Botosani County, with an area of 4.986 sq km (about 2,1% from the whole country) is located in the North-East of Romania, neighboring Iasi County in the South, Suceava County in the West, Ukraine in the North and Republic of Moldavia in the East.

The territory of the county, situated in the hilly region of the Northern Moldavia, has small differences between geographical altitudes: the hills of Siret, higher in the West and in the North of Moldavia Plain and low hills, situated in the East having specific characteristics of Moldavian Plateau. The local extremes are between 587 m (Dealu Mare - Tudora) and 54 m (Lunca Prutului). The relief is mostly less prominent, having large valleys, small slopes and smooth interfluves.

The following rivers represent hydrographical network of the county: Prut, Siret, and Jijia with their tributaries. In the county there are 148 ponds with a surface of 3.600 ha. In Stânca-Costesti region (commune Stefanesti) was built an important water dam, so that one of the biggest water accumulation of the country was achieved.

The territory of our county is under continental climatic influences from Eastern Europe, being characterized by values of the air temperature and rainfall specific for the excessive continental climate.

The yearly value of the air temperature in this region is 8,6 C and the average of the rainfall is 508,3 mm.

In Botosani the transportation - persons and goods - can be made on the railways or on the public roads. The length of the railways is 159 kilometers (1,4% from the national network) and serves the population through 21 stations.
The public road network is 1.824 kilometers long, of which 361 kilometers are national roads and 1.463 kilometers are county roads.

The connection with the Ukrainian bordering territory is achieved by the customs point pass border Siret and Racovat and with the Moldavian by the customs point pass border Stânca-Costesti.
Natural Resources

The underground resources are a result of the geological structure and they are represented, mainly, through old and very pure sands worked at Miorcani (Radauti Prut), unique in Romania through their composition and purity.
There are gypsum deposits in the East side of Paltinis, on Ursoaia and Teisoara Valley.

The county`s soil contains important material resources for building: normal sands (Stîncesti, Baisa), ballast (Hutani, Corni), gravels (Dersca), limestones (Stefanesti, Hudesti, Vorona).

On the ground, wooden plants such as deciduous trees - beech trees and oak trees, represent vegetal resources even of 200 - 300 m high.

Grassy plants grow in the plain such as bulrush, rush or wooden plants such as poplar and willow tree.
Deer, wild boars, foxes, hares, wolves, etc. represent fauna, which permit to practice hunting.
From the world of the living birds we can mention: the blackbird, the thrush, the jay, the tit, the woodpecker, etc.
Rich in ponds and rivers, Botosani County is a source of fish: chubs, perch, carp, barbell, pikes, and sheat fish.

Education and Culture

Education has a long tradition on this land.

In 1832 the first Primary Public School for boys was set up. Further it was called "Marchian" school.
Nowadays the educational system from Botosani has 75.258 pupils who attend primary, secondary or high schools (there are 803 schools).

The superior private establishments of education prepare students for law and economic sciences and the superior establishments of education (state collegiums) prepare students in teaching.

Botosani was and still is an important center of Romanian culture. The cultural life of the county is marked by the 4 genius born here: Mihai Eminescu (born in Botosani 1850 - 1889), George Enescu (born in Liveni 1881 - 1955), Nicolae Iorga (born in Botosani 1871 - 1940) and Stefan Luchian (born in Stefanesti 1868 - 1916) as well as impressive gallery of big personalities that enrich the Romanian culture.

Theatre had a privileged destiny here, in Botosani. The first show took place in October 1838 with Costachi Caragiale`s troupe. In those times, Botosani was the only town from the country in which the Romanian language was spoken on the stage. In 1857 - 1858, theatre has its own troupe. Nowadays "Mihai Eminescu" Theatre (set up in 1914) has a benefic influence on inhabitants` life.

Beside "Mihai Eminescu" Theatre, The State Philharmonic Orchestra, "Vasilache" Puppets Theatre, "Rapsozii Botosaniului" Orchestra as well as "Stefan Luchian" Art Gallery draw a lot of inhabitants. The cultural life also takes place inside of 50 libraries with 380.000 books.

There were a lot of editorials in the past. The first local newspaper and magazines appeared in 1860: "The bee", "Botosani voice", "Watch - tower from Dorohoi".

Nowadays the 4 local newspapers, a private TV cable station as well as 2 local radio stations support the cultural life.

One can say there are many important fields of science, art and culture, which the sons of Botosani contribute to. (informations from www.cjbotosani.ro)