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- The Ukraine is a country of about 50 million people living on 600 000 square kilometres stretching across 1300 kilometres of Eastern Europe.
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Geography Its neighbours are Belarus to the north, Russia to the north and east, Poland and Slovakia in the west and Hungary, Romania and Moldova in the east. The Black and Azov Seas make up its southern border. A large part of the Ukraine is a flat, treeless plain, called a "steppe." Mixed forests with fir, pine, beech, oak and elm trees cover some of the rest of the country including the Carpathian Mountains to the west and the Crimean Mountains in the south. The thickest forests are in the north.  |
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 The
Dnieper (Dnipro) River is
the
main river in the Ukraine.
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The Dnieper (Dnipro) River flows through the centre of the country. It is one of the longest rivers in Europe and provides water and power to the country from its hydroelectric dams. |
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Summer in the Ukraine is mostly mild with a 19°C average, but in the south near the Crimea, it can become very hot. The summer months are dry with showers and thunderstorms happening occasionally. Rainfall is more likely in the north and northwest with these areas getting about 600 mm in a year. The southern parts are much drier, getting only about half as much rain per year. Winters in the Ukraine are milder than in most parts of Canada with very few severe frosts, although snow falls on most of the country except the far south. The northwest parts of the country have average January temperatures of -7° C, whereas in the south the winter average is a warmer -4° C. The mountains are usually colder than other areas. |
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The country also has many natural resources. Iron ore, coal, metals, oil, gas, mineral salts, clay and hydroelectricity are important to its economy. Industries are found in the big cities of Kiev, Odessa, Kharkov, and Lviv. Items such as airplanes, ships, farm and motor vehicles, trains, computers, electronic equipment, chemicals and textiles are produced in the larger cities. |
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There are about 50 million people living in the Ukraine today. The population has shown a loss of nearly 1.2 million between 1990 and 1997. Most of the people (75%) living in the Ukraine are ethnic Ukrainian. The largest minority group are Russian (22%) from the time when Russia occupied the country. There are also small numbers of people of Jewish background and from the countries of Belarus, Bulgaria, Poland, Hungary and Romania living in the country. During the time of Soviet (Russian) domination, religion was severely restricted in the Ukraine, but many people continued to hold their beliefs privately. About 2/3 of the people belong to the Eastern Orthodox Church.
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Ukrainian
traditions, dances and
costumes
vary in different areas
of the country.
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Click for more information on the Ukrainian Government
For general information Visit:
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Ukraine is considered to be a "beginning" or emerging democratic republic. A republic is a government elected by the people where the president holds strong power. Up until the past few years the Ukraine was part of the Soviet bloc of countries ruled by a communist government controlled by Russia.
Today, the President is elected
by a free vote of citizens over 18 years of age and becomes the
leader of the state. The Prime Minister is the head of the government
which is formed from members of the Verkhovna Rada, the Supreme Council
of elected members. |
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