Moldova is located in the South Eastern Europe and is bordered with Romania on the west and Ukraine on the north, east and south. The largest part of the country lies between two rivers, the Dniester and the Prut. The Dniester, the larger of the two rivers, flows through the eastern portion of Moldova in a southeasterly direction. The Prut, a major tributary of the Danube River, forms Moldova’s entire western border with Romania. The area between the Dniester and Ukrainian border is called Transnistria, an autonomous region, the status of which is under dispute.

The country is landlocked and its total area is approximately 33,843 sq. km. (33,371 sq. km. of land surface and 472 sq. km. of water surface). The terrain of Moldova is primarily a hilly plain interspersed with deep river valleys. The average elevation is 147 m (482 ft) above sea level. The Codru Hills occupy the central portion of Moldova, rising to a maximum elevation of about 430 m (about 1,410 ft) at Dealul Bălăneşti. The hills in the central portion of Moldova are densely forested, mostly with oak and hornbeam trees. Forests are spread over 9 per cent of the territory of Moldova.
Natural resources in Moldova include deposits of lignite, phosphorite, gypsum and limestone. Three-quarters of the country is covered in chernozem, an exceptionally fertile type of soil that is ideal for agriculture.

Moldova’s climate is continental, with conditions modified somewhat by the Black Sea. Winters are fairly mild and summers are warm. Precipitation is fairly light and irregular and occurs least in the south, where it averages 350 mm per year. Precipitation is greatest in the higher elevation areas, where it can exceed 600 mm per year.

The available overall aquatic resources are 6.3 billion m3 in a typical year. The Republic draws 56% of its water from the Dniester River, 16% from the Prut River, 8% from small rivers and 20% from underground resources (these data do not include phreatic water sources from rural regions).  

The country’s extremely fertile land and favorable climate allow for the cultivation of a variety of crops. Moldova is a leading producer of grapes, tobacco, and rose oil. Other crops include wheat; maize; vegetables, such as tomatoes and potatoes; sugar beets; and fruits.