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Location:
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Eastern Europe, northeast of Romania
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Geographic coordinates:
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47 00 N, 29 00 E
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Map references:
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Europe
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Area:
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total: 33,843 sq km
water: 472 sq km
land: 33,371 sq km
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Area - comparative:
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slightly larger than Maryland
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Land boundaries:
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total: 1,389 km
border countries: Romania 450 km, Ukraine 939 km
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Coastline:
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0 km (landlocked)
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Maritime claims:
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none (landlocked)
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Climate:
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moderate winters, warm summers
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Terrain:
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rolling steppe, gradual slope south to Black Sea
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Dniester River 2 m
highest point: Dealul Balanesti 430 m
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Natural resources:
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lignite, phosphorites, gypsum, arable land, limestone
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Land use:
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arable land: 54.08%
permanent crops: 12.1%
other: 33.82% (1998 est.)
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Irrigated land:
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3,070 sq km (1998 est.)
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Natural hazards:
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landslides (57 cases in 1998)
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Environment - current issues:
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heavy use of agricultural chemicals, including banned pesticides such as DDT, has contaminated soil and groundwater; extensive soil erosion from poor farming methods
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants
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Geography - note:
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landlocked; well endowed with various sedimentary rocks and minerals including sand, gravel, gypsum, and limestone
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