RELIEF

The central, northern and eastern part of the district is located on the Northern Moldavian Plateau, and the southern and western part – within the Bălților Plain and the Middle Prut. The general inclination of the territory is from North-West to South-East. The average altitude above sea level is 208 meters, the highest peaks are 252.6 m high; 244.5m and 228.5m.

The plateau has a relatively flat appearance, only in the valley of the Prut river and its tributaries is the relief more fragmented. An original relief was formed in the region of the Toltres of the Prut, which includes the basins of the rivers Draghiste, Racovaț, Bogda, which in some places carved their valleys in the limestone massifs in the form of gorges and gorges with steep rocky slopes, with numerous grottoes and caves. Characteristic processes in limestone are spread here.

The relief of the district offers favorable conditions for human activity, being densely populated and intensively exploited.

The soils:

On the territory of the district there are several types and subtypes of soil grouped into two broad categories:

1) zonal

2) azonal.

Zonal soils formed under the influence of climate and vegetation zonality are represented by two types of chernozem: leached and agroiluvial, formed under the steppe grassy vegetation, but also by the gray soil formed under oak forests and other species. Chernozium has a humus content, the highest compared to other types of soil, and is from 1.5 to 6%. Chernozium is used almost entirely for various agricultural crops – technical cereals, fodder and fruit trees.

The gray soil has a humus content of 1.5-2% and is favorable for orchards and the cultivation of technical plants – sugar beet and tobacco.

Among the azonal soils, the most common are the alluvial ones, found in the river meadows under the meadow vegetation favorable for the growth of fruit and vegetable crops. To preserve this wealth of nature – the soil for future generations it is necessary to prevent and combat landslides, soil erosion, to practice sustainable agriculture, to promote a series of information and education actions regarding the protection and sustainable use of the soil.

Surface waters and underground waters:

The rivers flowing through the territory of the district belong to the drainage basin of the Prut river. The Prut River crosses the Edineț district for a length of 40 km. Prut freezes at the end of December and thaws at the beginning of March. The hydrographic network of the district includes the following rivers: Racovaţ, Draghishte, Ciuhur, Bogda, Sarata and Lopatinca. The main sources of feeding these rivers are rain, snow and groundwater.

The valleys of these rivers create unforgettable landscapes and can attract many tourists.

Apart from rivers, almost all localities of the district have man-made lakes or ponds, in total there are 101 ponds with an area of 918.21 ha.

The water fund in the district is 2803.9 ha, including: 1925.6 ha – the property of the state and 878.3 ha – the property of the administrative-territorial units of the first level.

Currently, the water of the Prut River is used for centralized water consumption in the  Edineț and Cupcini, in industry, for irrigation, fishing and recreation.

Flora:

The territory of the district is placed within the limits of the forest-steppe area. The dominant natural vegetation is represented by deciduous oak forests – pedunculated with cherry in a mixture of ash, linden and other species interspersed with steppe sectors represented by grassy plants – grass, sedge, bearded. In the meadow forests it is found – willow, wicker, white poplar and shrubs – black elder, blood, hornbeam, etc.

On the steep slopes with the substrate of calcareous rocks and insufficient humidity, the petrophytic vegetation is found: the cypress, the ash, the meadow, etc. All plant associations are affected by some natural factors and human activity and require appropriate protection measures.

Fauna.

Within the district, zonal animal communities – of steppe and azonal forests – of meadows, aquatics are delimited.

The animal world is spread according to the character of the vegetation that provides it with both food and a safer living environment.

The fauna that populates the forest funds in the district is represented by the following species:

¬ Mammals: deer, wild boar, hare, fox, badger, squirrel.

¬ Birds: woodcock, plover, nightingale, pheasant, wild duck, partridge, quail, white crane, cuckoo, starling.

In the lakes and ponds there are wild geese and ducks, storks, swans. Fish such as carp, crucian carp, pike, shad, salmon, bream, etc. can be found in rivers and lakes. Reptiles are represented by lizards, vipers, house snakes.

The cave fauna is represented by several species of bats. Some species of animals have adapted to the living environment in agricultural lands and in human settlements showing a great capacity for the new living conditions, the most common are mice, rats, weasels, ferrets.

Natural resources

The district has a low potential of natural resources, the solar energy resources, soils and construction materials being especially valued. They offer relatively favorable premises for human life and activity, especially agricultural resources, which create favorable conditions for the development of agriculture.

The mineral resources of the district in the North-West direction are presented by the complex of Silurian shales and disaggregated sandstones. Also here is a compact sector of brown clay shale. Siliceous limestones are also found. In the south-eastern part of the city of Edineț there is a clay quarry for the production of bricks. The volume of extractions was 5000 m3/year, but currently it is not working.

In the district there are several limestone construction material extraction quarries of the companies “Maconrut” LTD and “Mina din Cupcini” Joint-Stock company.

Climate

The climate in Edineţ district is temperate-continental, with cold winters and hot and dry summers. Sudden climate changes produce unwanted phenomena, such as: droughts, torrential rains, blizzards, storms, hail and floods. The average temperature in January is minus 8-10ºC, in July plus 20-25°C, the annual average temperature is 80C. The annual amount of precipitation is approximately 550 mm/m2. The most frequent winds are those from the North-West and South-West. Precipitation in the environment is moderate (548.5 l/m2 annual average, maximum in June 88.7 l/m2 and minimum in February, with 22.6 l/m2). The annual number of days with liquid precipitation is 110.9, and the annual number of days with solid precipitation was 27.5. The average decadal thickness of the snow cover has a maximum of 14.6 in February, the 2nd decade.

The climatic conditions on the terraces of the Prut river, compared to other regions, are drier and warmer. On the slopes, on the contrary, it is colder and wetter, here we observe the vertical zoning of the geographical configurations – from the dry steppes to the groves.\