Geographical position of Ukraine

Ukraine is a sovereign state whose independence was declared in 1991. The name Ukraine is of Slavic origin and is connected genetically with the word «Ukraine» which originally meant «borderland». It is really a borderland of Europe, the gateway to Asia and its desolate steppe region, on the outskirts of the Mediterranean Sea and on the border between the forests and the steppe.

Ukraine is situated in the south-eastern part of Central Europe, and it borders on other European countries: Russia, Byelorus, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Moldova and Romania. The territory of our country is about 600, 000 square kilometers. Ukraine occupies the 42^nd place in the world as to its territory being larger than any country in Western Europe. Ukraine stretches for 1300 km from east to west and 900 km from north to south. The population of our country is about 47 million people. 68% of the population is urban, and 32% is rural. Not only Ukrainians live in our country. There are also Russians, Jews, Byelorussians, Moldovans, Rumanians, Greeks, Tatars, Poles, Hungarians, Armenians, Germans, Gypsies and some other ethnic minorities.

The territory of Ukraine is mostly a level treeless plain, called the steppe. Ukraine is not a mountainous country, though there are the Crimean Mountains in the Crimean Peninsula and the Carpathian Mountains in the west of the country; both not very high. The Carpathians are the only mountainous natural boundary of Ukraine. Mountains cover only 5% of the whole area of Ukraine. They are covered with mixed forests of pine, fir, beech and oak trees. There are meadows here, which are called as «polonyna». There are many picturesque mountain resorts there and winter sports are very popular. The Crimean Mountains stretch for about 150 km along the coast of the Black Sea. They are an all year round tourists' and mountain-climbers' attraction. They are close to the second natural boundary of Ukraine — the Black Sea and the Azov Sea which are famous for their holiday centers and children's summer camps.

The Ukrainian landscape can't be called monotonous, it has some diversity as its plains are broken by highlands — running in a continuous belt from northwest to southwest — as well as by lowlands. The largest highland area is the Dnieper Upland, which lies between the middle reaches of the Dnieper and Southern Buh (Yuzhny Bug), rivers in west-central Ukraine. It is broken by many rivers, valleys, ravines and gorges, some of them more than 1, 000 feet deep.

The main river in the country is the Dnieper which is the third longest in Europe. One of the oldest Ukrainian cities, its capital Kyiv is situated on both banks of this wide and powerful river. The Dnieper has many tributaries which unify central Ukraine economically, connecting the Baltic coast countries with the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. The mouth of another Ukrainian river, the Danube, provides an outlet for our country's trade to the Balkans, Austria and Germany. The Danube River connects Ukraine with 7 European countries. Other less important rivers of Ukraine are the Dniester, the Southern Bug, the Desna, the Prypyat, the Severskiy Donets and about 70 thousand small rivers.

Ukraine is not very rich in mineral resources but there are deposits of coal in the Greater Donbas (Donetsk Basin) and deposits of iron ore, gas, non-ferrous metals, oil mineral salts and clay in other regions of Ukraine.

The biggest cities of Ukraine are Kyiv, Kharkiv, Lviv, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhiya, Donetsk, Odesa, Mikolaiv and some others. Main industrial enterprises are concentrated in and around them. They produce planes, turbines, different kinds of machines and equipment, and various consumer goods. Ukraine is also a producer of sugar beets, sunflower seeds, potatoes and other vegetables. The level of mechanization on the farms has exceeded lately.

Decide which of the statements are true and which are false. Mark + the true statements - the false ones.

1. Ukraine is situated in the south-east of Europe.

2. It has only two natural borders.

3. Ukraine borders on 8 countries.

4. The territory of Ukraine is smaller than that of France but larger than Great Britain's.

5. More people live in the country than in the city.

6. Mountains make up the major part of the territory of Ukraine.

7. The meadows in the Crimean Mountains are called «polonynas».

8. The Crimean Peninsula is in the west of the country.

9. You will not find beech trees in the Crimean Mountains.

10. There are deposits of iron ore in Donetsk Basin.

11. The main rivers of Ukraine are important trade routes.

12. Ukraine is an agricultural country so industry is not developed here.

Answer the following questions:

1. Where is Ukraine situated?

2. What is the territory of Ukraine?

3. What countries does Ukraine border on?

4. What seas is Ukraine washed by?

5. What are the major mountains in the territory of Ukraine?

6. What are the main rivers?

7. What mineral resources is Ukraine rich in?

8. What does Ukraine produce?

Complete the following sentences:

1. The territory of Ukraine is _______.

2. Ukraine borders on _______ countries.

3. The population of Ukraine is ______.

4. The main rivers of Ukraine are _______.

5. The major part of Ukraine’s territory is _______.

6. Mountains make up ______ of Ukraine’s territory.

7. The highest point of the Carpathian Mountains is ______ and Roman Kosh is the highest point of the _______.

8. Ukraine’s main minerals are ________.

9. Ukraine’s industry includes ________.

10. Ukraine produces ________.