Bukovina

Bukovina or Bucovina, former province of Romania, adjoining Bessarabia, in the foothills of the eastern Carpathian Mountains and covering an area of 10,440 sq km (4,031 sq mi). A part of the principality of Moldavia, Bukovina was ruled by the Ottoman Turks until 1769, when it was occupied by Russia. Taken by Austria in 1775, Bukovina formed part of Galicia (region on northern slopes of Carpathian Mountains) until 1849, and later became a separate Crown land, or province. When the Austro-Hungarian Empire was dissolved at the end of World War I, Bukovina gained its independence and joined Romania as a province. In 1940, during World War II, Bukovina and Bessarabia were ceded to the United Socialist Soviet Republics (USSR), in compliance with a Soviet ultimatum, but were occupied by German and Romanian forces from 1941 to 1944. By the terms of an armistice signed in September 1944, northern Bukovina and Bessarabia became part of the USSR and southern Bukovina remained in Romania. In 1993, seven Byzantine churches in the area were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list.