Ocnița District

Ocnița District
Raionul Ocnița
District

Coat of arms
Country  Republic of Moldova
Administrative center
(Oraș-reședință)
Ocnița
Government
 • Raion President Ion Tomai (PCRM), since 2011
Area
 • Total 597 km2 (231 sq mi)
 • Water 7.4 km2 (2.9 sq mi)  1.23%
Elevation 280 m (920 ft)
Population (2012)
 • Total 55,800
 • Density 93.5/km2 (242/sq mi)
Time zone EET (UTC+2)
 • Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3)
Postal code 271
Area code 373 71
Car plates OC
Website ocnita.md

Ocnița is a district (Moldovan: raion) in the north of Moldova, with the administrative center at Ocnița. The other major cities are Otaci and Frunză. As of 1 January 2011, its population was 56,100.

History

The first evidence of a locality in the district comes from 1419, when is attested the city Otaci, called Stânca Vămii. Other historical attestations of district towns down to the period 1422–1431 when the localities are listed first: Hădărăuţi, Mihălăşeni, Ocniţa, Lipnic, Naslavcea and others. 20 August 1470, at Lipnic (Lipinţi) was famous Battle of Lipnic, the river, where the Moldavian military, led by Stephen the Great, defeated the armies of the Crimean Khanate led by Murtada. After the fight Khan son and his brother Eminec are captured and taken as prisoners. In the following centuries the territory adjacent to the boundary of the district today is the Principality of Moldavia: Grand Duchy of Lithuania later the Polish-Lithuanian Union and Russian Empire. In 1812 the district as a whole is occupied Bessarabia by the Russian Empire after the Treaty of Bucharest. In 1918 with the Union of Bessarabia with Romania entering the land Hotin district region. In 1940, following the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact Bessarabia again this time is occupied by the USSR. In 2004 the population was 56.500 inhabitants of the district.

Geography

Nistru near the Otaci

Ocniţa district is located in northern Moldova and bordering the west Briceni District with Edineţ District and Donduşeni District, south and southeast. To the north is bordered by Ukraine and between meridians 27°10′W and 27°50′W and 48°25′N. On the district is the most northerly point of the Republic of Moldova – the village Naslavcea coordinates: 48°28′02″N, 27°35′04″W. In general, the terrain is characterized by plains and gentle hills. Over the many little rivers, valleys landforms gets injured. Here come the daylight limestone rocks, forming rocky areas, called Toltre. In district is extracted precious building materials: limestone, quartz sand, clay shale. Maximum altitude in the district is located near the village Hădărăuţi, reaching heights of 280 m.

Climate

Ocniţa district has a temperate continental climate and the four seasons are well pronounced in winter is mild, spring – unstable and short summer – long and warm and the autumn – long and sunny. The average air temperature ranges from 7.5 to 10 °C, positive temperature recorded in 165–200 days a year. Rainfall between 370–560mm/year, about 10% of which falls as snow, which can melt several times during winter.

Fauna

Fauna district is a typical central and eastern Europe include: hedgehogs, wild boar, fox, rabbit, badger, polecat. Rarely deer, spotted deer, wolf and raccoon dog.

Flora

Forests occupy 13.7% of district territory that include common oak, sessile oak, cherry, lime, ash. Of plants: fescue, nettle, clover, peony and more.

Rivers

Călărașeuca landscape reserve

Ocniţa district is located in the basins of two rivers Nistru in east-central part which holds the district with a length by tributaries of 20–30 km. Prut river basin owns the south-west part of district has tributaries in the upper: Racovăţ and Ciuhur.

Protected areas

Administrative subdivisions

Demographics

1 January 2012 the district population was 55,800 of which 35.0% urban and 65.0% rural population.

Ethnic groups

Ethnic group Population % of total*
Moldovans (Romanians) 32,595 57.68%
Ukrainians 17,351 30.70%
Gypsies 3,417 6.04%
Russians 2,764 4.89%
Gagauzians 79 0.14%
Bulgarians 60 0.10%
Polish 43 0.08%
Others 201 0.35%

Religion

Economy

Agriculture occupies a central role in the economy of the district. In farming district in recent years there have been radical changes in relations of production, related to the transition to a market economy, to abandon the methods of centralized rule, changing property relations and forms of management. From an institutional perspective, the agricultural sector of the district is covered by a multitude of forms of organization and legal – 3 agricultural production cooperatives that process in 2448 ha of land, 3-stock holding companies 3508 ha, 28 limited liability companies with a total area of 13,328 hectares, 42 farms with a total area of 8458 ha and 3979 ha of farmland are processed individually. The district is in total 5015 registered companies.

District Directorate of Agriculture and Food, orient their work towards the organization and training of managers and professionals from large and small farms. An important role in achieving the expected results is agricultural machinery. Park tractors and agricultural machinery in the district consists of: Tractors – 450 units, combine – 78 un, seeder – 172 un, growing 190 un, watering – 46 un, combination – 10 un, plows – 201 un.

Transportation

Rail is the principal district to transport goods and fuel, but also the routes to human transport: Chişinău, Bălţi, Chernivtsi, Iași, Moscow, Kiev, St. Petersburg and others. Bălţi–Chernivtsi railway passing through the cities Otaci–Frunza–Ocniţa was built between 1892–1897, when it is documented and targeted the railway station Ocniţa built in 1897. Road transport is vital to passenger transport routes are more inter-regional, inter-republican and international.

Politics

Ocniţa district is located in the so-called "Red North" where PCRM starting with the 2001 get over 50% of the vote. But the last three elections the Communists are in constant decline.

During the last three elections AEI had an increase of 104%.

Elections

Parliament elections results
Year AEI PCRM
2010 35.31% 9,000 60.08% 15,310
July 2009 31.20% 7,901 65.92% 16,692
April 2009 16.77% 4,412 67.59% 17,045

Summary of 28 November 2010 Parliament of Moldova election results in Ocniţa District

 
Parties and coalitions Votes % +/−
Party of Communists of the Republic of Moldova 15,310 60.08 −5.84
Democratic Party of Moldova 4,141 16.25 +1.53
Liberal Democratic Party of Moldova 3,273 12.84 +3.84
Party Alliance Our Moldova 895 3.51 −0.15
Liberal Party 691 2.71 −1.11
Other Party 1,187 4.61 +1.73
Total (turnout 62.67%) 25,766 100.00

Education


In Ocniţa District are 32 educational institutions operating : in schools – 5482 children in agro-College – 242 in polyvalent vocational schools – 196. Currently in educational institutions operating in the district 652 teachers. After the 2010 education reform is proposed to open more grammar schools and high schools is proposed closed all environments.

Culture

The district Ocniţa works: six museums, 153 artistic works, 15 bands holding the title of the band model, public libraries – 30.

Health

The district Ocniţa works: two hospitals with general fund of 200 beds, a center of family doctors in the composition of which are 20 family physician offices, six health centers, a medical point. In Health Care operates 96 doctors, 322 personal care environment, 218 and auxiliary medical personnel.

Personalities

Ion Ciubuc


Coordinates: 48°25′N 27°30′E / 48.417°N 27.500°E