1. OUR HOME LAND – TRANSDNIESTRIA

Our region was established as a separate country in September 1990, so September 2^nd is celebrated as Independence Day. The official name of the state is the Pridniestrovian Moldovan Republic, or Pridniestrovie in short. In Europe this country is known as Transdniestria.

Pridniestrovie is situated along the river Dniester and borders on Moldova and the Ukraine. Its territory is about 10.000 square kilometres. The population is more than 700.000 people of more than 40 nationalities. Moldavians, Russians, Ukrainians, Bulgarians, Gagauzes have been living here side by side for many years.

Tiraspol is the industrial, scientific and cultural centre of the republic. Other large towns are Bendery, Rybnitsa and Dubossary.

The republic stretches along the Dniester for hundreds of kilometres. The river is a wonderful waterway to the Black Sea. Its banks are very picturesque. The river is navigable all the year round and it is good for boating and rowing competitions.

Thanks to mild winters and sunshine all the year round, our country has been called the Sunny Land. People come here in summer to enjoy their vacations.

Pridniestrovie is a developed industrial and agricultural region. It produces electric motors, transformers, cable, modern furniture, various kinds of tinned food, lots of which are exported to different countries in the world. Many branches of light industry are also highly developed. Winemaking has a long-standing tradition. Our wines and brandies are of superior quality.

Pridniestrovie is a land of vast fields, plantations, large orchards and vineyards. This land gives rich harvests of apples, peaches, grapes, tomatoes and many other kinds of fruit and vegetables. Also there are many cattle and poultry farms.

The main mineral wealth is limestone, which is used for building. There are deposits of quarry stone for road-laying, sands and potter’s clay.

The people of Pridniestrovie are looking forward to the official acknowledgement of their republic in the nearest future.

to establish [is′tæbli∫]                                         здесь: утверждать

to stretch  [stret∫]                                                простираться

branch  [bra:nt∫]                                                  здесь: отрасль

superior [sju′piəriə]                                             превосходный

quality [′kwoliti]                                                качество

vast [va:st]                                                          обширный, просторный

orchard [′o:t∫əd]                                                 фруктовый сад

vineyard [′vinjəd]                                               виноградник

poultry [′poultri]                                                 домашняя птица

limestone [′laimstoun]                                        известняк

deposit [di′pozit]                                                здесь: залежи

quarry [′kwori]                                                   каменоломня

potter’s clay [′potəz ′klei]                                  гончарная глина

acknowledgement [ək′noliʤmənt]                    здесь: признание

Questions:

1.  When is Independence Day celebrated in Pridniestrovie?

2.  Where is Pridniestrovie situated?

3.  How old is our republic?

4. What countries does it border on?

5. What large cities in Pridniestrovie do you know?

6. What goods does it produce?

7. Why is it called the Sunny Land?

8. Do you like to rest in the forests and on the beaches?

9. What do people grow in the fields and plantations?

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