About country

Ukraine.

Geography. At 603,700 square kilometres (233,100 sq mi) and with a coastline of 2,782 square kilometres (1,074 sq mi), Ukraine is the world's 44th-largest country (after the Central African Republic, before Madagascar). It is the largest whole-Europe country and the second largest country in Europe (after the European part of Russia, before metropolitan France) .The Ukrainian landscape consists mostly of fertile plains (or steppes) and plateaus, crossed by rivers such as the Dnieper (Dnipro), Seversky Donets, Dniester and the Southern Buh as they flow south into the Black Sea and the smaller Sea of Azov. To the southwest, the delta of the Danube forms the border with Romania. The country's only mountains are the Carpathian Mountains in the west, of which the highest is the Hora Hoverla at 2,061 metres (6,760 ft), and those on the Crimean peninsula, in the extreme south along the coast.

Population of the country. According to the Ukrainian Census of 2001, ethnic Ukrainians make up 77.8% of the population. Other significant ethnic groups are Russians (17.3%), Belarusians (0.6%), Moldovans (0.5%), Crimean Tatars (0.5%), Bulgarians (0.4%), Hungarians (0.3%), Romanians (0.3%), Poles (0.3%), Jews (0.2%), Armenians (0.2%), Greeks (0.2%) and Tatars (0.2%).The industrial regions in the east and southeast are the most heavily populated, and about 67.2 percent of the population lives in urban areas.

Climate. Ukraine has a mostly temperate continental climate, although a more Mediterranean climate is found on the southern Crimean coast. Precipitation is disproportionately distributed; it is highest in the west and north and lowest in the east and southeast. Western Ukraine, receives around 1,200 millimetres (47 in) of precipitation annually, while Crimea receives around 400 millimetres (16 in). Winters vary from cool along the Black Sea to cold farther inland. Average annual temperatures range from 5.5–7 °C (42–45 °F) in the north, to 11–13 °C (52–55.4 °F) in the south.

Time: Time zone differs from time across Greenwich at 2 o'clock, GMT + 2

Currency: National currency - the Ukrainian grivna (UAH) In a grivna - 100 copecks. There are no problems with currency exchange points, but it is necessary to know that a course usually above in a city centre.

Language: Official language is Ukrainian, but Russian is also widespread.

Car rent: There is a possibility to rent a car both with a driver, and without (for this purpose it is necessary to give a copy of a passport and driving licence). In Ukraine - right-hand movement.

Shops: production of national manufacturers is widely presented. Products of traditional Ukrainian crafts are magnificent and original: embroidered blouses (vishivanki), towels, ceramics, wooden accessories. There are popular "Ukrainian oberegi", which people hang up in their houses as a gift to bogie to be always happy and help family with an economy. Shops work from 8.00-10.00 to 20.00-22.00. There is a network of supermarkets working round the clock.

The visa: For citizens of near abroad (CIS countries), the European Union, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Canada, the USA and Japan which term of stay in Ukraine does not exceed 90 days, Ukrainian visa is not necessary. It is necessary for citizens of other states to open the visa in the Ukrainian consulate or consular department of embassy of Ukraine in the departure country.

Holidays: the Most popular are:

On January, 01st - New Year,

On January, 07th - Christmas,

On March, 08th - the International Women's day,

Easter (date varies),

On May, 01,02st - Day of Work,

On May, 09th - a Victory Day,

On June, 28th - the Constitution day,

On August, 24th - Independence Day.

Local features: Ukrainians are famous for the kindliness and hospitality. The well-known dishes of an Ukrainian cuisine - borsch, galushki, vareniki, pampushki with garlic use especial popularity.

Sights of Ukraine: the Capital of Ukraine - Kiev - "mother of cities of Russian", one of the most ancient cities in the Eastern Europe, based in V century Ukraine possesses huge historical and cultural potential (museums, temples, cathedrals, monasteries and churches are in all territory), tourists are involved from every corner of the globe with numerous resorts (Crimea, Carpathians, Truskavets, Morshin, Mirgorod). In a zone of the Big Yalta there is a unique Museum of institute of wine growing and winemaking of "Magarach" (осн. In 1828г.), an exotic rope-way on Darsan (a file Ah-petri), Alupkinsky and Massandrovsky palaces-museums.