INFORMATION ABOUT UKRAINE

Ukraine is the land of primordial beauty. This is the source of life for romantic Slavonic soul. This is the land which entertains Cossaks bravery in times of their exciting heroic deeds.

Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. Ukraine borders Belarus to the northwest , Russian Federation to the east and northeast, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary to the west, Romania and Moldova to the southwest. The South of Ukraine is washed by Black Sea and Sea of Azov.

Territory of Ukraine is 603,628 km², making it the largest country on the European continent. The highest point in Ukraine is Mt. Hoverla in the Carpathians, with an elevation of 2061 m (about 6762 ft).

On August 24, 1991 the Ukrainian parliament adopted the Act of Independence in which the parliament declared Ukraine as an independent democratic state. Ukraine is a unitary state composed of 24 provinces, one autonomous republic (Crimea), and two cities with special status: Kyiv, its capital and largest city, and Sevastopol, which houses the Russian Black Sea Fleet under a leasing agreement.

Ukraine has substantial economic potential. The key sector of the economy is industry. It accounts for the greatest part of the national income. Agriculture is important as well.

Co-operation with international financial organization, with International Monetary Fund (IMF), International and European banks of reconstruction and development (IBRD and EBRD) helps to introduce the programs of financial stabilization and attract privilege credit resources to the economy of the country.

Ukraine has a mostly temperate continental climate, although the southern Crimean coast has a humid subtropical climate. Precipitation is disproportionately distributed; it is highest in the west and north and lowest in the east and southeast. Western Ukraine receives around 1,200 millimeters (47.2 in) of precipitation annually, while Crimea receives around 400 millimeters (15.7 in). Winters vary from cool along the Black Sea to cold farther inland. An average winter temperature is from -8˚C to -12˚C (from +17.6˚F to +3˚F). In Southern regions winter temperature is about 0˚C (+320F). An average summer temperature: from +18˚C to +25˚C (from +64.4˚F to +77˚F) but during daytime it can reach +35˚C (+95˚F).

The total population of Ukraine was estimated at 46,560,272 in August 2012. The largest city in Ukraine is Kyiv – 2.6 mln., Kharkiv – 1.6 mln., Dnipropetrovsk – 1.2 mln., Donetsk – 1.1. mln., Odesa – 1.1 mln. of inhabitants. 46% male and 54% female; 35.1 million urban and 16.6 million rural. Density of population is 76 persons per sq.km. Ukraine is inhabited by representatives of 128 nations, nationalities, and ethnic groups. Ethnic content is the following: 80% are Ukrainians, the rest are Russian, Belorussian, Jews, Crimea Tatars, Moldavian, Polish, Hungarian, Romanian, Bulgarian and representatives of other minor nationalities. There are only 37-million native Ukrainians living in Ukraine. Another 20-million Ukrainians live in 46 different countries of the world.

The state language of Ukraine is Ukrainian. Russian, which was the de facto official language of the Soviet Union, is widely spoken, especially in eastern and southern Ukraine. There are some groups speaking Crimean-Tatar, Romanian, Polish, Hungarian and other languages.

Religion: Believers belong to several religions. Orthodox and Greek Catholic (Ukrainian Catholic of Byzantine Rite) are the biggest.

Hryvna is a national currency of Ukraine. It has been the national currency since September 2, 1996. One hryvnya (UAH) equals 100 coins (kopiyok). There are coins of 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 kopiyok, and notes of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200 and 500 hryvnya.

Modern Ukraine culture has a lot in common with Russian and Belarusian cultures. It is quite understandable as all three nations have their historical roots and origins from Kievan Rus, but during the 13th century they began developing as the individual nations they are now. History demonstrates that every nation tends to create legends and stories about its historical past. Historical events are often interpreted in a way people desire to see them, but that does not mean that this is the way the real events took place.

Crimea is situated on the Crimea peninsula. It is between the Black Sea in the west and south, and the Sea of Azov — in the east. The total area of the republic is 26 100 km², population is 2,137 million. It is divided into 15 regions and 15 cities. Symferopol is the administrative centre of the Crimea. The Crimea consists of two very different parts — treeless steppe of the Crimean Lowland in the northern and central parts, and the Crimean Mountains in the south. Food industry produces canned goods, fish and wines. Agriculture mostly specializes in plant-growing, vine-growing and animal husbandry. It is followed by iron-ore mining, metallurgy and machine-building. The main sea-ports are Kerch, Feodosia, Yalta, Sevastopol, and Yevpatoria. The Crimea is also the main resort and tourist area of Ukraine.

Some features that are advantageous to the development of Ukraine tourism:

· Over 500 cities of Ukraine were founded more than 900 years ago, also 4,500 villages of Ukraine are more than 300 years old.

· More than 150-thousand monuments of culture, history, and archeology reflect the remarkable history of the Ukrainian people. 80 % of the monuments of Kyivan Rus epoch (IX - XII centuries) are concentrated in the territory of Ukraine.

· The excavations of ancient towns in Tira, Olviya, Chersonese, Panticapea dating from the 5th century B.C. as well as the magnificent fortresses built in the 14th-15th centuries by Italians from Genoa, are located in Crimea.

· More than 600 museums introduce the most outstanding facts and personalities of Ukrainian history and culture.

· Ukraine has excellent and diverse geography, climatic conditions, and scenic nature. Ukraine tourism operators consider the Black Sea and the Crimea as an ideal place for mountaineering, mountain bicycling, rock climbing and diving. The Carpathian mountains are a traditional place for skiing, mountaineering and kayaking.

· Many regions of Ukraine have saved their ethnic originality. Tourists therefore have a great opportunity to get acquainted with national culture, songs, dances, and meals.

Carpathian Mountains (Ukrainian Switzerland)

Carpathians named the area of “green gold”. The unique for the Central Europe ancient beech forests are preserved there. Numerous flocks of sheep are wondering around the hills of blue mountains and bushes of red bilberries and blackberries ripen at plateau.

Carpathians is a mounting and resort system. It is situated at the territory of some European countries from Slovakia to Romania, including Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary. Eastern part of massif towering under the Ukrainian sky and the rest at the nature near the international class resorts is accessible by prices more reasonable that it is in Sochi or Crimea. The main property of the nature of Carpathians is its purity. There are few industrial enterprises and rivers and lakes shine with bright blue, actually transparent water. Trout are in the most of Carpathian rivers and lakes and it is one more evidence of high ecological purity and health of region (because trout do not live even in slightly dirty water).Some of the rivers in Carpathians considered to be the purest in Europe. And Synevir Lake, the pearl of the Ukrainian resort officially considered the purest lake in Europe. Mineral and thermal sources are the separate point during the traveling. Somebody will visit them because of interest and for some people the recreation in sanatorium becomes long-awaiting rescue from many illnesses. There are many forests there. Coniferous and beech, with great quantity of rare and valuable trees grow in reserves as well as in the forests. The air of Carpathian forests is brilliant, fresh and with high content of ozone and natural coniferous aroma (the feeling is like you have visited the free séance of aromatherapy). You can hunting, fishing and gather mushrooms and berries here.

The tourist infrastructure of Carpathians is rather developed. There are many hotels and sanatoriums, recreation centers and pensions, cottages and private houses. You can choose anything to your program and taste.

Main points of region which you have to visit are:

· Synevir Lake (the purest in Europe)

· Valley of daffodils (especially in spring)

· Hoverla Mountain (2061 m height above the sea level, it is opened for tourism from May to October)

· Nesamovyte lake (the Alpine lake of Carpathians is situated at the height of 1750 m near Goverla)

· Center of Europe (geographic center of Europe – simple and with taste).

Of course, we can not describe all sights of the region here. But visiting any of this places will give you the direction where to go next time depending on where it is interesting for you to go.