2. Outline 1.Geography 2.General Information 3.History 4.Economy 5.Culture

3. 1. Geographical position Eastern Europe

4. 2. General Information Capital : Chi ş inău [pron.: ki ʃ in ə u] Border countries: Romania (EU) – 450 km Ukraine – 940 km Area: 33 845 sq. km Population: 3,5 million (2004 census) Density: 125 per sq km Religion: Eastern Orthodox Christians (95,5%) Official language: Moldovan (Latin alphabet) Form of Government: Parliamentary Republic Currency: Leu (MDL) ‏ Independence: (from USSR) – August 27, 1991. Membership: UN, Council of Europe, WTO, OSCE, CIS, BSEC

5. Ethnic Groups Moldovans – 78% Ukrainians - 8.4% Russians - 5.9%, Gagauzes - 4.4% Bulgarians - 1.9%, Others (Belorussians, Jews, Roma) and unspecified – 1,4%

6. 3. History 1359 – the principality of Moldavia was established; 1538 – became a tributary to the Ottoman Empire, maintaining internal and partial external autonomy.

7. 3. History 1812 – the Russian Empire annexed the territory between the Prut and Nistru Rivers, i.e. a historical a part of the Principality of Moldavia and called it Bessarabia.

8. 3. History 1918 – upon the dissolution of the Russian Empire, it united with the rest of lands (principalities) of Romania (until 1940).

9. 3. History 1940 - 1991 – part of the Soviet Union under the name of Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic

10. 4. Economy Agriculture Rich soil (54% arable land) + temperate continental climate = one of the most productive agricultural regions since ancient times and a major supplier of agricultural products in Eastern Europe - vegetables, fruits, grapes, grain, sugar beets, sunflower seed, tobacco; beef, milk; wine

11. 4. Economy Wine Industry Moldova is known in the region for its fine wines and brandies. The country has a well established wine industry. Most of the country's wine production is made for export. (Many families have their own strands of grapes and recipes that have been passed down through the generations).

12. 4. Economy Viticulture - a secular tradition. “The grape-form country”

13. 4. Economy Moldova has around 200 wineries Mileştii Mici winery: noted in Guinness World Records 2007 Yearbook: the world’s largest wine collection (2 million bottles) Cricova winery: the world’s largest wine cellar (250 km) - need a car or a bike The locals have extracted the white stone from undeground and the shafts are now used as cellars for storing wine. The tunnel streets are named after wine brands "Cabernet", “Chardonay", "Sauvignon" etc.

14. 4. Economy Industry sugar, vegetable oil, food processing, agricultural machinery; foundry equipment, refrigerators and freezers, washing machines; hosiery, shoes, textiles

15. 5. Culture Dancing Academic Folk Dancing Ensamble “Joc” – a champion of the national folklore

16. 5. Culture Dancing Chişinău is one of the internationally famous sports dancing centers S port Dancing Ensamble “Codreanca” – winner of numerous European and world championships

17. 5. Culture Music National Folk Orchestra “Lăutarii”

18. 5. Culture Medieval vestiges Hamam Soroca Fortress Bender Fortress

19. 5. Culture Underground Church

20. 5. Culture

21. Landscapes

22. Traditional House

23. Our People

24. Our Future

25. Thank you for your kind attention!