Ukraine occupies a central position in Europe (the geographic center of Europe lies near the town of Riakhiv in the Transcarpathian region). Ukraine is bordered by Belarus in the north, the Russian Federation in the east and northeast, Poland in the northwest, Slovakia on the west, and Hungary, Romania and Moldavia in the southwest. In the south Ukraine is washed by the Black Sea and the Sea of Azove.

The area of Ukraine is 60,300 sq. km. The longest distances: north-south - 893km.; west-east - 1316km. The territory of Ukraine is mainly flat. The chief physico-geographical zones are mixed deciduous leaf and conifer forests, forest-steppes and steppe.

The Carpathian Mountains (highest point: Mt. Hoverlia, 2,061m) extend to the westernmost part of the country, while the Crimean Mountains (highest point: Mt. Roman-Kosh, 1,545m) rise in the southernmost end. Ukraine's climate is temperate and subtropical in the extreme south.

Nature has showered Ukraine with unique places for rest and recreation. The Carpathian Mountains are great for hiking and climbing, as are the Crimean Mountains. Health resorts are a popular attraction in both mountain regions. In the nature preserves of Polissia one can hear black-cocks sing and catch meter-long eels (Lake Svitiaz).

Impressive Scythian stone babas (grandmothers) guard the tranquility of the prehistoric steppe with its virgin fescue-feather-grass at Askania Nova, a unique nature reserve dedicated to the study and preservation of the virgin steppe. The Crimean Black Sea beaches and health spas are frequented by millions of tourists every year. The capital of Ukraine is Kyiv.

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Tourism, as an important factor in inter-branch co-operation and improvement of market relations, is directly linked to the intellectual, cultural and economic potential of Ukraine. Data show that tourism is one of the most profitable and dynamic growth industries. Ukraine has great potential for developing tourism: excellent geographic and climatic conditions, historical and cultural resources.

Over 125 thousand archaeological, architectural, and historical monuments, some dating from the 10th-11 th century, and hundreds of museums reflect the remarkable history of the Ukrainian people, who have made worthy contributions to world culture. Towns over 1,000 years old, most of which are situated in the domain of medieval Kyivan Rus, await discovery.

The most important and valuable historical, architectural and cultural monuments are concentrated in the regions around Kyiv, Chernyhiv, Sumy, Poltava, Cherkasy and in the lands of Halychyna and Podillia. The beauty and significance of these monuments and of objects of art and frescoes found in this area, have been the motivating factor in creating a system of tourist itineraries named "The Necklace of Slavutych" (Slavutych is the ancient Slavic name of the Dnipro River). This system will promote the development of tourist packages designed to expose and inform the traveller about the rich and complex history of Ukraine.

In recent years tourism has undergone considerable changes. Excellent conditions exist for good and inexpensive vacations. At the request of foreign tourist companies, a number of tourist itineraries are being explored. Dozens of Ukrainian tourist companies participated in international tourist fairs, exchanges and other meetings held in Berlin, Warsaw, London, Milan and Budapest. Working relations have been established with the World Tourist Organization.

Kyiv hosted three international tourist fairs. In the third fair held in October, 1996, 362 travel companies from 35 countries partook. Approximately 900 contracts were signed. Ukraine welcomes guests from the world over to visit Ukraine and to travel throughout its hospitable land.

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Water sources of Ukraine The southern coast of Ukraine is bordered by the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. Black Sea has a surface area of 423,000 sq. km. Its depth is 2,000 m. In the northwest, however, the sea is only 30-60 m. deep. The important ports of Odesa, Kherson, Mykolaiv and Sevastopol lie on the Black Sea. Animal life is limited. Among the best-known fish are sturgeon, goby, mullet, plaice and such typically Black Sea fish as horse mackerel and scomber.

The Sea of Azov is much less picturesque. Syvash Bay with bitter and very salty waters forms part of the sea. There are wonderful sandy beaches on its northern coast and it is rich in fish life. In the winter the Sea of Azov freezes over. It is small, and the world's most shallow sea, its average depth being 5-7m.

Rivers are the principal part of Ukraine's water resources. Ukraine has a wealth of rivers. More than a 100 of them are longer than 100km. The largest rivers are the Dnipro, Dnister, Danube, Southern Buh, Siversky Donets and Tysa. Most of Ukraine's rivers belong to the Black and Azov Sea basins. The Western Buh (and a few others) empty into the Baltic Sea. Ukraine's rivers are predominantly flat, with winding channels. They glide slowly through wide valleys.

Rivers flowing off the Carpathian and Crimean Mountains are narrow, rapid and shallow. There are few rivers in the southern regions of Ukraine. Rivers and other water resources (reservoirs, lakes, ponds) play an important role in whater supply, and are used as sources of energy. Navigable rivers are important for transport.

The source of the Dnipro River is in the Valdai Plateau in Smolensk Province (Russia); it flows into the Black Sea. It is 2,285km. long. It is Europe's third largest river (after the Volga and the Danube). The Dnipro's largest tributaries are the Prypiat and Desna. Another major river is the Dnister. Originating in the Carpathian Mountains, it flows along the border of Ukraine and Moldova, empty-ing into the Black Sea. It floods not only in spring, but also in summer after heavy rainfalls. Its largest tributaries are the Stryi and Zbruch.

The Danube passes through Ukraine in its lower reaches. It is an important water route linking Ukraine with many European countries. The largest of the Danube's tributaries are the Tysa and Prut.

Throughout Ukraine there are over 3,000 lakes. Most of them are located in Polissia, the Black Sea lowlands and in Crimea. The largest freshwater lakes are Lake Yalpuh (220 sq. km) in the Danube flood plain and Lake Svitiaz in Polissia (27 sq. km).

Ukraine has insufficient water supplies. The scarcest water resources are in southeastern Ukraine in the industrial center. Large cities such as Kharkiv, Lviv and Kryvyi Rih have no local sources of water supply. Thus a system of canals has been dug from reservoirs along the Dnipro to provide needed water to the arid regions.

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What are the elements of the Ukrainian character? First there is kindness. There is hospitality, and friendliness. There is respect for elders, for the deceased; love for children, love of nature and animals. Ukrainians have a knack for humor, they are musical, artistic and wonderful craftsmen famous for their mastery in weaving, wood carving and ceramics. But skills and diligence in working the land is perhaps the greatest talent the Ukrainians possess.

Ukraine is situated on rich soil, and since ancient times the Ukrainian people have thrust their energy into agriculture. Folk customs, revived since the era of Trypillian culture (4th - 2nd millenia B.C.) and modified over time, have sustained the hard working peasant toiling on the land. Life depended on the rhythms of working the soil. Holidays were celebrated during periods of transition from one type of agricultural activity to another. Even in pre-Christian times a kind of ceremony was held before starting work invoking the powers of nature to cooperate and to provide generous harvests. These seasonal festivities were later incorporated into Christian holidays - and they exist to this day. Easter, for example, is a spring holiday.

Spring is a time of ploughing and sowing in the fields, a time of warmth and rebirth after a cold, hungry winter. In pagan times, Ukrainians believed that the gods died and were reborn every year. An example of a pagan ritual symbolizing renewal and rebirth which is still practiced is the dyeing of eggs. Using wax, girls drew symbolic designs on eggs, dipped them into dye, melted the wax to expose the ornament, and presented these magical objects to loved ones.

To the Christian "Ascension Day" (the 40th day after Easter), Ukrainians added a pre-Christian tradition of going into the field to inspect the progress of the wheat. The Trinity is celebrated on the 50th day after Easter (summer). Traditionally, people decorated their homes with green tree branches and fragrant herbs. This was a day for fortune-telling. Girls wove garlands and floated them in a river or stream. They watched as the wreaths drifted away, wishing that a handsome young man would find the garland, for this meant that he would some day become her husband. Another summer holiday full of magic and ritual is known as Saint Kupala (July 7th). It is a beautiful, exuberant fete at which fire and water (symbols of cleansing) are celebrated.

During the day everyone has to be at least immersed in water. At dusk bonfires are lit, and holding hands, boys and girls leap over the flames. This was the last holiday before the harvest. The year was rounded out with a series of harvest holidays: August 2, known as St. Illia Day, marked the beginning of autumn. "Until dinner it's summer, after dinner it's autumn," people said. On the19th of August, known as "Saviour Day" vegetables, fruits, mushrooms and honey were blessed.

Weddings usually took place in the middle of October. A unique feature of Ukrainian Christmas festivities is the "vertep," or puppet theater. Young people get together, dress as angels, kings, Herod, Satan, death, and even animals. They walk from house to house enacting the Nativity and singing about the birth of Christ, greeting everyone with the holiday.

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You can get more detailed information about Ukraine at the next links:

"Ukraine online" | "Travel to Ukraine"