Geography
The Ukraine — Geography
A brief outline of the Ukraine’s key features
Basics
The Ukraine is located in Eastern Europe and on the edge of Asia. It borders Russia to the east, Belarus to the north, Poland and Slovakia to the west, Hungary and Romania to the southwest, and Moldova and Crimea (a disputed territory) to the south.
The country has a population of just over 44 million people and spans an area of 603,700 square kilometers.
Climate
The climate of Ukraine is a temperate continental climate with the average temperature in summer being around 22 degrees Celsius and in winter around -4 degrees Celsius.
Ukraine has a diverse range of meso-climates, from the humid subtropical climate in the southern regions to the subarctic climate in the northern regions. The country’s climate is influenced by its large size, which stretches from west to east and north to south.
Topography
The topography of the Ukraine is varied. The western part consists mainly of lowlands and plateaus, while the eastern part is mostly mountainous. The Carpathian Mountains stretch across Ukraine from west to east and the Crimean Mountains from north to south.
Loosely described as hilly to mountainous, with small plains along the rivers, the landscape is mostly agricultural, with fertile black soil that makes it ideal for farming. The temperate farming plains of the north contrast to the subtropical Black Sea coast and iced peaks of the south.
The country has many rivers which flow into three seas: Black Sea, Sea of Azov and Sea of Marmara.
Carpathian Mountains
The Carpathian Mountains is a mountain range that stretches from the Czech Republic in the west to Romania in the east. The highest peak is Mount Hoverla, which is 2,061 meters high.
Crimean Mountains
The mountains are located on the northern coast of Crimea, and stretch from Sevastopol to Alushta. The highest point is Mount Mithridat at 1,231 meters (4,035 ft).
Rivers
The country has the second largest river in Europe, the Dnieper River. It also has the third largest river in Europe, the Donets River.
The Dnieper River is one of Ukraine’s most important rivers. It flows through Ukraine and Belarus and it is 1,782 miles long. The Dnieper River starts in Russia and flows into Ukraine where it meets up with the Black Sea. The Dnieper River is also called “the Great Russian river” because it starts in Russia and flows through Belarus before flowing into Ukraine.
The River Don is the longest river on the European continent, it flows from the northwest of Russia to the Sea of Azov (Black Sea). It is one of Europe’s most important waterways, and has been a key in Russian military history for centuries.
The Donets River is one of Ukraine’s most important rivers as well because it flows through Eastern Ukraine and Western Russia before joining the Don and flowing into the Black Sea.
The Crimea
This is a strategically important peninsula in the south, with an area of about 2,600 square kilometers, jutting out into the international waters of the Black Sea.
It includes the city of Sevastopol which is a major naval base and home to the Russian Black Sea Fleet.
Crimea has been part of Russia since 1783 when it was conquered by Catherine II. In 1954, it was transferred to Ukraine as a gift by Nikita Khrushchev, but annexed by Russia in 2014.
It is disputed territory.
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