A small country in Eastern Europe, Moldova's geography is fairly diverse, and includes very dry zones in the south.
To be considered a desert, a region must get fewer than 10 inches of rain a year, and evaporation must outpace precipitation, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. There are no areas in the small, Eastern European country of Moldova that bear these characteristics, but many areas of the country come close. According to analyst Simeon Mitropolitski in the January 2007 "International Real Estate Digest," concern exists that semi-desert areas already prone to drought will become deserts, thanks to poor agricultural practices and industrialization. It's a process aptly-called "desertification."
Pontic Steppe
Moldova exists in part of the world's largest dry steppe region. According to the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology, a "steppe" is a large plain boasting no trees and limited, unpredictable rainfall. The nearly 390,000-square-mile Pontic step stretches through the southern part of Moldova. Combined with the neighboring Kazakh Steppe--collectively known as the "Pontic Steppe"--it is the biggest dry steppe in the world, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Nistru River Steppe
Other steppe areas in Moldova remain too dry to support a forest but technically not so dry to be called a desert. The steppe plains of the Nistru River area in the southern and southeastern part of the country are characterized by very dry winds, as well as prolonged drought, and grasses that resemble those found in the Mediterranean but not in more temperate parts of Europe.
Bugeac Steppe
In southwest Moldova sits the Bugeac Steppe. Like its counterpart to the east, Nistru River, this steppe is also characterized by dry winds and very little rain--in some cases, fewer than 14 inches a year. It consists of a very large area, which makes up 20 percent of the country's total territory.
Desertification
The steppe areas are considered protected areas. There is a widespread concern that these regions are facing "accelerated desertification," according to analyst Mitropolitski. He contends this situation evolved from land exploitation--a Communist-era legacy--as well as industrialization. Water diverted to factory use, instead of agricultural use, made already drought-prone areas less fertile. Mitropolitski speculates that if desertification continues, food production to meet the needs of the region's people will suffer, and Moldovans will be forced to migrate to other areas.
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