Ukraine Geography: A Comprehensive Overview of Location & Borders

Geography of Ukraine Browse the article Geography of Ukraine

Introduction to Geography of Ukraine

Ukraine, a country in eastern Europe that was once a part of the Soviet Union and known as the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. It is bordered by Belarus, Russia, the Sea of Azov, the Black Sea, Romania, Moldova, Hungary, Slovakia, and Poland. Ukraine is the second largest country in Europe, after Russia.

Facts in brief about UkraineCapital: Kiev.Official language: Ukrainian.Official name: Ukrayina (Ukraine).Area: 233,090 mi2 (603,700 km2). Greatest distances—north-south, 550 mi (885 km); east-west, 830 mi (1,335 km). Coastline—1,800 mi (2,900 km).Elevation: Highest—Mount Hoverla, 6,762 ft (2,061 m) above sea level. Lowest--sea level along the coast of the Black Sea.Population: Current estimate—46,060,000; density, 198 per mi2 (76 per km2); distribution, 68 percent urban, 32 percent rural. 2001 census—48,457,102.Chief products: Agriculture—barley, beef and dairy cattle, corn, hogs, potatoes, sugar beets, sunflowers, tobacco, wheat. Manufacturing—chemical fertilizers, clothing, iron and steel, machinery, military equipment, processed foods, shoes, refrigerators, television sets, transportation equipment, washing machines. Mining—coal, iron ore, manganese, natural gas, salt.Flag: Ukraine's flag, adopted in 1992, has two horizontal stripes, blue and yellow (top to bottom). The blue stripe symbolizes the sky, and the yellow stripe symbolizes the wheat fields of Ukraine. The coat of arms features an ornate trident that dates from the late 900's.Money: Basic unit—hryvnia. One hundred kopiyka equal one hryvnia.

Physical Geography

Ukraine is a country in eastern Europe.Land

Most of Ukraine is made up of flat or gently rolling plains, interrupted in places by hills and ridges. In the north are marshes and wooded lowlands. The central region consists generally of wooded steppes, where oak, maple, pine, and beech trees thrive. In southern Ukraine open steppes prevail. The Carpathian Mountains rise in the west, reaching nearly 6,800 feet (2,070 m). The mountains of the Crimean Peninsula are slightly lower, reaching about 5,100 feet (1,550 m).

Water

Several major rivers cross Ukraine. The Dnieper, Ukraine's longest, enters the country from Belarus and flows into the Black Sea. Other large rivers include the Donets, Bug, and Dniester. Ukraine has no large natural lakes but several reservoirs have been created by dams on the Dnieper. These dams are important sources of hydroelectric power.

Climate

Ukraine's climate, with some exceptions, is temperate. In summer the temperatures generally become progressively warmer from west to east; in winter they become progressively colder. The average July temperature in Kiev is 69° F. (20° C.); in January it is 21° F. (-6° C.). Precipitation is heaviest in the north and northwest, where it averages 24 to 28 inches (600 to 700 mm) annually. The driest areas are in the south, with an annual average of 16 to 20 inches (400 to 500 mm). Throughout Ukraine, summer is the wettest season.

The southern Crimean coast, sheltered by the mountains and warmed by the sea, has a Mediterranean climate.

Economy

During the Soviet period (1922–91), Ukraine's economic development was second only to that of the Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic. Ukraine accounted for nearly a fourth of the USSR's agricultural production and about a fifth of Soviet industrial production. Under the Soviets, Ukraine had a centrally planned economy. Upon independence in 1991, Ukraine began making a transition to an economy based on private enterprise.

Agriculture

Ukraine has come to be known as the breadbasket of Europe due to its agricultural production. The rich black soils of Ukraine, called chernozem, and its moderate climate provide a variety of crops. Most farms in Ukraine were government owned and operated till the late 20th century, and include state farms and collective farms. By the beginning of the 21st century, however, most of these farms gradually transformed into private ownerships, ranging from those owned by large farm corporations, to the co-operative farms, and also privately owned farms.

Ukraine is a major producer of sugar beets, sunflowers, and such grains as wheat and barley. These crops are raised throughout most of the country. Potatoes are grown mainly in northern Ukraine. Tobacco and fruits, especially grapes, are grown in the northwest. Farmers often grow fruits and vegetables near cities, to sell at the urban markets. Cotton is grown in the southern part of the Crimean Peninsula. Cattle and pigs are raised in the central and western parts of Ukraine.

Minerals

Ukraine has huge reserves of iron ore and coal. The region around Krivoy Rog is the country's leading producer of iron ore. This mineral is also mined near Kerch, on the Crimean Peninsula. Ukraine's largest coal-producing region is the Donets Basin, in the east, which is the center of Ukraine’s heavy industry. Ukraine is also a leading producer of manganese, which is used for the manufacture of steel. Other minerals that are mined in Ukraine include petroleum, natural gas, gypsum, manganese, titanium, nickel, and salt.

Manufacturing

Ukraine is a major producer of iron and steel. The manufacturing of steel and steel products is concentrated in the Donets Basin and in the Dnieper valley. The machine industry accounts for a third of Ukraine's industrial output and employs about a fourth of Ukraine's workers.

Products manufactured here at the heavy industries include machine tools, locomotives, motor vehicles, automobiles, aircraft, and tractors and other farm and mining equipment. Ukraine also produces chemicals, chemical fertilizers, processed foods, including canned foods, meat, refined sugar, and wine; consumer goods, including clothes, refrigerators, shoes, television sets, and washing machines; textiles, cement, and precision instruments.

The manufacture of military equipment was also an important industrial activity for Ukraine, with defense factories accounting for about a fourth of Ukraine's industrial output during the Soviet Rule.

Energy Sources

Coal, natural gas, and petroleum are the major sources of electric power in Ukraine. The country also has hydroelectric plants, that are located mainly on the Dnieper River. Ukraine imports much natural gas and petroleum from Russia and Turkmenistan.

During the late 20th century, nuclear power plants began providing an important new source of energy to the country. Today, these plants produce about a third of Ukraine's electric power. Many Ukrainians, however, oppose the use of nuclear energy because of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster that occurred in north-central Ukraine in 1986. The accident caused the release of large amounts of dangerously radioactive material into the atmosphere.

Transportation

The transportation system of Ukraine, which is largely government owned, is quite well developed. Ukraine has more than 153,000 miles (246,000 km) of roads, most of which are paved. Almost a third of Ukraine’s population owns automobiles or motor-cycles, and buses and taxis are quite the norm in large cities. Kiev and Kharkiv also have subways as a mode of transportation..

The Dnieper is Ukraine's most important inland waterway. Of several seaports, Odessa is the largest. Ukraine's busiest airport is at Kiev.

People

About 72 per cent are Ukrainians. Great Russians make up about 22 per cent of the population. Other groups include Belarusians, Moldovans, and Poles. Most of the people are Orthodox Christians. There are also Baptists, Roman Catholics, and Eastern Catholics. The official language is Uktrinian, an eastern Slavic language written in the Cyrillic alphabet.

Education

Schooling is compulsory from age 6 to 17. It is free at all levels, including college. During the Soviet period, education in Ukraine included training in Marxist-Leninist doctrine and an emphasis on the study of Great Russian culture. Curriculum changes in the early 1990's included the abolition of ideological training and an emphasis on the study of Ukrainian culture. Leading institutions of higher learning include Shevchenko State University and the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences; both are in Kiev.

Culture

Despite being suppressed by many conquerors, Ukrainian culture has endured for many centuries. Notable Ukrainian literary figures include the poets Taras Shevchenko (1814–1861) and Ivan Franko (1856–1916) and the dramatist Mykola Kulish (1892–1942).

Ukrainians have a rich tradition of folk art and music. Brilliantly decorated Ukrainian Easter eggs are known throughout the world. The Veryovka Ukrainian Folk Choir, made up of dancers as well as musicians, is internationally acclaimed.

Government

Under the 1996 constitution Ukraine is a republic. Ukraine has a democratic political system. The legislature, called the People's Rada or Supreme Council, has 450 members, who are elected for terms of four years. The president, who is directly elected for a term of five years, is the head of state. The government of Ukraine has an executive branch, featuring a president and a prime minister; and a legislative branch, consisting of a national parliament. The president is commander-in-chief of the military and has the right to issue orders, called edicts, without the approval of the parliament in some matters.

The prime minister, who is appointed by the president with the approval of the People's Rada, is the head of government. The prime minister, who heads a Cabinet, is named by the Parliament, and in his turn, selects the Cabinet members. The State Duma, which is the council of the Ukrainian government, is the advisory body for matters regarding the economy, humanitarian issues, law, and science and technology.

Ukraine has a number of political parties. The Communist Party, is a major party, and favors government control of the economy, and union with Russia. The largest democratic party, the People's Movement of Ukraine, also known as Rukh, is a moderate nationalist party that favors economic reform and rejects renewed Russian control.

The highest court in Ukraine is the Supreme Court. Ukraine also has a Constitutional Court that decides questions about the constitutionality of laws. There are also regional supreme courts, as well as district courts that are known as people's courts.