Adoption-Ukraine Ukrainian adoption agency - Ukrainian history, culture, people

ADOPTION-UKRAINE Ukrainian adoption agency

Ukraine - People, History, State

1. Ukraine in facts

Location: Eastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Poland and Russia

Geographic coordinates: 49 00 N, 32 00 E

Area: total: 603,700 sq km land: 603,700 sq km Area—comparative: slightly smaller than Texas

Land boundaries: total: 4,558 km border countries: Belarus 891 km, Hungary 103 km, Moldova 939 km, Poland 428 km, Romania (south) 169 km, Romania (west) 362 km, Russia 1,576 km, Slovakia 90 km Coastline: 2,782 km Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200-m or to the depth of exploitation exclusive economic zone: 200 nm territorial sea: 12 nm

Climate: temperate continental Mediterranean only on the southern Crimean coast precipitation disproportionately distributed, highest in west and north, lesser in east and southeast winters vary from cool along the Black Sea to cold farther inland summers are warm across the greater part of the country, hot in the south

Terrain: most of Ukraine consists of fertile plains (steppes) and plateaus, mountains being found only in the west (the Carpathians), and in the Crimean Peninsula in the extreme south Elevation extremes: lowest point: Black Sea 0 m highest point: Hora Hoverla 2,061 m

Natural resources: iron ore, coal, manganese, natural gas, oil, salt, sulfur, graphite, titanium, magnesium, kaolin, nickel, mercury, timber

Land use: arable land: 58% permanent crops: 2% permanent pastures: 13% forests and woodland: 18% other: 9% (1993 est.) Irrigated land: 26,050 sq km (1993 est.) Natural hazards: NA

Environment—current issues: inadequate supplies of potable water air and water pollution deforestation radiation contamination in the northeast from 1986 accident at Chornobyl' Nuclear Power Plant

Environment—international agreements: party to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Air Pollution-Sulphur 85, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Environmental Modification, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Sulphur 94, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Law of the Sea

Geography—note: strategic position at the crossroads between Europe and Asia second-largest country in Europe

Population: near 45 000 000 Age structure: 0-14 years: 18% (male 4,690,318 female 4,498,239) 15-64 years: 68% (male 16,136,296 female 17,572,011) 65 years and over: 14% (male 2,251,664 female 4,662,646) (1999 est.) Population growth rate: -0.62% (1999 est.) Birth rate: 9.54 births/1,000 population (1999 est.) Death rate: 16.38 deaths/1,000 population (1999 est.) Net migration rate: 0.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1999 est.) Sex ratio: at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.92 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.48 male(s)/female total population: 0.86 male(s)/female (1999 est.) Infant mortality rate: 21.73 deaths/1,000 live births (1999 est.)

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 65.91 years male: 60.23 years female: 71.87 years (1999 est.) Total fertility rate: 1.34 children born/woman (1999 est.) Nationality: noun: Ukrainian(s) adjective: Ukrainian Ethnic groups: Ukrainian 73%, Russian 22%, Jewish 1%, other 4%

Religions: Ukrainian Orthodox—Moscow Patriarchate, Ukrainian Orthodox—Kiev Patriarchate, Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox, Ukrainian Catholic (Uniate), Protestant, Jewish

Languages: Ukrainian, Russian, Romanian, Polish, Hungarian Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 98% male: 100% female: 97% (1989 est.) conventional long form: none conventional short form: Ukraine local long form: none local short form: Ukrayina former: Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic Data code: UA Government type: republic Capital: Kyiv

Administrative divisions: 24 oblasti (singular—oblast'), 1 autonomous republic* (avtomnaya respublika), and 2 municipalities (mista, singular—misto) with oblast status** Cherkas'ka (Cherkasy), Chernihivs'ka (Chernihiv), Chernivets'ka (Chernivtsi), Dnipropetrovs'ka (Dnipropetrovs'k), Donets'ka (Donets'k), Ivano-Frankivs'ka (Ivano-Frankivs'k), Kharkivs'ka (Kharkiv), Khersons'ka (Kherson), Khmel'nyts'ka (Khmel'nyts'kyy), Kirovohrads'ka (Kirovohrad), Kyyiv**, Kyyivs'ka (Kiev), Luhans'ka (Luhans'k), L'vivs'ka (L'viv), Mykolayivs'ka (Mykolayiv), Odes'ka (Odesa), Poltavs'ka (Poltava), Avtonomna Respublika Krym* (Simferopol'), Rivnens'ka (Rivne), Sevastopol'**, Sums'ka (Sumy), Ternopil's'ka (Ternopil'), Vinnyts'ka (Vinnytsya), Volyns'ka (Luts'k), Zakarpats'ka (Uzhhorod), Zaporiz'ka (Zaporizhzhya), Zhytomyrs'ka (Zhytomyr). note: oblasts have the administrative center name following in parentheses.

Independence: 1 December 1991 (from Soviet Union) National holiday: Independence Day, 24 August (1991)

Constitution: adopted 28 June 1996 Legal system: based on civil law system judicial review of legislative acts

Suffrage: 18 years of age universal

Economy—overview: After Russia, the Ukrainian republic was far and away the most important economic component of the former Soviet Union, producing about four times the output of the next-ranking republic. Its fertile black soil generated more than one-fourth of Soviet agricultural output, and its farms provided substantial quantities of meat, milk, grain, and vegetables to other republics. Likewise, its diversified heavy industry supplied equipment and raw materials to industrial and mining sites in other regions of the former USSR. Ukraine depends on imports of energy, especially natural gas. Shortly after the implosion of the USSR in December 1991, the Ukrainian Government liberalized most prices and erected a legal framework for privatization, but widespread resistance to reform within the government and the legislature soon stalled reform efforts and led to some backtracking. Output in 1992-98 fell to less than half the 1991 level. Loose monetary policies pushed inflation to hyperinflationary levels in late 1993. Since his election in July 1994, President KUCHMA has pushed economic reforms, maintained financial discipline, and tried to remove almost all remaining controls over prices and foreign trade. The onset of the financial crisis in Russia dashed Ukraine's hopes for its first year of economic growth in 1998 due to a sharp fall in export revenue and reduced domestic demand. Although administrative currency controls will be lifted in early 1999, they are likely to be reimposed when the hryvnia next comes under pressure. The currency is only likely to collapse further if Ukraine abandons tight monetary policies or threatens default. Despite increasing pressure from the IMF to accelerate reform, significant economic restructuring remains unlikely in 1999.

GDP: purchasing power parity—$108.5 billion (1998 est.) GDP—real growth rate: -1.7% (1998 est.) GDP—per capita: purchasing power parity—$2,200 (1998 est.) GDP—composition by sector: agriculture: 14% industry: 30% services: 56% (1997 est.)

Population below poverty line: 50% (2000 est.) Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 4.1% highest 10%: 20.8% (1992) Inflation rate (consumer prices): 20% (yearend 1998 est.) Labor force: 22.8 million (yearend 1997)

Labor force—by occupation: industry and construction 32%, agriculture and forestry 24%, health, education, and culture 17%, trade and distribution 8%, transport and communication 7%, other 12% (1996)

Unemployment rate: 3.7% officially registered large number of unregistered or underemployed workers (December 1998) Budget:
revenues: $18 billion expenditures: $21 billion, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)

Industries: coal, electric power, ferrous and nonferrous metals, machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food-processing (especially sugar) Industrial production growth rate: -1.5% (1998 est.) Electricity—production: 171.8 billion kWh (1998) Electricity—production by source:fossil fuel: 47% hydro: 9.2% nuclear: 43.8% other: 0% (1998) Electricity—consumption: 174 billion kWh (1998) Electricity—exports: 5 billion kWh (1998) Electricity—imports: 7 billion kWh (1998) Agriculture—products: grain, sugar beets, sunflower seeds, vegetables beef, milk Exports: $11.3 billion (1998 est.) Exports—commodities: ferrous and nonferrous metals, chemicals, machinery and transport equipment, food products Exports—partners: USA, Europe,Russia, China,, Turkey, Germany, Belarus (1998)

Imports: $13.1 billion (1998 est.) Imports—commodities: energy, machinery and parts, transportation equipment, chemicals, plastics and rubber Imports—partners:USA, Europe, Russia, Germany, US, Poland, Italy (1998)

Debt—external: $10.9 billion (October 1998) Economic aid—recipient: $637.7 million (1995) IMF Extended Funds Facility $2.2 billion (1998) Currency: 1 hryvna=100 kopiykas

In short:

· Ukraine occupies an area of 603,700 square kilometers, and is among the largest European countries. Territorially it is larger than France (544,000 sq. km.), Spain (505,000 sq. km.), Sweden (450,000 sq. km.), and Poland (312,7000 sq. km.).

· In terms of population (50.5 million as of January 1, 1998), Ukraine ranks fifth in Europe after Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and Sweden. The population density per one square kilometer amounts to an average of 85.6 people, the European average being 67.

· In its ethnic composition, Ukraine is a multi-ethnic Republic, inhabited by more than 110 ethnic groups, of which Ukrainian (72.7%) are the largest, followed by Russians, Jews, Belarussians, Moldovans, Bulgarians, Poles and Hungarians.

· The easternmost point is in the township of Milove, Luhansk Region. The westernmost point is the city of Chop in Transcarpathia, the distance between them being 1,270 kilometers. In its widest central part, the distance between the northernmost village of Muravyi in the Chernihiv Region and the southernmost Sarych Promontory in Crimea equals 900 kilometers.

· The largest mountain system is the Ukrainian Carpathian Mountains, which are part of the Eastern Carpathians. The mountains stretch to the west within the territories of the Transcarpathian, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk and Chernivtsi regions.

· The highest mountain peak, Hoverla, is in the Ukrainian Carpathians within the territories of Transcarpathian and Ivano-Frankivsk.

· The Black Sea borders Ukraine to the south. The Dnieper is the country’s largest river. The deepest river is the Danube. Yalpug is Ukraine’s largest lake in the Danube delta of the Odesa Region.

· The deepest lake is Svitiaz in the basin of the Southern Buh. It is one of the Shatsk Lakes in Volyn.

· The highest mountain lake is Brebeneskul, between the Carpathian range of Chornohora and the Hutyn-Tamnatyk Mountain.

· The considerable remoteness from oceans and continental Siberia tells favorably on the climate of Ukraine. Almost al of its territory is located in the temperate zone. On the whole, the climate is temperately continental, and only on the southern shore of Crimea is it subtropical.

· As of January 1, 1990, Ukraine numbered 436 cities inhabited by more than 68% of the country’s population. Over 75% of basic production assets and about 95% of scientific research institutions are concentrated in these metropolitan areas.

2. Modern Ukraine

Modern Ukraine, the largest state in Europe appeared on the map of the world in August 1991. It was recognised by the international community and maintains diplomatic relationships with more than a hundred countries of the world.

Ukraine has a total area of over 375.000 sq. miles. From east to west Ukraine stretches for more than 877 miles and from north to south for almost 600 miles. The geographical centre of Europe is located near the little Ukrainian town of Rakhiv. Ukraine borders with Belarus and Russia on the north and on the east. In the south it is bounded by the Black sea and the Sea of Azov.

On the west Ukraine borders with Moldova, Hungary, Slovakia, and Poland. The population of the country is 50 million people and consists of a variety of nationalities. Ukrainians, Russians, Belarussians, Moldovans, Tatars, Poles, Romanians and Greeks are the groups that are predominantly represented. The population comprises 66 % of the total population.

Ukraine is a rich farming, industrial and mining region in south-eastern Europe. Ukraine is in ideal geographical position for the development of its resources, lying between 44o and 52o latitude north on the same latitude as the USA, Britain, China and Japan.
Ukraine’s black soil (chernozem) makes agriculture a worthwhile business. Ukraine has for many years been known as the Breadbasket of Europe. This is mainly due to its ability to produce vast amounts of grain. Central and southern Ukraine is almost all steppe or prairie land, loaded with very fertile black soil perfect for farming grain. In the east the industrial capital of Ukraine, containing large reserves of mineral deposits known as the Greater Donbas or Donetsk Basin.

There are 71 thousand rivers and streams in Ukraine. Their total length being 155 thousand miles. The most important of them are the Dnipro, the Dnister, the Southern Bug, the Prypyat, the Desna. The Dnipro river is the major river in the country and the third longest in Europe. Its total length is 890 miles, 475 miles over the territory of Ukraine. The Dnipro river connects Ukraine with 7 European countries. The capital of Ukraine Kiev, Zaporizhzhya, Dnipropetrovsk, Cherkasy and Kherson are situated on the banks of this river. The waters of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov wash Ukraine’s coast line.

The climate is pleasantly mild without extremes of cold of heat. It is continental with the exception of the Crimea where the climate is close to the one that can be called «Mediterranean» or even subtropical.

Spring in Ukraine comes early, summer is sunny and lusciously green; fall shines with autumn colours and winter is mild and white. The early spring has very changeable weather. The weather may be cold and windy and rainy and sunny on the same day. But in late spring it is mostly warm and sunny, with occasional rains.

In summer the weather is usually warm, sometimes hot and dry. The warmest months are July and August. The average temperature is 25-35 C. Autumn is rather warm at the beginning, but in the course of time it gets colder, the sky is usually overcast and it often rains.

There is a wonderful spell in autumn, the so-called Indian Summer when the weather is warm and sunny and everything looks golden, brown and red.
Winter sets in December, with its cold and heavy snowfalls, bitter winds. The coldest month is January.Average January temperatures range from 28 F in the south-west to 18 F in the north-west. Throughout most of the country snow covers the ground for about 3 months every year during winter.

Ukraine is a land of gorgeous nature, which is much the same as it was during ancient times. Fields, meadows, hills dotted with green forests, mountains and valleys full of beautiful flowers create the unique landscape of our country. The real Ukraine is a land of natural beauty still untouched by the modern world.

Most of Ukraine is flat land but in the west the Carpathians with the highest peak Hoverla (2061 m above sea level) and in the south the Crimean mountains with the highest mountain Roma-Kosh (1545 m above sea level) take up to 5 % of the territory of the country.

Deer, elk roam, freely dense forests and birds of many species make the forests likely with their singing.It is a sheer joy to travel through Ukraine, and a see cultivated fields and meadows covered with mild flowers, dense forests, deep valleys, hills and mountains with sparkling rivers and waterfalls.To travel there is extremely interesting. Anyone who loves hiking, dreams of a trip in the Carpathians.

The Crimea has long been a favourite holiday destination for tourists. If you like sea and mountains, if you love sun and fresh salubrious air come to the Crimea.

Crimea. Black Sea

You will find gentle seas and good beaches, mountain lakes and waterfalls, ruins of ancient Roman, Byrantike and Genoese fortresses.You will drink excellent wine. The beauty of the Crimea is bound to affect you. Many a poet who visited Crimea write verses expressing fascination with this land.The mountains are covered with forests that are full of wildlife. The warm, sunny climate, mountains and sea attract hundreds of thousands of

holiday-makers and tourists. There are about 700 rest homes, tourist centres,sanatoriums.

The Crimea is a marvellous treasure, a natural storehouse of the secrets of millenniums. There are more than 175 officially registered monuments of nature. It is famous for Nikitsky Botanical garden, the Alupka palace, Swallow’s nest and other historical creations.
It is not only nature that Ukraine can be proud of. Magic voices of Ukrainian singers, ballet performances, works of our painters and sculptors are known everywhere in the world.

Ukraine is extremely rich in natural resources and has an enormous scientific potential. But, perhaps, the greatest value of Ukraine is its people who are benevolent, merry, hospitable and generous.