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ABOUT UKRAINE
You can find anything among 39 cities and towns with their more than a thousand years history, 150 000 natural, cultural and historical sites, 1 500 hotels and 3 000 resorts.
Some more facts and figures:
• Location: Eastern Europe;
• Time zone: GMT+2 hrs, CET+1 hr;
• Borders: 4,663 km: Russia 1,576 km, Belarus 891 km, Poland 526 km, Hungary 103 km, Slovakia 97 km, Moldavia 939 km, Romania 531 km;
• Coastline: 2,782 km (the Black Sea and the Azov Sea);
• Area: 603,700 sq. km (second largest country in Europe). It is divided into 24 regions (oblasts) and an Autonomous Republic of Crimea;
• The highest point: Goverla Mountain (2,061 m);
• The longest river: the Dnipro (2201 km);
• Terrain: most of Ukraine consists of fertile plains (steppes) and plateaus, the Carpathian mountains being found in the west, the Crimean mountains (the highest point is 1,545 meters) being found in the south;
• Climate: temperate continental, Mediterranean at the South Coast of the Crimean peninsula, winters vary from cool along the Black Sea to cold farther inland; summers are warm. The average winter temperatures are from –8 degrees of Celsius to +2 degrees of Celsius. The average summer temperatures are from +17 degrees of Celsius to +25 degrees of Celsius;
• Population: 48 million. 67% are urban. 33% are rural. 46% are men. 54% are women;
• Ethnic groups: Ukrainian 77.8%, Russian 17.3%, Belarusian 0.6%, Moldovan 0.5%, Crimean Tatar 0.5%, Bulgarian 0.4%, Hungarian 0.3%, Romanian 0.3%, Polish 0.3%, Jewish 0.2%, other 1.8%;
• Religion: Ukrainian Orthodox - Moscow Patriarchate, Ukrainian Orthodox - Kiev Patriarchate, Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox, Ukrainian Catholic (Uniate), Protestant, Jewish;
• Government type: presidential-parliamentary republic.
The official coat of arms of Ukraine is a golden trident on an azure background. As a state emblem the trident is known from the Kievan Rus period. It was the coat of arms of the Ryurik dynasty.
The Ukrainian flag is composed of two equal horizontal bands of azure and yellow colors. It symbolizes ripe wheat growing under the blue sky.
• Legislative power: Verkhovna Rada (Supreme Council);
• Executive power: Cabinet of Ministers;
• Judicial power: Constitutional Court;
• Head of State: President;
• Head of Government: Prime Minister;
• Capital: Kiev (population 2,6 million);
• Money: 1 hryvnya = 100 kopiykas. Hryvnya was introduced in September, 1996. There are banknotes for 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 Hryvnyas. There are coins for 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, 50 kopiykas and 1 Hryvnya;
• GDP: $256, 5 billion;
• GDP – real growth rate: 8, 2 %( 2004 est.);
• GDP per capita: $5,300(2004 est.);
• Inflation: 11 %;
• Electricity: The Ukrainian main current is 220 V 50 Hz. The sockets are not fit for European and US electric appliances. Therefore carrying universal adapter and voltage transformer is essential.
National holidays:
• January 1 New Year’s Day;
• January 7 Orthodox Christmas;
• March 8 Women’s Day;
• April 29 (2005) Good Friday;
• May 1 (2005) Orthodox Easter;
• May 1 May Day;
• May 9 Victory Day;
• June 19 (2005) Holy Trinity Day;
• June 28 Constitution Day;
• August 24 Independence Day.
History:
• 150,000 BCE – Homo Sapiens on the territory of Ukraine;
• 4,000 BCE – Tripilya culture;
• 1,500 BCE –Cimmerians occupied the region;
• 700 BCE – Scythians arrived;
• 600 BCE – Greek colonies on the Black Sea coast;
• 270 CE – Germanic tribes invaded the region;
• 375 CE – Huns invasion;
• 482 CE – Kyiv’s first settlement was founded by three brothers – Kiy, Scheck and Khoriv – and their sister Lybid;
• 7th Century – Slavs from Northern Ukraine began to expend;
• 882 – Oleg, of Varangian, became Kyivan Rus’ first ruler;
• 988 – Volodymyr the Great converted Kyivan Rus to Christianity;
• 1187 – Ukraine, meaning “borderland”, was first mentioned in documents;
• 1240 – Batu Khan, the grandson of Genghis Khan, conquered Kyivan Rus;
• 14th Century – Galychina was seized by Poland. Kiev was conquered by Lithuania;
• 16th Century – Cossacks established their own military-political administration based in Zaporozhye;
• 1654 – Bogdan Khmelnitsky signed a protection agreement with the Russian tsar;
• 1764 – Ukrainian self-rule was abolished by Russia;
• 19th Century – the Ukrainian national movement experienced a cultural and political rebirth;
• 1917 – Ukrainian People’s Republic was proclaimed;
• 1918 – Western Ukraine was proclaimed an independent republic;
• 1919 – The reunion of the two Ukrainian states was announced. But they were defeated by the Soviet Russia and by Poland;
• 1922 – The Soviet Union was formed, including the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic;
• 1931-1933 – Artificially engineered famine;
• 1941 – The fascist Germany invaded the USSR;
• 1943 – Kiev was liberated;
• 1944 – The whole of Ukraine was liberated;
• 1986 – Chernobyl nuclear disaster;
• 1991 – Ukraine was proclaimed to be an independent state;
• 1996 – The Constitution of Ukraine was adopted.
Visas and customs:
• To enter Ukraine a visa is needed for all non-Ukrainian citizens except the citizen of Common Europe, Canadian citizens, CIS citizens and persons with diplomatic or special passports of the countries that have appropriate agreements with Ukraine. The best way to obtain a visa is through the Ukrainian consulate or embassy in your country prior to your departure;
• On crossing the Ukrainian border you must complete a customs declaration if you carry more than $1,000 and/or 10,000 hryvnyas (or the equivalent in any other currency) and/or declarable goods. Those carrying more than the above mentioned amount must have an A1 bank reference form. If you have less than $1,000 and no declarable goods you just need to inform a customs officer orally. Officers have the right to inspect your bags any time.
The declarable goods are:
• Goods which value exceeds 200 Euro;
• More than 1 liter (0,265 gallon) of alcoholic beverages;
• More than 200 grams (7, 1 ounce) of to
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Tel: +38 044 239-12-09
Tel: +38 044 232-35-05
FAX: +38 044 239-12-08
e-mail: info@altour.kiev.ua
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© 2006 “Aladdin-Group LTD” Travel Company
Designed by Dmitrenko V. |
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