car=== ===By bus=== There are regular buses connecting Chisinau with Bucharest, Kiev and most major Romanian and Ukrainian cities. You will also be able to travel to most European cities by bus with Moldovan bus companies. ===By boat=== ==Get around== The most reliable and extensive domestic transport is bus - you will get to most parts of the country. ==Talk== Moldovans speak ''Moldovan'' (outside of the semi-autonomous region of Gagausia and the breakaway region of Transnistria), which is for all practical purposes the same as Romanian. Most people in the cities also speak Russian, although be a little careful of this - learn enough Moldovan to ask whether it is ok to speak Russian - there are still hard feelings about the Soviet Union in some places. ; '''Languages''' : Moldovan (official, virtually the same as the Romanian language), Russian (official), Gagauz (a Turkish dialect) ==Buy== ==Eat== ==Drink== Moldova has a long local wines tradition. Especially the reds are popular throughout the country. ==Sleep== ==Learn== ==Work== ==Stay safe== The break-away region Transnistria has proclaimed itself a republic but lacks diplomatic recognition. Consequently, travellers lack consular support in case of emergency. Stay away until further notice. If you do visit Transnistria foreign citizens should with the Militia upon arrival. It can become difficult trying to leave if you have not done this. ==Stay healthy== The heavy use of agricultural chemicals, including banned pesticides such as DDT, has contaminated soil and groundwater. If you are concerned, water for drinking, cooking and oral hygiene should be taken from a known safe source, as ordinary water treatment, including boiling, does not remove such chemical contamination. ==Respect== ==Contact== ==External links== ro:Republica Moldova fr:Moldavie See more info in the http://referencenter.com. {{msg:stub}} ---- ''The rest of this article is an Wikitravel:CIA World Factbook 2002 import|import from the CIA World Factbook 2002. It's a starting point for creating a '''real''' Wikitravel country article according to our Wikitravel:country article template|country article template. Please Wikitravel:plunge forward|plunge forward and edit it.'' ---- ==Geography== ; '''Geographic coordinates''' : 47 00 N, 29 00 E ; '''Area''' : ''total:'' 33,843 sq km ''water:'' 472 sq km ''land:'' 33,371 sq km ; '''Area - comparative''' : slightly larger than Maryland ; '''Natural resources''' : lignite, phosphorites, gypsum, arable land, limestone ; '''Land use''' : ''arable land:'' 54.08% ''permanent crops:'' 12.1% ''other:'' 33.82% (1998 est.) ; '''Irrigated land''' : 3,070 sq km (1998 est.) ==People== ; '''Population''' : 4,434,547 (July 2002 est.) ; '''Age structure''' : ''0-14 years:'' 21.7% (male 490,414; female 472,912) ''15-64 years:'' 68.2% (male 1,451,962; female 1,572,561) ''65 years and over:'' 10.1% (male 165,860; female 280,838) (2002 est.) ; '''Population growth rate''' : 0.09% (2002 est.) ; '''Birth rate''' : 13.82 births/1,000 population (2002 est.) ; '''Death rate''' : 12.64 deaths/1,000 population (2002 est.) ; '''Net migration rate''' : -0.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.) ; '''Sex ratio''' : ''at birth:'' 1.05 male(s)/female ''under 15 years:'' 1.04 male(s)/female ''15-64 years:'' 0.92 male(s)/female ''65 years and over:'' 0.59 male(s)/female ''total population:'' 0.91 male(s)/female (2002 est.) ; '''Infant mortality rate''' : 42.16 deaths/1,000 live births (2002 est.) ; '''Life expectancy at birth''' : ''total population:'' 64.74 years ''female:'' 69.31 years (2002 est.) ''male:'' 60.39 years ; '''Total fertility rate''' : 1.71 children born/woman (2002 est.) ; '''HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate''' : 0.2% (1999 est.) ; '''Nationality''' : ''noun:'' Moldovan(s) ''adjective:'' Moldovan ; '''Ethnic groups''' : Moldovan/Romanian 64.5%, Ukrainian 13.8%, Russian 13%, Jewish 1.5%, Bulgarian 2%, Gagauz and other 5.2% (1989 est.) ''note:'' internal disputes with ethnic Slavs in the Transnistrian region ; '''Religions''' : Eastern Orthodox 98%, Jewish 1.5%, Baptist and other 0.5% (2000) ; '''Literacy''' : ''definition:'' age 15 and over can read and write ''total population:'' 96% ''male:'' 99% ''female:'' 94% (1989 est.) ==Government== ; '''Country name''' : ''conventional long form:'' Republic of Moldova ''conventional short form:'' Moldova ''local short form:'' none ''former:'' Soviet Socialist Republic of Moldova; Moldavia ''local long form:'' Republica Moldova ; '''Government type''' : republic ; '''Legal system''' : based on civil law system; Constitutional Court reviews legality of legislative acts and governmental decisions of resolution; it is unclear if Moldova accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction but accepts many UN and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) documents ; '''Suffrage''' : 18 years of age; universal ; '''Flag description''' : same color scheme as Romania - three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), yellow, and red; emblem in center of flag is of a Roman eagle of gold outlined in black with a red beak and talons carrying a yellow cross in its beak and a green olive branch in its right talons and a yellow scepter in its left talons; on its breast is a shield divided horizontally red over blue with a stylized ox head, star, rose, and crescent all in black-outlined yellow ==Economy== ; '''Economy - overview''' : Moldova enjoys a favorable climate and good farmland but has no major mineral deposits. As a result, the economy depends heavily on agriculture, featuring fruits, vegetables, wine, and tobacco. Moldova must import all of its supplies of oil, coal, and natural gas, largely from Russia. Energy shortages contributed to sharp production declines after the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991. As part of an ambitious reform effort, Moldova introduced a convertible currency, freed all prices, stopped issuing preferential credits to state enterprises, backed steady land privatization, removed export controls, and freed interest rates. The government entered into agreements with the World Bank and the IMF to promote growth and reduce poverty. The economy returned to positive growth, of 2.1% in 2000 and 6.1% in 2001. Growth remained strong in 2002, in part because of the reforms and because of starting from a small base. Further reforms are in doubt because of strong political forces backing government controls. The economy remains vulnerable to higher fuel prices, poor agricultural weather, and the scepticism of foreign investors. ; '''Population below poverty line''' : 80% (2001 est.) ; '''Labor force''' : 1.7 million (1998) (1998) ; '''Labor force - by occupation''' : agriculture 40%, industry 14%, services 46% (1998) (1998) ; '''Unemployment rate''' : 8% (roughly 25% of working age Moldovans are employed abroad) (2002 est.) ; '''Industries''' : food processing, agricultural machinery, foundry equipment, refrigerators and freezers, washing machines, hosiery, sugar, vegetable oil, shoes, textiles ; '''Electricity - production''' : 3.317 billion kWh (2000) ; '''Electricity - production by source''' : ''fossil fuel:'' 90% ''hydro:'' 10% ; '''Agriculture - products''' : vegetables, fruits, wine, grain, sugar beets, sunflower seed, tobacco; beef, milk ; '''Exports - commodities''' : foodstuffs, textiles, and machinery (2001) ; '''Imports - commodities''' : mineral products and fuel 32%, machinery and equipment, chemicals, textiles (2000) ; '''Currency''' : Moldovan leu (MDL) ; '''Currency code''' : MDL ; '''Exchange rates''' : lei per US dollar - 12.8579 (October 2001), 12.4342 (2000), 10.5158 (1999), 5.3707 (1998), 4.6236 (1997); note - lei is the plural form of leu ; '''Fiscal year''' : calendar year ==Communications== ; '''Telephones - main lines in use''' : 627,000 (1997) ; '''Telephones - mobile cellular''' : 2,200 (1997) ; '''Telephone system''' : ''general assessment:'' inadequate, outmoded, poor service outside Chisinau, some effort to modernize is under way ''domestic:'' new subscribers face long wait for service; mobile cellular telephone service being introduced ''international:'' service through Romania and Russia via landline; satellite earth stations - Intelsat, Eutelsat, and Intersputnik ; '''Radio broadcast stations''' : AM 7, FM 50, shortwave 3 (1998) ; '''Radios''' : 3.22 million (1997) ; '''Television broadcast stations''' : 1 (plus 30 repeaters) (1995) ; '''Televisions''' : 1.26 million (1997) ; '''Internet country code''' : .md ; '''Internet Service Providers (ISPs)''' : 2 (1999) ; '''Internet users''' : 15,000 (2000) ==Transportation== ; '''Railways''' : ''total:'' 1,328 km ''broad gauge:'' 1,328 km 1.520-m gauge (2001) ; '''Highways''' : ''total:'' 20,000 km ''paved:'' 13,900 km (includes some all-weather gravel-surfaced roads) ''unpaved:'' 6,100 km (these roads are made of unstabilized earth and are difficult to negotiate in wet weather) (1990) ; '''Waterways''' : 424 km (1994) ; '''Pipelines''' : natural gas 310 km (1992) ; '''Ports and harbors''' : none ; '''Airports''' : 30 (2001) ; '''Airports - with paved runways''' : ''total:'' 7 ''over 3,047 m:'' 1 ''2,438 to 3,047 m:'' 2 ''1,524 to 2,437 m:'' 3 ''under 914 m:'' 1 (2002) ; '''Airports - with unpaved runways''' : ''total:'' 23 ''2,438 to 3,047 m:'' 4 ''1,524 to 2,437 m:'' 1 ''914 to 1,523 m:'' 4 ''under 914 m:'' 14 (2002) ==Transnational Issues== ; '''Disputes - international''' : Moldovan difficulties with break-away Transnistria region inhibit establishment of a joint customs regime with Ukraine to curtail smuggling, arms transfers, and other illegal activities ; '''Illicit drugs''' : limited cultivation of opium poppy and cannabis, mostly for CIS consumption; transshipment point for illicit drugs from Southwest Asia via Central Asia to Russia, Western Europe, and possibly the US; widespread crime and underground economic activity de:Moldawien First page | Prev | Next | Last page |

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