Ukraine

Ukraine is situated in the central part of Eastern Europe. It has common borders with Byelorussia in the North, Hungary, Romania and Moldova in the South and the Southwest, Russia in the East, Poland and Slovakia in the West. The Southern coast of Ukraine is washed by Black and Azov seas. Ukraine stretches 893 kilometers from the North to the South, and 1316 kilometers from the West to the East. The country occupies the area of 603,7 square kilometers.

At 603,700 km² (233,074 sq mi) and with a coastline of 2,782 km (1,729 mi), Ukraine is the world's 44th-largest country (after the Central African Republic, before Madagascar). It is the second largest country in Europe (after the European part of Russia, before metropolitan France). The Ukrainian landscape consists mostly of fertile plains (or steppes) and plateaus, crossed by rivers such as the Dnieper (Dnipro), Seversky Donets, Dniester and the Southern Buh as they flow south into the Black Sea and the smaller Sea of Azov. To the southwest, the delta of the Danube forms the border with Romania. The country's only mountains are the Carpathian Mountains in the west, of which the highest is the Hora Hoverla at 2,061 m (6,762 ft), and those on the Crimean peninsula, in the extreme south along the coast. Ukraine has a mostly temperate continental climate, although a more Mediterranean climate is found on the southern Crimean coast. Precipitation is disproportionately distributed; it is highest in the west and north and lesser in the east and southeast. Western Ukraine, receives around 1,200 mm of precipitation, annually. While Crimea, receives around 400 mm of precipitation. Winters vary from cool along the Black Sea to cold farther inland. Average annual temperatures range from 5.5–7 °C in the north, to 11–13 °C in the south. According to 1887 estimates by Austro-Hungarian geographers, the Ukrainian city of Rakhiv (48°45′N, 18°55′E) is the site of the geographical centre of Europe. However, this is disputed by other European cities and the question has not yet been answered.

The relief of Ukraine is mainly flat. 95 % of its territory is occupied by plains and only 5 % by mountains. The Ukrainian Carpathian mountains (the highest point – mountain Goverla – 2061 meter) are situated near the western borders of the country, and the Crimean mountains (the highest point – mountain Roman Kosh meters) are situated in the extreme south of the country. The greatest river of Ukraine is the Dnipro river, which is 2201 kms long, and 981 kms of which flow through the territory of Ukraine. In general Ukraine is a country with a temperate climate and clearly recognizable change of four seasons. Average temperature of January is -7° C in the northeast of Ukraine and +4°C on the southern coast of Crimea, the average temperature of July is +19°C and +24 °C respectively. Ukraine is rich in various minerals such as coal, iron ores, oil and gas, stone, salt etc. The nature of Ukraine has created a rich raw-material base for the development of metallurgical, chemical, porcelain, faience industries, ceramics and building materials manufacturing. The great value is represented by the mineral waters of Ukraine the sources of which are located in Myrgorod, Svalyava, Truskavets and Feodosiya. The curative mud of Eupatoria and Saki is very useful for health. Our country is rich in fertile lands 2/3 of which are represented by chernozems (black soil). According to the estimation of experts, the territory of Ukraine concentrates the quarter of world's chernozems. The flora of Ukraine consists of about 30 thousands kinds of plants. Natural vegetative complexes are widely used as the base for animal industries, beekeeping, the hunting facilities, preparation of wild-growing medical grasses.

The administrative and territorial division. The capital of Ukraine is the city of Kyiv. The territory of Ukraine is divided into Autonomous Republic of Crimea and 24 oblasts: Vinnitsa, Volynsk, Dnepropetrovsk, Donetsk, Zhitomir, Zakarpatye, Zaporozhye, Ivano-Frankovsk, Kiev, Kirovograd, Lugansk, Lviv, Nikolaev, Odessa, Poltava, Rovno, Sumy, Ternopol, Kharkov, Kherson, Khmelnitskiy, Cherkassk, Chernovtsy, and Chernigov. The greatest cities of Ukraine are Kiev, Kharkov, Dnepropetrovsk, Donetsk, Odessa, Lviv.

The population of Ukraine In the beginning of 2001 the population of Ukraine was 49,5 millions people. By the size of its population Ukraine occupies the 5-th place in Europe (after Germany, Italy, Great Britain, and France) and 21-st place in the world. The urban population makes 68 %, rural – 32 %. The average population density is 85 persons per 1 sq. km. Average life expectancy for men is approximately 61 years, for women – 73 years. Ukrainians make 73% of the total population. 14 millions (27 %) of Ukrainian citizens are representatives of other nationalities: Russians, Byelorussians, Moldavians, Bulgarians, Poles, Hungarians, Romanians, Greeks, Tatars, Armenians, Gypsies, Crimean Tatars, Germans and others.

Ukraine is a republic under a mixed semi-parliamentary semi- presidental system with separate legislative executive, and judicial branches. The President is elected by popular vote for a five-year term and is the formal head of state Ukraine's legislative branch includes the 450-seat unicameral parliament, the Verkhovna Rada The parliament is primarily responsible for the formation of the executive branch and the Cabinet of Ministers, which is headed by the Prime Minister Laws, acts of the parliament and the cabinet, presidential decrees, and acts of the Crimean parliament may be abrogated by the Constitutional Court should they be found to violate the Constitution of Ukraine. Other normative acts are subject to judicial review. The Supreme Court is the main body in the system of courts of general jurisdiction. Local self-government is officially guaranteed. Local councils and city mayors are popularly elected and exercise control over local budgets. The heads of regional and district administrations are appointed by the president. Ukraine has a large number of political parties, many of which have tiny memberships and are unknown to the general public. Small parties often join in multi-party coalitions (electoral blocs) for the purpose of participating in parliamentary elections.

Holidays in Ukraine: 1 Jan – New Year's Day 7 Jan – Orthodox Christmas 8 Mar – International Women's Day 5 May – Easter (2002) 1, 2 May – Labor Day 9 May – Victory Day 25, 26 May – Kiev Days (2002) 23 June – Trinity Day (2002) 28 June – Constitution Day 24 Aug – Ukrainian Independence Day

National currency The national currency of Ukraine is – hryvna. ОForeign currency may be exchanged for hryvnas in banks and in numerous currency exchange offices. The most widespread foreign currencies in Ukraine are US dollar and Euro. Credit cards become more and more widespread in Ukraine, but not all organizations accept them for payment. The majority of hotels, restaurants and shops accept credit cards for payment. Anthem: Ще не вмерла України ні слава, ні воля (Ukrainian) Shche ne vmerla Ukrayiny ni slava, ni volya (transliteration)

Ukraine greatly benefited from the Soviet emphasis on physical education. Such policies left Ukraine with hundreds of stadiums, swimming pools, gymnasiums, and many other athletic facilities. Of the many different sports Ukraine plays, the major sport is football. The top professional league is the Vyscha Liha, also known as the Ukrainian Premier League. The most decorated and known team is FC Dynamo Kyiv. The Ukraine national football team debuted in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, and reached the quarterfinals before losing to eventual champions, Italy. Other sports are also popular in Ukraine. Boxers Vitali Klitschko and Wladimir Klitschko have held heavyweight world champion titles. Ukraine has an ice hockey league and a national ice hockey team. They also have a basketball league, and cricket clubs. Ukraine made its Olympic debut at the 1994 Winter Olympics. After attending 3 out of 25 Summer Games and 4 out of 22 Winter Games, Ukraine is ranked 36th by number of gold medals won in the All-time Olympic Games medal count. Many athletes who represented and won medals for the Soviet Union were Ukrainians

Kyiv is the capital of Ukraine. Population Traces of settlements date back to stone age B.C. but officially accepted birth of Kyiv is 482. Kyy, a prince of the Slavic tribe of Polians is considered the city’s founder. Legend has it that Kyiv was founded by three brothers, Kyy, Shchek, Khorev and their sister Lybid. There many historical places in our country, the most popular of them are: Kyiv Pecherska Lavra Monastery, St. Sophia Cathedral, Mariyinsky Palace, Golden Gates, Andriyivsky Uzvis and others. Kyiv is the biggest industrial centre of Ukraine. Economical, political and educational systems are well developed.