Ukraine is
situated in the south-eastern part of Central Europe and has its own
territory, government, national emblem, flag and anthem. It borders on
Russia, Byelorussia, Moldova, Slovakia, Romania, Hungary and Poland on
land and Russia, Georgia, Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey on sea.
The territory of Ukraine is mostly a level, treeless plain, calls
"steppe". There are the Crimean Mountains in the Crimean peninsula and
the Carpathians in the west, but they are not very high. Mixed forests
of pine and fir-trees, beeches, limes, oaks and elms cover the
mountains, but the thickest woods can still be found in the northern
part of the republic, in Volyn. Kiev and Cherkassy lie in the midst of
Ukrainian southernmost pine forest. The main Ukrainian river is the
Dnieper. It is one of the longest European rivers and one of the
country's main sources of hydroelectric power. The Dnieper and its
tributary the Ross had been the cradle of the Ukrainian and Russian
people in time immemorial.
The climate of the country is moderate. Winter is rather mild, with no
severe frosts but with regular snowfalls everywhere except the south.
The rivers and lakes freeze in winter. Summer is quite hot and dry, with
occasional showers. The fertile black soil is well watered in spring and
autumn and gets plenty of sunshine in summer
Due to favorable climatic conditions, Ukraine is traditionally an
agricultural area. It grows wheat, maize, buckwheat and other corn, red
and green vegetables, all kinds of fruit, melons and berries.
Ukraine is one of the world's main centers of sugar production. It
produces sugar both for her own needs and for export.
The country is rich in natural resources, such as iron ore, coal, color
metal, oil, gas, mineral salts, clay and potential water power. It has
developed a varied industry, concentrated mostly in and around big
cities, such as Kiev, Zaporozhe, Dnepropetrovsk, Dneprodzerzhinsk,
Odessa, Kharkov, Lvov, Nikolayev and others. It produces planes and
ships, lorries and buses, motorcars and locomotives, computer and
electronic equipment, precision instruments and agricultural machines,
TV and radio set, chemicals and textiles and various consumer goods.
Odessa, Sebastopol, Nikolayev, Kherson and Kerch are main Ukrainian
ports.
Ukrainian educational system is considered to be one of the most
developed in the world; it offers a big variety of educational
opportunities to local and international students. There are almost 400
higher educational establishments (universities) in Ukraine. Among them
there are 220 state institutions, and 93 privately owned, and a number
of municipal institutions. One can obtain a higher education in
universities, academies, or in establishments which are equivalent to
universities, but are traditionally called "institutes" of 3rd and 4th
level of accreditation. Of late years Ukraine has become a very popular
destination for students mainly because of low cost of Education, global
recognition, possibility of studying in English and international
experience students are bound to gain by the time they finish their
schooling.
