Căușeni, Moldova

🇲🇩 Căușeni is a town and the administrative centre of Căușeni District, Moldova.

History In the 17th and 18th centuries, Căușeni was the capital of the Budjak Horde. The 17th century Assumption of Our Lady Church is the oldest surviving building in the town. It is set more than 3 feet (0.91 m) below ground level and preserves the only medieval fresco in the Republic of Moldova. Executed by Walachian painters in a late Byzantine-Romanian style, the interiors feature religious scenes and iconography in vibrant reds, gold, and blues. At one time it was a vibrant Jewish shtetl. In 1897, 45 percent of the population (1,675) was Jewish, most working in agriculture.

Demographics According to the 2014 census, the population of Căușeni amounted to 15,939 inhabitants, a decrease compared to the previous census in 2004, when 17,757 inhabitants were registered. Of these, 7,606 were men and 8,333 were women.

Geography Căușeni District is located in the southern part of Moldova. It is bordered by the following districts: Ialoveni and Anenii Noi in the north, Slobozia District in the east, Ștefan Vodă District in the south-east, bordering in the south with Ukraine, and Cimișlia District in the west. The relief of the land is mostly flat, with maximum altitudes of 220–230 metres. The minimum altitude is 20–30 metres on the Lower Dniester plain. The land has a low intensity of erosion.

Fauna Typical European fauna, with the presence of such mammals such as foxes, hedgehogs, deer, wild boar, polecat, wild cat, ermine. and others. Of birds there are: partridges, crows, eagles, starlings, swallows, and more.

Flora Forests of the district are composed of tree species such as oak, ash, hornbeam, linden, maple, walnut and others. Other common plants are: wormwood, knotweed, fescue, and nettle.

Rivers Căușeni district is located in the Dniester River basin, whose main tributary is the Botna River (152 km). Most lakes are artificial in origin.

Communes 1 Baccealia; 2 Baimaclia; 3 Chircăiești; 4 Chircăieștii Noi; 5 Cîrnățeni; 6 Cîrnățenii Noi; 7 Ciuflești; 8 Coșcalia; 9 Fîrlădeni; 10 Grădinița; 11 Grigorievca; 12 Hagimus; 13 Opaci; 14 Pervomaisc; 15 Plop-Știubei; 16 Săiți; 17 Sălcuța; 18 Tănătari; 19 Tănătarii Noi; 20 Taraclia; 21 Tocuz; 22 Ucrainca; 23 Ursoaia; 24 Zaim; 25 Copanca (claimed by Transnistria); 26 Chițcani (controlled by Transnistria); 27 Cremenciug (controlled by Transnistria); 28 Gîsca (controlled by Transnistria).

Economy The main economic activities of the district are agriculture and manufacturing. Currently there are 15,721 registered companies in the district. The different types of manufacturing that predominate are: wine-making, processing of milk, bakery products, and other industries based on local raw materials. Total Agricultural land is 93,700 ha which is (80.5%) of the total land area. Of this agricultural land, the arable land occupies 70 600 ha (60.7%), of which there are 4,300 ha of orchards (3.7%) and 5,200 ha of vineyards (4.5%).

Education The district operates 69 educational institutions, including institutions of secondary education - 37 (14,960 students), kindergartens - 31 (3014 children), a creative centre for children.

Culture In the Căușeni District there are: 37 houses of culture, several folk bands with a Title 31 model, and 74 amateur artistic groups with a total of 1200 participants. There is a School of Arts in Căușeni city, a school of Music in both Căinari and Copanca, a museum of history and ethnography of Căușeni, the "Alexei Mateevici House Museum" in Zaim, and in Cainari, a Museum of history and ethnography in Copanca, and 45 public Libraries including 9 branches for children].

Health Health services are provided in Căușeni District through: a general fund hospital with 292 beds, 19 Magnetic field imaging (MFI) units, 13 health centres, 5 health points, and 13 clinical diagnostic laboratories.

Economy: Tourist Industry • Assumption of Our Lady Church, Căușeni • Trajan's Wall in villages Copanca and Chircăiești.