View source for Cahul

{{other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name = Cahul
| settlement_type = [[Municipiu|Municipality]]
| motto = 
| image_skyline = {{Photomontage|position=center
|photo1a =Blocul central de studii.jpg{{!}}Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu State University of Cahul
|photo2a =Catedrala „Sf. Mihail”, monument ocrotit de stat amplasat în Cahul 02.jpg{{!}}Saint Michael Cathedral
|photo2b =Ioan Vodă. Foto 2.jpg{{!}}John III the Terrible Monument
|size = 270
|spacing = 1
|color = #FFFFFF
|border = 1
}}
| image_caption = From top, left to right: [[Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu State University of Cahul]], Saint Michael Cathedral, [[John III the Terrible]] Monument
| image_flag = 
| image_shield = CoA of Cahul.png
| image_map = 
| map_caption = 
| pushpin_map = Moldova
| pushpin_label_position = bottom
| pushpin_mapsize = 220
| pushpin_map_caption = Location of Cahul within [[Moldova]]
| subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name = {{MDA}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[Districts of Moldova|District]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Cahul District]]
| established_title = Founded
| established_date = 1502 (first official record)
| established_title2 = 
| established_date2 = 
| government_type = 
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = [[Nicolae Dandiș]] ([[Independent (politician)|Independent]])
| area_magnitude = 
| area_total_sq_mi = 
| area_total_km2 = 33.91
| area_urban_sq_mi = 
| area_urban_km2 = 
| area_metro_km2 = 
| area_metro_sq_mi = 
| population_as_of = [[2014 Moldovan Census|2014]]
| population_footnotes = <ref>[http://www.statistica.md/pageview.php?l=en&idc=479 Results of Population and Housing Census in the Republic of Moldova in 2014]: {{cite web | url= https://www.statistica.md/public/files/Recensamint/Recensamint_pop_2014/Rezultate/Tabele/Caracteristici_populatie_Comune_RPL_2014_rom_rus_eng.xls | title= Characteristics - Population (population by communes, religion, citizenship) | publisher= [[National Bureau of Statistics of the Republic of Moldova]] | format= XLS | year=2017 | access-date = 1 May 2017}}</ref>
| population_total = 30,018
| population_urban = 
| population_metro = 
| population_density_sq_mi = 
| population_density_km2 = 1212,4
| timezone = [[Eastern European Time|EET]]
| utc_offset = +2
| timezone_DST = [[Eastern European Summer Time|EEST]]
| utc_offset_DST = +3
| coordinates = {{coord|45|55|0|N|28|11|01|E|region:MD_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_ft = 
| elevation_m = 119
| website = [https://www.primariacahul.md/ Official website]
| footnotes = 
}}

'''Cahul''' ({{IPA|ro|kaˈhul}}; also known by [[#Etymology and names|alternative names]]<!-- Please maintain the naming conventions [[WP:PLACE#General_guidelines]]#2.The lead and [[WP:ALTNAME#Separate_section_usage]] and don't add alternative English or unofficial foreign names here-->) is a city and municipality<ref>[http://lex.justice.md/md/368393/ LEGE Nr. 248 din 03.11.2016 pentru modificarea și completarea Legii nr. 764-XV din 27 decembrie 2001 privind organizarea administrativ-teritorială a Republicii Moldova] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190219032852/http://lex.justice.md/md/368393/ |date=19 February 2019 }} {{in lang|ro}}</ref> in southern [[Moldova]]. The city is the administrative center of [[Cahul District]]; it also administers one village, Cotihana. As of [[2014 Moldovan Census|2014 census]], the city has a population of 30,018.

==Etymology and names==
The city of Cahul ({{langx|ru|Кагул|Kagul}}, {{langx|bg|Кахул|Kahul}}) is believed to have been inhabited for many centuries, although it has had a number of different names over the years – the name '''Scheia''' (Old Romanian for "Bulgarian") was recorded in 1502, and the name '''Frumoasa''' ("Beautiful" in Romanian) was recorded in 1716. The modern name was given to the settlement after the [[Battle of Kagul]], which was fought nearby.

==History==
[[File:Catedrala „Sf. Mihail”, monument ocrotit de stat amplasat în Cahul 01.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Cathedral of the Holy Archangel Michael (1837)]]
The city's location had made it a frequent battleground for a number of armies, with possession of frequently switching between countries such as [[Moldavia|Principality of Moldavia]], [[Russian Empire]], [[Ottoman Empire]].

The city was a part of [[Moldavia]] before 1812, then Russia from 1812 to 1856, then again Moldavia/[[United Principalities|Romanian Principalities]] (1856–1878), then Russia again (1878–1918), then [[Kingdom of Romania|Romania]] again (1918–1940), then the [[Soviet Union]] (1940–1941), then Romania again (1941–1944), the Soviet Union again (1944–1991) and finally Moldova (1991 to the present).

Apart from the battles that have been fought over it, Cahul is also known for its thermal [[thermal bath|spa]]s and for its [[folk music]].

==Climate==
Cahul has a [[humid continental climate|humid continental-type]] climate ([[Köppen climate classification]] "Dfa" – hot-summer subtype) with  four distinct seasons. Average monthly precipitation ranges from about 28&nbsp;mm (1.1&nbsp;in) in October to 76&nbsp;mm (3&nbsp;in) in June.

{{Weather box
| width = auto
| location = Cahul, Moldova (1991–2020, extremes 1947–2021)
| metric first = Yes
| single line = Yes
| Jan record high C = 15.4
| Feb record high C = 20.9
| Mar record high C = 26.0
| Apr record high C = 30.6
| May record high C = 37.0
| Jun record high C = 36.6
| Jul record high C = 39.4
| Aug record high C = 39.3
| Sep record high C = 35.3
| Oct record high C = 30.8
| Nov record high C = 24.5
| Dec record high C = 17.4
| year record high C = 39.4
| Jan high C = 1.4
| Feb high C = 4.2
| Mar high C = 10.0
| Apr high C = 16.7
| May high C = 22.5
| Jun high C = 26.4
| Jul high C = 28.9
| Aug high C = 28.9
| Sep high C = 23.2
| Oct high C = 16.2
| Nov high C = 9.1
| Dec high C = 3.0
| year high C = 15.9
| Jan mean C = -1.6
| Feb mean C = 0.3
| Mar mean C = 5.0
| Apr mean C = 11.0
| May mean C = 16.7
| Jun mean C = 20.7
| Jul mean C = 23.0
| Aug mean C = 22.8
| Sep mean C = 17.4
| Oct mean C = 11.3
| Nov mean C = 5.4
| Dec mean C = 0.0
| year mean C = 11.0
| Jan low C = -4.2
| Feb low C = -2.8
| Mar low C = 1.1
| Apr low C = 6.2
| May low C = 11.6
| Jun low C = 15.6
| Jul low C = 17.7
| Aug low C = 17.3
| Sep low C = 12.5
| Oct low C = 7.4
| Nov low C = 2.6
| Dec low C = -2.5
| year low C = 6.9
| Jan record low C = -24.9
| Feb record low C = -25.8
| Mar record low C = -17.5
| Apr record low C = -4.6
| May record low C = 1.3
| Jun record low C = 5.3
| Jul record low C = 9.0
| Aug record low C = 5.4
| Sep record low C = -3.0
| Oct record low C = -7.1
| Nov record low C = -15.8
| Dec record low C = -21.7
| year record low C = -25.8
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 28
| Feb precipitation mm = 25
| Mar precipitation mm = 31
| Apr precipitation mm = 39
| May precipitation mm = 51
| Jun precipitation mm = 68
| Jul precipitation mm = 59
| Aug precipitation mm = 46
| Sep precipitation mm = 51
| Oct precipitation mm = 46
| Nov precipitation mm = 35
| Dec precipitation mm = 36
| year precipitation mm = 516
| unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 6
| Feb precipitation days = 5
| Mar precipitation days = 6
| Apr precipitation days = 6
| May precipitation days = 8
| Jun precipitation days = 7
| Jul precipitation days = 6
| Aug precipitation days = 5
| Sep precipitation days = 4
| Oct precipitation days = 5
| Nov precipitation days = 5
| Dec precipitation days = 6
| year precipitation days = 69
| Jan humidity = 84
| Feb humidity = 82
| Mar humidity = 75
| Apr humidity = 67
| May humidity = 65
| Jun humidity = 66
| Jul humidity = 64
| Aug humidity = 64
| Sep humidity = 67
| Oct humidity = 74
| Nov humidity = 83
| Dec humidity = 86
| year humidity = 73
| Jan sun = 82
| Feb sun = 111
| Mar sun = 160
| Apr sun = 208
| May sun = 273
| Jun sun = 299
| Jul sun = 325
| Aug sun = 304
| Sep sun = 228
| Oct sun = 168
| Nov sun = 91
| Dec sun = 78
| year sun = 2323
|source 1 = [[NOAA]]<ref name = NOAA>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230821004554/https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Moldova/CSV/Cahul_33885.csv
| archive-date = 21 August 2023
| url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Moldova/CSV/Cahul_33885.csv
| title = Cahul Climate Normals 1991–2020
| work = World Meteorological Organization Climatological Standard Normals (1991–2020)
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = 21 August 2023}}</ref>
|source 2 = Serviciul Hidrometeorologic de Stat (extremes, relative humidity)<ref name = GHID>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250418163724/https://www.meteo.md/images/uploads/news/2023/05/Ghid%20Climatic%20RM_2024.pdf
| archive-date = 18 April 2025
| url = https://www.meteo.md/images/uploads/news/2023/05/Ghid%20Climatic%20RM_2024.pdf
| title = GHID CLIMATIC al Republicii Moldova
| publisher = Serviciul Hidrometeorologic de Stat
| language = ro
| access-date = 27 March 2025}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
According to the [[2024 Moldovan census|2024 census]], 22,223 inhabitants lived in Cahul (making it the eighth largest city in Moldova), a decrease compared to the previous census in 2014, when 30,018 inhabitants were registered.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://statistica.gov.md/ro/rezultatele-finale-ale-recensamantului-populatiei-si-locuintelor-2024-caracteris-10121_62043.html|title=Rezultatele finale ale Recensământului Populației și Locuințelor 2024: Caracteristici etnoculturale ale populației|publisher=National Bureau of Statistics of the Republic of Moldova }} {{in lang|ro}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://recensamint.statistica.md/ro/dissemination/person/43cf8e3b8e1e8f8d0dc03ae341f5826e|title=2014 Moldova Census of Population and Housing|publisher=National Bureau of Statistics of the Republic of Moldova }} {{in lang|ro|ru|en}}</ref> 

<div style="float:left">
{{Pie chart
|thumb=left
|caption=Ethnic composition of Cahul (2024) 
|label1=[[Moldovans]]{{efn|There is an [[Controversy over ethnic and linguistic identity in Moldova|ongoing controversy]] regarding the ethnic identification of Moldovans and Romanians.}}|value1=72.2|color1=#8A2BE2
|label2=[[Romanians]]|value2=5.0|color2=#8080ff
|label3=[[Russians in Moldova|Russians]]|value3=7.8|color3=#c08080
|label4=[[Ukrainians in Moldova|Ukrainians]]|value4=6.5|color4=#ffff80
|label5=[[Bessarabian Bulgarians|Bulgarians]]|value5=5.1|color5=#3fc03f
|label6=[[Gagauz people|Gagauz]]|value6=2.4|color6=#DDEEEE
|label7=Others|value7=1.0|color7=#9f9f9f}}
{{Pie chart
|thumb=right
|caption=Linguistic composition of Cahul (2024)
|label1=[[Moldovan language|Moldovan]]{{efn|In March 2023, the [[Parliament of Moldova]] passed a law updating all legislative texts and the constitution to refer to the national language as Romanian, effectively rendering the term "Moldovan" obsolete.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.rferl.org/content/moldova-romanian-official-language/25191455.html| title=Chisinau Recognizes Romanian As Official Language| newspaper=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty| date=5 December 2013| access-date=11 March 2014| archive-date=23 September 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923021555/http://www.rferl.org/content/moldova-romanian-official-language/25191455.html| url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Reuters2023">{{Cite news |date=2023-03-16 |title=Moldovan parliament approves law on Romanian language |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/moldovan-parliament-approves-law-romanian-language-2023-03-16/ |access-date=2024-07-11}}</ref>}}|value1=42.0|color1=#8A2BE2
|label2=[[Romanian language|Romanian]]|value2=26.4|color2=#8080ff
|label3=[[Russian language|Russian]]|value3=26.2|color3=#c08080
|label4=[[Ukrainian language|Ukrainian]]|value4=2.1|color4=#ffff80
|label5=[[Bulgarian language|Bulgarian]]|value5=1.9|color5=#3fc03f
|label6=[[Gagauz language|Gagauz]]|value6=1.0|color6=#DDEEEE
|label7=Other|value7=0.3|color7=#9f9f9f}}
</div>

{{Historical populations 
|type = 
|footnote =
|1897 | 7077
|1930 | 11370
|1959 | 16223
|1970 | 26249
|1979 | 33109
|[[1989 Soviet census|1989]] | 42904
|[[2004 Moldovan census|2004]] | 36805
|[[2014 Moldovan census|2014]] | 30018
|[[2024 Moldovan census|2024]] | 22223
}}
{{clear|left}}
{{Notelist}}

As of 1920, the population was estimated to be 12,000. Groups settled in the area included [[Romanians]], [[Jewish people|Jews]], [[German people|Germans]], [[Bulgarian people|Bulgarians]], and [[Greek people|Greeks]].<ref name=Kaba>{{cite book|last=Kaba|first=John|title=Politico-economic Review of Basarabia|year=1919|publisher=American Relief Administration|location=United States|page=16|url=http://www.wdl.org/en/item/7313/view/1/16/}}</ref>

==Culture==
[[File:Stamp of Moldova md540.jpg|thumb|right|Cahul History Museum]] 
Cahul is home to the [[Cahul Musical-Drama Theatre]], Cahul History Museum, and other public institutions and monuments. Every two years, at the beginning of July, in Cahul takes place an important [[folk music]] festival, "Nufărul Alb" ("White [[Nymphaea|waterlilies]]").

===Media===
* [http://www.ziuadeazi.md/ Ziuadeazi.md]
* [http://dincahul.md/ dincahul.md]

===Tourism===
Cahul is also a [[Destination spa|destination]] as [[spa]] and [[Mineral spa|health resort]]. The city and surrounding areas are richest with [[mineral spring]]s enriched with [[bromine]] and [[iodine]]. The "Nufărul Alb" [[Balneotherapy|Balneotherapy and Well-being Centre]] consists of hospital, hotel and entertaining spots. Cahul has a tourist information point located at the Piata Horelor.

==Education==
Cahul is home to the [[Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu State University|State University of Cahul]], opened in 1999 and named after Romanian writer and philologist [[Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu]]. The university is made up of 3 faculties (Philology – History, Law – Public Administration and Business – Computer Science – Mathematics) with around 2,150 students.

==Sport==
The city has the team of [[FC Cahul-2005]] who play in [[Moldovan "A" Division]]. The club has won the [[Moldovan "B" Division|Divizia B]] four times, in [[2006–07 Moldovan "B" Division|2006–07]], [[2012–13 Moldovan "B" Division|2012–13]], [[2014–15 Moldovan "B" Division|2014–15]] and [[2016–17 Moldovan "B" Division|2016–17]]. In the city plays also the club [[FC Speranța Crihana Veche]].

==Transport==
===Road===
Cahul is connected by national roads with [[Chișinău]], [[Giurgiulești]], [[Oancea]] ([[Romania]]) and [[Reni, Ukraine|Reni]] ([[Ukraine]]). Cahul is also a [[List of Moldova–Romania border crossings|border checkpoint to Romania]].

===Rail===
The railway station serves the city and is operated by [[Calea Ferată din Moldova|Moldovan Railways]]. It provides direct rail connections to Chișinău.

===Air===
The city is served by the [[Cahul International Airport]] located 8&nbsp;km south-east of the city centre. Currently, the airport has no scheduled flights.

==Twin towns – sister cities==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Moldova}}
Cahul is [[town twinning|twinned]] with:
*{{flagicon|Romania}} [[Medgidia]], Romania
*{{flagicon|Romania}} [[Vaslui]], Romania

==Consulates in Cahul==
In Cahul is located one of the two Consulates General of [[Romania]] in Moldova. On 2 November 2009 the [[President of Romania]] [[Traian Băsescu]] has signed the decrees on opening of Romanian general consulat in Cahul. "The opening of the Romanian consulates in [[Bălți]] and Cahul will be beneficial for the Moldovan people, who have encountered economic and time-related problems as they have to travel to the consulate in Chișinău," [[Moldova's Foreign Minister]] [[Iurie Leancă]] said, commenting on the Băsescu's decree.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.azi.md/en/story/6714 |title=Iurie Leanca: We want Romanian consulates in Bălți and Cahul to be opened as soon as possible |access-date=8 October 2017 |archive-date=8 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171008181105/http://www.azi.md/en/story/6714 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Romania asked the approval for the opening of the consulate as early as in 2006, in order to easy thus the process of granting visas to the Moldovan citizens more easily, after Romania's accession with the [[European Union]] on 1 January 2007.<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6454841.stm Moldova scraps Romania consulates]</ref> Initially, the communist authorities in [[Chişinău]] gave their approval for the opening of the two consular offices, but they later came with the condition Romania to accept two consular offices of the Republic of Moldova on its territory too, in [[Iaşi]] and [[Constanţa]]. Moreover, the former communist rule in Chişinău conditioned the signing of the [[small border traffic]] agreement on the signing of the Basic Political Treaty between the two countries and also of the agreement referring to the delimitation of the border.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://social.moldova.org/tag/romanian-consulate-in-cahul-0-eng.html |title=Romania opens two new consular offices in Moldova |access-date=8 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224073927/http://social.moldova.org/tag/romanian-consulate-in-cahul-0-eng.html |archive-date=24 February 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://politicom.moldova.org/news/moldova-will-have-a-consulate-in-iasi-while-romania-in-cahul-133245-eng.html |title=Moldova will have a consulate in Iasi, while Romania in Cahul |access-date=8 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120227074950/http://politicom.moldova.org/news/moldova-will-have-a-consulate-in-iasi-while-romania-in-cahul-133245-eng.html |archive-date=27 February 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On 28 January 2010, Traian Băsescu visited the future headquarters of the Romanian consulate in Cahul.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.nineoclock.ro/index.php?issue=4608&page=detalii&categorie=politics&id=20100129-511658 |title=President said Bucharest has full respect for Moldova's independent and territorial integrity and vowed to support the country's European Union accession efforts |access-date=8 October 2017 |archive-date=7 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507032948/http://www.nineoclock.ro/index.php?issue=4608&page=detalii&categorie=politics&id=20100129-511658 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Speaking about the opening of the two Romanian consulates in Bălți and Cahul, Băsescu said that the consulate in Cahul could be opened in 2–3 weeks.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.allmoldova.com/en/moldova-news/1249046153.html |title=Romanian visas could be issued without bank account of 500 euros |access-date=8 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224042746/http://www.allmoldova.com/en/moldova-news/1249046153.html |archive-date=24 February 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The consulate has 17 employees:<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://social.moldova.org/news/consulatele-romniei-la-bli-i-cahul-vor-avea-39-de-posturi-204291-rom.html |title=Consulatele României la Bălţi şi Cahul vor avea 39 de posturi |access-date=8 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224073943/http://social.moldova.org/news/consulatele-romniei-la-bli-i-cahul-vor-avea-39-de-posturi-204291-rom.html |archive-date=24 February 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Consul General, two consuls, two main consular officers, six major referers, two drivers, two skilled workers and two guards. The Consul General is Ms. Anca Corfu.<ref>[http://cahul.mae.ro/node/149 Consul General al României la Cahul]</ref>

== Notable people ==

* [[Alexandru Cecal]] (1940-2021), chemist and professor at [[Alexandru Ioan Cuza University]]

* [[Vika Jigulina]] (1986-), Moldovan-Romanian record producer, singer, and disc jockey.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Cahul}}
* [https://primariacahul.md/ Cahul City Hall website]
* [http://www.cahulfest.net/ Official Webpage of Cahul's Festivals] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080902004614/http://www.cahulfest.net/ |date=2 September 2008 }}
* [http://archiva.flux.md/editii/201321/articole/14848/ Oraşele şi satele Moldovei: Cahul] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161111061243/http://archiva.flux.md/editii/201321/articole/14848/ |date=11 November 2016 }} {{in lang|ro}}

{{Cahul District, Moldova}}
{{AdminCitiesMoldova}}
{{Spa towns in Moldova}}
{{Districts of Moldova}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Cahul| ]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in Moldova]]
[[Category:Municipalities of Moldova]]
[[Category:Moldova–Romania border crossings]]
[[Category:Izmailsky Uyezd]]
[[Category:Cahul County (Romania)]]
[[Category:Capitals of the counties of Bessarabia]]
[[Category:Cahul District]]
[[Category:Populated places on the Prut]]