Vulcănești
Municipality in Gagauzia, Moldova
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Vulcănești (Romanian pronunciation: [vulkəˈneʃtʲ]; Gagauz: Valkaneş; Russian: Вулканешты, romanized: Vulkaneshty) is a city and district[3] in Gagauz Autonomous Territorial Unit of the Republic of Moldova. The district of Vulcănești is the southern exclave of Gagauzia surrounded by the Cahul District (Moldova) and Odesa Oblast (Ukraine). One village-rail station also named Vulcănești, is administered by the city.
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Vulcănești
Valkaneş | |
|---|---|
Vulcănești WWII monument | |
 Coat of arms | |
  Vulcănești Location of Vulcănești in Moldova  Vulcănești Vulcănești (Moldova) | |
| Coordinates: 45°41′00″N 28°24′10″E | |
| Country |  Moldova |
| District |  Gagauzia |
| Founded | 1712 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Nikolai Posmak[1] |
| Area | |
• Total | 15.26 km2 (5.89 sq mi) |
| Population | |
• Total | 10,919 |
| • Density | 715.5/km2 (1,853/sq mi) |
| Ethnicity (2024 census) | |
| • Gagauz people | 70.17% |
| • Moldovans | 13.3% |
| • other | 16.53% |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (EET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (EEST) |
| Climate | Cfb |
| Website | primariavulcanesti.com |
History
The site of the city has been settled by humans for centuries, archaeological investigations have revealed a Neolithic sculpture that echoes Rodin's The Thinker.[4][5]
The present day town was settled in the 18th century by Gagauz and Moldovan refugees from the Ottoman Empire.
The symbol of the town, the monument dedicated to the Battle of Cahul was erected in around 1849. Signifying a battle that took place in the proximate area in the Russo-Turkish War (1768–1774). The monument was designed by the Italian architect Francesco Boffo.
After the Union of Bessarabia with Romania in 1918 Vulcănești was integrated into the Cahul county in Romania. In 1930 the town was recorded to have 6,538 people, including 3389 men and 3149 women.[6]
In 1965 the then village received the status of urban-type settlement and in 1995 city status.[7]
Demographics
According to the 2024 census, 10,919 inhabitants lived in Vulcănești, a decrease compared to the previous census in 2014, when 12,185 inhabitants were registered.[8][9]
| Ethnic group | Population | % Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Gagauz | 7,662 | 70.17% |
| Moldovans[a] | 1,452 | 13.3% |
| Russians | 691 | 6.33% |
| Ukrainians | 518 | 4.74% |
| Bulgarians | 401 | 3.67% |
| Others | 195 | 1.77% |
| Total | 10,919 | 100% |
Media
- Moldovan radio station Vocea Basarabiei broadcasts in Vulcănești on 106.7.
International relations
Twin towns – Sister cities
Ceadîr-Lunga is twinned with:[10]
Zhukovka, Bryansk Oblast, Russia;
Babruysk, Belarus;
Lüleburgaz, Turkey;
Notable people
- Aleksandra Albu (born 1990), Russian mixed martial artist
- Grigorii Uzun (born 1986), Moldovan businessman and politician
Notes
- There is an ongoing controversy regarding the ethnic identification of Moldovans and Romanians.