Eastern Europe: It consists of Belorussia, Moldavia, Romania and Ukraine. The flat and rolling grassland, marshes and rivers, flood plains covers almost all of Ukraine and Belorussia. The Carpathian Mountains cross the southwestern corner of Ukraine and continue a large arc shaped chain of high peaks at the heart of Romania. Along the southern part of this chain the Carpathians are called the Transylvanian Alps.
Landscape
The Pripet Marshes in Belorussia and Ukraine form the longest area of marshland in Europe. The Steppes are great wide grassland, which are found across Eastern Europe and central Asia. Over 70% of the Ukrainian landscape is Steppe. The Crimea Peninsula divides the Sea of Azov from the Black Sea. The steep mountain of Krymsk Hory runs along the southeastern coast of Crimea.
Climate
The climate is continental with warm dry summers and very cold dry winters. Temperatures are higher along the fringe of the Black Sea while the Carpathian Mountains are colder and wetter all year round.
Industry
In Ukraine, most industry is based on the country’s minerals reserve. The Donbas region has Europe’s largest coalfield and is an important centre for iron and steel production. Belorussia’s main industries are chemicals; machine building and food processing. Romania’s manufacturing industries are growing with the help of foreign investment.
Farming and Land Use
The Black soils found across much of Ukraine are very fertile and the country is a big producer of cereals sugar beet and sunflowers, which are grown for their oil. In Moldavia and southern Romania the warm summers are ideal for growing grapes for wine, along with sunflowers and variety of vegetables. Cattle and Pigs are farmed throughout Eastern Europe.
Population
Most Romanians live in Bucharest, the capital or in other cities and towns. In Ukraine, two third of the population lived in the cities in the Donbas industrial area. Most of the Belorussian people are city dwellers. Moldova is the most rural country in Eastern Europe; half its people live in the countryside and make their living from farming.
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