Cantemir District

Cantemir district is situated in the south-western part of the Republic of Moldova, on the border with Romania, along the Prut, and belongs to the South Development Region. Its seat is the town of Cantemir, about 120 km from the capital Chișinău. The district borders Leova to the north, the autonomous territorial unit of Gagauzia to the east, Cahul to the south, and, to the west across the Prut, Romania.

Geography

The territory extends across the hills and plains of south-western Moldova, with altitudes reaching about 300 metres and a broad floodplain along the Prut. The district's area is approximately 868 km², and the population, according to the 2014 census, was about 52,115 inhabitants, with a density of about 60 inhabitants per km². The ethnic composition is mostly Moldovan/Romanian, with a notable Bulgarian community and Ukrainian, Russian and Gagauz minorities.

Economy

The district's economy has a predominantly agricultural profile. Fertile soils and a warm climate favour the cultivation of cereals, sunflower, grapevines and vegetables, while viticulture and fruit growing hold an important place. The agri-food processing industry makes use of the local harvest. Proximity to the Prut and to the border crossing points with Romania stimulates cross-border trade.

What to see

The district was established in 2003, following the administrative reform, on a territory that previously belonged to the former Cahul County. Its name evokes the scholar and ruler Dimitrie Cantemir. The Prut floodplain, with its wetlands and rich birdlife, offers attractive natural landscapes, and the villages preserve churches and living traditions.

History

Before the 2003 reform, the territory of the present district belonged to the former Cahul County and, earlier still, to the historical lands of southern Bessarabia. In the interwar period the area was part of Romania, and after 1944 it was incorporated into the Moldavian SSR. The name of the district and of its seat honours Dimitrie Cantemir, ruler of Moldavia, encyclopaedic scholar and member of the Berlin Academy, one of the great figures of Romanian and European culture. Through its agricultural vocation, its vineyards and its position on the country's western frontier, Cantemir district remains representative of south-western Moldova.