Taraclia
The district of Taraclia is located in the southernmost part of Moldova. It consists of two separate territories and shares borders with Ukraine to the south and east, Gagauzia to the north and Cahul to the west. Geographically, the area lies in the steppes of the Eastern European Plain. The south is under the strong influence of the Black Sea in terms of climate and terrain. Only sporadic rows of hills break the monotony of the endless fields, many of which are swamped. Compared to other administrative divisions in the former Soviet Republic, Taraclia has the lowest population density. The district lies on the only road and railway connecting Moldova and southeastern Europe. Taraclia differs from the rest of the country in ethnical and cultural aspect, since the huge majority of its inhabitants are of Bulgarian origin. The latter founded the main town by the same name in the beginning of the 19th Century. Today, Taraclia is among the major university centres in Moldova.