Ukraine is situated in the south-eastern part of Central Europe and has its own territory, government, national emblem, flag and anthem. It is the second largest country in Europe. The territory of Ukraine is 603, 7 thousand square kilometres. Two such countries as Italy can be placed on this territory. Ukraine occupies 42nd place in the world as to its territory being larger than any country in Western Europe. Ukraine stretches for 1300 km east to west and 900 km from north to south.
The territory of Ukraine consists of the Autonomy Republic of Crimea and 24 regions. The capital of Ukraine is Kiev. The largest cities are Kiev, Kharkov, Dniepropetrovsk, Donetsk, Odessa, Lvov, Lugansk, and Simferopol. Ukraine borders on Russia, Byelorussia, Moldova, Slovakia, Rumania, Hungary and Poland on land and Russia, Georgia, Bulgaria, Rumania and Turkey on sea.
The climate of Ukraine is mild and warm. 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. The average winter temperature varies -20 Centigrade in the north to -3-5 in the south. Summer is quite hot and dry, with occasional showers and thunderstorms. The fertile black soil is well watered in spring and autumn and gets plenty of sunshine in summer.
Due to favourable 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 centres of sugar production. It produces sugar both for its own needs and for export. The country is rich in natural resources, such as iron ore, coal, colour metal, oil, gas, mineral salts, clay and potential water power.
95 percent of the Ukrainian territory is spread out over the Eastern European Plain; 5 percent of the territory is taken up by mountainous areas; 14 percent of the land is covered with forests; 4 percent water reservoirs; 1.6 percent swamps. 71 percent of all the land in Ukraine is arable, with 12 million hectares (30 million acres) having the fertile black soil (chernozem).
Ukraine is the country of many rivers. The main Ukrainian river is the Dnieper. It is one of the longest European rivers and one of the republic'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 Dnepr River divides Ukraine into two parts: Right-Bank and Left-Bank Ukraine. The Danube gives Ukraine access to European countries and the Siversky Donets to the Don.
In the South Ukraine is bounded by the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. Within the borders of Ukraine there are Carpathian Mountains with the highest peak Goverla 2061 m high.