Rahiv, the Transcarpathia region – Ukraine

The Rahiv district is located in the SE of the Transcarpatia region in the Ukraine. The overall surface is 1,900 km², with a population of 90,000. The Rahiv district is 15% of the Transcarpatia region, being one of its greatest. The Rahiv district comprises the Ukraine's greatest peaks: Hoverla - 2,061 m; Brebenescul - 2,035 m; Pop Ivan - 2,022 m; Petros - 2,020 m; Hutyn Tomnatyc - 2,017 m; Rebra - 2,007 m.

Some 30 nations and ethnic communities live here, 70% - Ukrainians (the Hutulis), 10% - Romanians, 9% Hungarians. The density of population is 47.7 inhabitants/km². The Rahiv district is located within the Carpaţii Păduroşi (The Forested Carpathians). The Prevododilni Gorgane mountain massif lies in the north, the Svedoveţ and Ciornohora massifs lie in the center, and the southern part is dominated by the Rahivului mountains.

The town of Rahiv is the district's administrative center, 430 m higher than the sea level, in a mountainous valley in the heart of the Forested Carpathians. The place takes a strategic position at the Romanian-Ukrainian frontier, at the crossroads between the roads from Halecena and Bucovina towards Hungary, Romania, the Czech Republic and other Central European states. It is connected by road and rail with the afore mentioned states and the towns in Western Ukraine: Lviv - 280 km, Cernăuţi – 230 km, Ivano-Frankivsk –145 km and Ujgorod – 209 km. Near the town of Rahiv, on the national route which relates the town to Ujgorod, on the Tisza river bank, lies the geodetic landmark that marks the Geographic Center of Europe, since 1887. Currently, the town of Rahiv is one of the best known recreational and tourist attraction in the Ukraine, with a highly developed ecologic industry.

The district of Rahiv enjoys all the favorable conditions for winter tourism, especially winter sports (ski). The best known locations for tourism are the Blyznytzia mountain and the Drahobrat ski resort. Given its natural benefits, the Drahobrat massif could become the host of the future Winter Olympics. There are only two sanatoriums similar to the one in Kvasy in the entire world, given the mineral waters which consist of minerals with arsenic in their composition. The natural and climatic conditions have not altered the warm-hearted people’s diligence and natural kindness.

The beauties of the Carpathian Mountains – meadows, forests, clear springs – are mirrored in the sculptures, cloths, and other popular craftsmanship, folk musicians and dance artists. Traditional Hutuli foods are especially popular among tourists – delicious cheese varieties, soft cheese, or balmoş (sheep milk polenta with cheese) among others. Once a guest in the Rahiv district, the heart yearns to come back.

 

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The Ukraine

Ukraine lies in Eastern Europe, in the southwestern part of Europe's Eastern Plain. The country's main ranges of mountains are some of the Carpathians and the Crimean Mountains.

The territory of the Ukraine is 603,700 km², namely 5.7% of the territory of Europe, and 0.44 % of the ground surface of Planet Earth.

It is larger than great countries in Europe, such as France (544,000 km²), Spain (505,000 km²), Sweden (450,000 km²), Poland (312,700 km²).

The span from the north to the south is 893 km, and from west to the east it is 1,316 km.

The neighboring countries are Russia in the north-east, Belarus in the North, Poland, Slovakia and Hungary in the west, Romania and the Republic of Moldova to the south-west, the Black Sea and the Azov Sea to the south.

Ukraine has land and sea boundaries totaling 7,590 km.

 

Capital: Kiev

Official language: Ucranian

Political system: parliamentary republic

Area: total 603,700 km² (44^th place) - Water (%) 7

Currency Ukrainian hryvnia (UAH)

Population: 2007 - 46,481,000 inhabitants (27^th place) - Density 77 inh./km² (115)

Country code: +38

National day: 27^th of August

 

Ukraine's Natural and climatic features

The landscape is mainly flat, 95% plains and 5% - mountains. There are three types of plains - covered in coniferous and deciduous forests, plains with forests with steppe and mere steppe.

Ukraine's natural resources are rich and various, including coal, oil and gas, stone, salt and others.

Ukraine's main coal base is Donbas, with an estimated reserve of 109 billion tons. Dnepr's coal base contains approximately 6 billion tons of lignite.

Iron ore are especially found in Kryvorizkyi (18.7 billion tons), Kremenciukyi (4.5 billion tons), Bilozerskyi (2.5 billion tons) and Kercenskyi (1.8 billion tons). The world's greatest manganese reserves are located in the Nikopolskyi base. In addition, important nickel, chrome, titanium, mercury (second place in the world), and multi-metal ores are also important.

The non-metal deposits in Ukraine are some of the greatest in Europe and in the world.

Natural sulfur and silt deposits are among the greatest in the world, while graphite deposits are the greatest on the European continent. Ukraine has a long ancient tradition in exploiting salt and potassium. Ukraine's natural resources have created the premises for the forging, chemical, porcelain and tile industries, as well as the constructions industry.

Ukraine also prides in its mineral waters, mostly found in Myrgorod, Svaliava, Truskaveţi and Feodosia. The silt deposits in the towns of Ievpatoria and Saky have major healing powers.

One of the foremost riches of Ukraine is the soil, 2/3 of which is chernozem; according to specialists, Ukraine has over one quarter of the world's chernozem.

Ukraine has a rich network of rivers great and small, over 73,000 of them, plus approximately 20,000 lakes. The greatest rivers are Dniepr, Danube, Dniester, South Bug and Siverskodoneţk.

Dniepr is Ukraine's largest river, the third in Europe in terms of length and drainage basin.

Ukraine's flora includes approximately 30,000 species of plants.

Ukraine's fauna: the various conditions throughout Ukraine enable a rich diversity of animals. Ukraine has approximately 44,800 species of animals.

Territorial-administrative organization

Ukraine's territorial-administrative organization consists of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and 24 regions: Vinnytzka, Volynska, Dnipropetrovska, Donetzika, Jytomyrska, Zakarpatska, Zaporizka, Ivano-Frankivska, Kyivska, Kirovogradska, Luganska, Lvivska, Mykolaivska, Odeska, Poltavska, Rivnenska, Sumska, Ternopilska, Harkivska, Hersonska, Hmelnytzka, Cerkaska, Cernivetzka, Cernihivska. In total, Ukraine has 490 departments, 446 towns, 907 communes and 10,196 villages.

Population

In early 2001, Ukraine had a population of 49.5 million, being the 5^th greatest country in Europe (after the Russian federation, Italy, Great Britain, France) and the 21^st in the world. Ukraine's population represents 7.3% of Europe's population, and 1% of the globe's.

Most live in towns (68%). Villages are home to just 32% of Ukraine's population.

Ukraine's average density of population is 85 people/ km².

The male age average is 61.6 years, the female - 72.8 years.

The sex structure has remained constant - 46% males, 54% females.

The Ukrainians' share in the overall population is 73%. According to the census in 1989, Ukraine has 37,420,000 Ukrainians and 4,830,000 are Ukrainian in origin.

A great number of Ukrainians live overseas: in Russia - 10,938 million, in the USA - 2,230 million, Kazakhstan - 1,386 million, Byelorussia - 1,311 million, Canada - 1,071 million, Poland - 0,850 million, as well as in other countries.

Over 14 million people of different nationalities live in Ukraine, namely 27 % of the country's population. Russians are the greatest ethnic minority, 11.4 million, or 21% of the population.

 

 

Sources:

http://www.cons-ua.ro/ro/descoperiti_ucraina.html

http://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukraine

 

 

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Transcarpathia

The Transcarpathia region (Ukrainian Закарпаття, Zakarpatiia) is located at the border between the Carpathians and the middle Danube, in the heart of Europe. Transcarpathia stretches from north to south for over 135 kilometers, and from east to west for over 205 kilometers.

• The total area is 12,800 km².

• Neighbors. Transcarpathia neighbors:

  • Poland - 33.4 km to the northwest (the W. Bereznoi department);

  • Slovakia - 98.5 km to the west (the Ujgorod and Perecin departments);

  • Hungary - 130 km to the south (the Ujgorod, Beregovo and Vinogradovo departments);

  • Romania - 205.4 km to the southeast (the Rahiv, Teacev, Hust departments).

  • The Lvov and Ivano Frankivsk regions (the W Bereznii, Voloveţ, Mijgiria, Teacev and Rahiv departments)

• Border crossings in the area: 18 - 7 rail, 7 international roads, 1 international air routes and 3 simple crossings.

• Departments: Transcarpathia has 13 counties, 10 towns, 28 smaller towns, 561 rural settlements.

• The regionally subordinated towns are Ujgorod, Beregovo, Mucacevo, Hust, and the departmental subordinated towns are Svaleava, Irshava, Teacevo, Vinogradovo, Rahiv, Ciop.

• Capital of Transcarpathia: Ujgorod - 120,000 inhabitants.

• Population of the region: 1,253,300.

• Nationalities: in total 76 nationalities:

1. UKRAINIANS - 78.4% or 976,476 people, most of the Transcarpathian territory. The Transcarpathian Ukrainians are divided into four distinct ethnic groups:

•  

  • Boichis - districts of Volovetz, Mijgirea;

  • Lemchsi - district of W Bereznoi;

  • Huţulis - district of Rahiv;

  • Dolinens - moorlands or mountain foot areas.

• 2. HUNGARIANS - 12.5%

• 3. RUSSIANS- 4%

• 4. ROMANIANS - 2.4% living in the districts of Rahiv, Teachiv.

• 5. ROMA - 1% or 12,131

• Natural setting. From the geographical point of view, the region is split into the mountainous area (the Carpathians) and the plains (the Transcarpathia depression).

• Most of the territory is mountainous, and the greatest peak in Transcarpathia is Goverlei, in the Ciornogora massif, 2,061 meters high.

• Noteworthy is the great number of rivers, rivulets and streams in Transcarpathia - 9,429, including 4 rivers with a length of over 100 km (Uj, Latoritza, Borjava, Tisa).

• Transcarpathia's greatest lake is Sanevir, formed some 10,000 years ago, at an altitude of 989 m. The lake is 7 ha large, its greatest depth is 27 meters, and the average water temperature ranges between +12 to +18 degrees.

• The Carpathians take 80% of the Transcarpathian territory. They cross the region from the northwest to the southeast. The length is 240 km, the width 110 km.

• Mountainous forests take 45% of the overall forested area of Transcarpathia, and mountainous pastures take 40,000 ha.

• The highest mountains in the region are: Goverla (2,061 m), Brebenescul (2,035 m), Pop-Ivan (2,022 m), Petros (2,020 m), Gutinul -Tomnatic (2,017 m), Rebra (2,007 m), Tupcul (1,932 m), Brescul (1,910 m), Bliznitza (1,881 m), Dzembronea (1,877 m), Strimcesca (1,872 m), Dragobrat (1,786 m).

• Caves in the region: salty (the Solotvina mine), karstic - (grottos or caverns) - Camiani vorota - "The Rocky Gates", Diravâi camini - "The Hollow Stone", Vedmejii clâc - "Bear Fang", Prozori stino - "Transparent Walls", Bili stino - "White Walls", Romania, Viv, Ciuri, Cneaghinea - "Princess", Drujba - "Ridge", Grebini - "Ridge", Perlina - "Pearl", Sânătorii, Certij, Molocinâi camini - "Milky Stone", "Termoxa mala", marble "Dilove, Grabovo, Cneaghinea".

• The territory from the southwest all the way to the border is called the Trans-Carpathian Depression. It joins the middle sector of the Danube meadow (Pannonia) and takes 20% of the territory (almost 2,000 km²). 50% is arable soil, and flat forests take 15%.

• The climate of Transcarpathia is specific to Central Europe. High mountains protect the region from cold Nordic winds, and the wet, continental-temperate climate makes summers warm and winters mild. In fact, if someone from the north is visiting, the weather seems southern, and if someone from the south is visiting the weather feels the other way around. Tourists in eastern countries come searching for western culture, while westerners are trying to get a glimpse of the East's particularities.

• Tourism: a complex network of spas and resorts has been developed. The greatest spas are "Poleana", "Karpaty", "Verhovyna". In Slatina, on the salt mines, there is an allergy-treatment facility of national importance. In addition, the area is rich with scores of hotels and travel agencies, and the region has vast possibilities for summer and winter tourism.

THE NATURAL RESERVATIONS OF TRANSCARPATHIA

• The most famous reservation, with a major number of protected species of animals and plants, is the Biosphere Reservation in the Carpathians. It was set up in 1968 and consists of the following massifs:

• 1) The Hust Massif "Doluna nartzosiv" (Narcissus Valley);

• 2) The Ciornogirscoi Massif (montenegro) "Goverla";

• 3) The Sharocolujanscoi Massif "Uglea";

• 4) The Ugoliscoi Massif (coal).

• The region currently includes 415 natural reservations and 494 vegetal, animal and mineral reservations.

Sources:

• http://www.cons-ua.ro/ro/descoperiti_ucraina.html

• http://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukraine

• http://all.zakarpattya.net/rum/begin.html

• http://turism-satumare-transcarpathia.ro/ro/harti

 

 

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