Geological monuments constitute a national patrimony of great cognitive, scientific and recreation value. They are found only in that formations, which appear in Rivers valleys, ravines or in quarries. On the territory of Republic of Moldova these are Arhaeozoic-Proterozoic igneous and metamorphic rocks from the crystalline socle of Moldovan Platform, as well the Vendian, Cretaceous, Neogene and Quaternary deposits from its sedimentary cover. The Lower Paleozoic, Jurassic and Palaeogene formations, that are also components of the sedimentary cover, are situated below the level of fluvial erosion and doesn't appear on the surface.

Those monuments and scientific reserves, that are briefly described below, were first introduced in the Register of protected areas at January 8, 1975 on the base of proposals, exposed later in a Russian language monograph by I.N.Suhov.

The English version is a translation from the Romanian text, in which some stratigraphical terms and statements were changed to bring the register to the present state of knowledge.

The monuments are placed according to the major geomorphological zones of our republic, which are shown on a sketch-map (1:1500000 scale). A sketch-map (the same scale) of territorial-administrative units, mentioned in text, is also placed here.

A more precise position of any monument is shown on topographic map (1:50000 scale), which appears after clicking the monument's name.

To make it understandable for uninitiated people, a glossary of geological and paleontological terms used in text was added.