Ukraine

Modern Ukraine is one of the biggest countries in Eastern Europe. It occupies the area of 603,7 sq miles and has a population of 48 million people. According to the statistics about 77 % of the population is ethnic Ukrainians. Russians are the most sizable ethnic minority. Other numerous minorities include Belarusians and Romanians. Both Russian and Ukrainian are widely spoken in Ukraine, yet Ukrainian is the only official language in the country. The dominant religion is Eastern Orthodox Christianity.

Ukraine is a member of the CIS, and was a member of the USSR from 1922 to 1991. The city of Kiev is both the capital and the largest city of Ukraine. Ukraine gained independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and since then is a unitary state consisting of twenty-four oblasts (provinces) and one autonomous republic Crimea.

Most populated cities are: Kiev (2,611,327 million people), Kharkov (1,470,902 million people), Dnepropetrovsk (1,065,008 million people), Odessa (1,029,049 million people), Donetsk (1,016,194 million people), Zaporozhie (815,256 million people), Lvov (732,818 million people). Most of them have Metro systems.

The climate of Ukraine is mostly continental with Mediterranean climate on the southern Crimean coast. Average annual temperatures range from 5.5 °C (41.9 °F)-7 °C (44.6 °F) in the north, to 11 °C (51.8 °F)-13 °C (55.4 °F) in the south.

The international transportation includes airports, railways and waterways. All major cities host international airports with regular flights. The biggest airports are: Boryspol Airport, Dnepropetrovsk Airport, Donetsk Airport, Odessa Airport, and Simferopol Airport.
Expedia Flight Information for Ukraine

The operated state railway company is Ukrzaliznytsia. The rail links with the following adjacent countries are available: Belarus, Russia Moldova, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland.
For train times & fares in Ukraine and all ex-Soviet countries use www.poezda.net

Ukrainian waterways are mainly on biggest rivers Danube, Dnieper and Pripyat. The important riverporst are in Cherkasy ,Dnipropetrovsk Kakhovka, Kremenchuk, Kiev, Nikopol, Zaporizhzhia.
Major Sea ports and harbours are in Berdyansk (Sea of Azov), Illichivsk (Black Sea), Kerch (Black Sea), Mariupol (Sea of Azov), Mykolayiv (Black Sea), Odessa (Black Sea), Sevastopol (Black Sea), Skadovsk (Black Sea), Theodosia (Black Sea), Yalta (Black Sea).

The state Currency is Hryvnia (UAH)
Currency converter - http://www.xe.com/ucc
US dollars, pounds, euro can be easily exchanged in any city of Ukraine.

Ukraine is rich in ancient historical objects and culture. The real cities-museums are Kiev, Lvov, Chernigov, Odessa, Uzhgorod, Chernovtsy. The must see places in Ukraine include: Crimean resorts cities, Yalta and Sevastopol, Kiev, Odessa, Carpathian mountains, Crimean mountains, Lvov, Kamenets-Podolsky, Sophievka park in Uman, Askania-Nova national park and reserve. Remains of the anceint cities Chersonesos Taurica and Balaklavain Crimea, are world famous tourist attractions.

Ukraine photo album

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