Geography & environment — Moldova
Location, land area, terrain, climate, and natural resources.
Profile updated 2026-06-02
⚡ Geography & environment at a glance
Location, land area, terrain, climate, and natural resources. Key figure for Moldova: Europe
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Location & size
- Geographic Location
Europe
- Geographic Coordinates
47 00 N, 29 00 E
- Total Area
13,070 Square Miles 33,851 Square Kilometers
- Land Area
12,699 Square Miles 32,891 Square Kilometers
- Water Area
371 Square Miles 960 Square Kilometers
- Land Boundaries
864 Miles 1,390 Kilometers
- Border Countries
Romania 450 km, Ukraine 939 km
Physical geography
- Terrain
rolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea
- Highest Point
430 Meters
- Highest Point Location
Dealul Balanesti 430 m
- Lowest Point
2 Meters
- Lowest Point Location
Dniester River 2 m
- Natural Resources
lignite, phosphorites, gypsum, arable land, limestone
- Irrigated Land
881 Square Miles 2,283 Square Kilometers
Climate & time
- Time Zone
UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
- Daylight saving time
+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Climate
- Climate
Moldova's climate is mild in the winter and warm in the summery. Winter temperatures are typically in the 20s (F) but occasionally fall below zero. Highs in the summer are typically in the 80s but can go as high as 100. There are four distinct seasons, with foliage on trees between April and October. The climate is semi‑arid. Because of the clearing of land for agricultural cultivation--especially in the Soviet era for grape production--there are few forests or woodlands. There has been soil erosion due to farming methods. The effect in the cities is that occasionally dust can blow up from the streets in gusts. Humidity in the summer can be high.
- Terrain
rolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea
- Location
Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania
- Total Area
13,070 Square Miles 33,851 Square Kilometers
- Border Countries
Romania 450 km, Ukraine 939 km
Environment
- Environment - Current Issues
heavy use of agricultural chemicals, including banned pesticides such as DDT, has contaminated soil and groundwater
extensive soil erosion from poor farming methods
- Environment - International Agreements
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