Introduction
Chisinau is the capital and the largest city of Moldova in Eastern Europe. It is in the central part of the country along the Bâc (Byk) River. Parts of the old town that border the river are subject to flooding. The newer parts lie on terraces along the Bâc.
Landmarks
Chisinau is home to various educational institutions, including the Moldova State University, the Technical University of Moldova, the State Agricultural University of Moldova, and the academy of sciences. The city also has the Moldovan G. Musicescu Academy of Music and the Moldovan State Art Museum.
Economy
Chisinau is the economic hub of Moldova. Its manufactures include measuring equipment, machine tools, tractors, pumps, refrigerators, washing machines, and insulated wiring. Wine making, flour milling, and tobacco processing are the city's main agriculture-related industries. The city also has clothing and footwear factories.
History
The earliest historical reference to Chisinau dates from 1466, when it was under the rule of Prince Stefan III. Since then it has changed hands many times. In the 16th century the Ottoman Turks captured Chisinau. The city was heavily damaged in the Russo-Turkish War of the 18th century. In 1812 its whole province, called Bessarabia at the time, was taken over by Russia. It was henceforth known by its Russian name, Kishinev.
After World War I (1914–18) Kishinev was included in Romania as Chisinau, but the Soviet Union took it back in 1940. Kishinev became the capital of the newly formed Moldavian Soviet Socialist Republic.
During World War II (1939–45) the city was occupied by German forces. Apart from widespread destruction, a large proportion of its Jewish population was killed. An earlier massacre of Jews in 1903 was particularly notorious for its brutality—45 Jews were killed, nearly 600 were wounded, and 1,500 Jewish homes were destroyed. After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 the city was renamed Chisinau and became the capital of independent Moldova. Population (1996 estimate), 655,000.
