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Geographical Iocation and People

Ukraine is an independent country in Eastern Europe.
It occupies an area of 603.7 sq. km. Ukraine extends from west to east for 1300 km, and from north to south for 900 km.

In the north Ukraine borders on Belorus, Poland and Slovak Republic, in the south-west — on Hungary, Romania and Moldova. The total length of the state borders of Ukraine is 7698 km. The geographical point, usually referred to as the “geographical centre of Europe” (equidistant from the westernmost tip of Europe and the imaginary easternmost line separating Europe from Asia) is situated in Ukraine, not far from the town of Rakhiv, Zakarpatska Oblast.

In the south Ukraine is washed by the waters of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.

The capital of Ukraine is Kyiv.

Natural scenery of Ukraine is picturesque. Recreational landscapes occupy an area of 9.4 mln hectares ( one hectare is about 2.5 acres). Forests cover about 14% of Ukraine’s territory. The longest mountain range in Ukraine is the Carpathians stretching for 270 km; the highest mountain is the Hoverla (2061 m). The Crimean Mountains are situated in the southern part of the Crimea, the southernmost extension of Ukraine (the highest mountain is 1545 m). Over 70,000 rivers flow through Ukraine. The major rivers are the Dnipro (third longest in Europe), the Dniester, Southern Buh, Siverskiy Donets, Prut, the mouth of the Danube is situated in Ukraine.

There are over 3000 natural lakes and about 22,000 artificial water reservoirs in Ukraine, as well as many sources of mineral water and medicinal mud which are used to treat many diseases.

Ukraine has 5 National Parks, 15 National Preserves and a lot of smaller areas (dendrological parks, ancient urban and rural parks) protected by the state.

Among the biggest and most important parks and preserves one could name Askania-Nova (Khersonska Oblast): Shatskiy National Park (Volynska Oblast); Sofiyivka (Cherkaska Oblast); Trostianetsk Hydropark (Chernihivska Oblast). Many places of natural beauty can be found in the Carpathians, the Crimea and Polissia.

Ukraine’s climate, is moderately continental; at the southern coast of the Crimea it can be described as subtropical of the Mediterranean type. Summers are mostly warm and dry and winters are usually mild and west. The average temperature in January is -7 Centigrade and in July +19 Centigrade.

Ukraine’s population is 50.5 million, with about 80% of them being ethnic Ukrainians. Among ethnic minorities are Russians, Belorussians, Jews, Poles, Moldavians, Hungarians, Romanians, Bulgarians, Tatars, Germans and others.

Administratively Ukraine is divided into 24 Oblasts and the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. There are 447 towns and 28,800 villages in Ukraine. Kyiv, the biggest city in Ukraine, has a population of 2.6 mln; Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhia, Donetsk and Odesa all have a population of over one million.

Religion. Most of the believers in Ukraine are Christians of several denominations: Orthodox (of two kinds), Greco-Catholic (of Ukrainian Catholic Rite and Byzantine Rite); Roman Catholics; and Protestants. There are also Judaists, Muslims (mostly among the Crimean Tatars) and representatives of other confessions in Ukraine.

Economy. Ukraine is an industrial and agricultural country. It is rich in natural resources: coal, iron ore, manganese, nickel, and uranium, to name just a few. Among better developed industries are metallurgy, mining, power and fuel, machine-building, food, and textile. Kyiv, Kharkiv, Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhia and Kryviy Rih are major industrial centres.

In most parts of Ukraine soil is suitable for growing grain, potatoes, sugar beets, corn and other crops. The area of the cropland in Ukraine is 32 mlnhectares.Ukraine has big sea ports on the Black Sea and the Sea of Azovcoasts which handle a considerableamount of trade with foreign countries.

The State Emblem is a stylised trident. In the ancient times of Kyivan-Rus — Ukraine it was the Grand Prince's coat of arms. There exist many interpretations of the significance of the trident but at least one thing is clear: it is an ancient Ukrainian symbol of power.

The State Flag is blue and yellow. This is not an accidental combination of colours — it goes back to the pre-Christian times and symbolises Water and Fire, the two most important natural elements in the life of man.

17 Pavlivska Str., Kyiv 01054, Ukraine Tel.: 380 (44) 569-1050(multichannel), Fax.: 569-1051 E-mail: tour@lybid-kiev.com.ua