Criuleni
The district of Criuleni lies in the eastern part of central Moldova, just east of the capital Chisinau and west of the problematic region of Transnistria. Its neighbours are Orhei and Dubasari to the north, Transnistria to the east, Ialoveni to the south and Straseni to the west. The entire district, which consists of two separate territories, is situated on the hilly right bank of the Dniester River. The Dniester counts as the biggest, but also the dirtiest, river in Europe. Its importance for sports and recreation, however, is negligible. Dniester is a major waterway and source of water for the dozens of heavy industrial plants. The most attractive spots in the area are the Surprise Cave and the splendid parks in Balabanesti and Miclesti. The seat of the district, Criuleni, is simply a larger village that saw better times during the Soviet era.