Geography of Odessa
Odessa, Ukraine, a city on Odessa Bay, an arm of the Black Sea. Odessa's port, which is made up of five harbors, handles much of Ukraine's foreign trade.
Odessa has shipyards and a large fishing fleet. Manufactured items include farm machinery, railway equipment, machine tools, food products, flour, clothing, and chemicals. Exports include grain, cattle, wool, sugar, and lumber; imports include coal, petroleum, cotton, rice, and coffee.
A picturesque city, Odessa is built on a plateau rising 150 feet (46 m) above the harbors. The population is mixed and includes Ukrainians, Russians, Jews, Greeks, Tatars, Turks, and Armenians. Many institutions of higher learning are here, including a state university, a medical school, and a polytechnic institute. Odessa also has a symphony orchestra, an opera company, and a ballet company.