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State symbolic
The Ukrainian national emblem is a golden Trident (tryzoob), which dates back to Rjurik Dynasty, the governors of Kievan Rus.
Location and boundaries
Ukraine is located in central Europe at the crossroads between Europe and Asia. Ukraine borders on Romania, Moldova, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, Belarus, Russia and Turkey on the sea. Having the total area of 603,700 sq.km, Ukraine is one of the biggest countries of Europe. The country is subdivided into 24 regions (oblasts) and the Crimea - autonomous republic.
General Information Area: 603,700 sq km (233,090 sq miles). Population: 47,622,436 (official estimate 2003). Population Density: 78.9 per sq km. Capital: Kyiv. Population: 2,611,000 (2001).
Nature of Ukraine
Ukraine's territory is covered with a dense network of 73,000 large and small rivers and about 20,000 lakes. The biggest river systems are Dniepro, Danube, Dnistro, Southern Bug and Northern Donets, The Dniepro (Dnepr) is the largest river in Ukraine and the third largest and longest river in Europe. Due to favorable climatic conditions, Ukraine has traditionally been an agricultural paradise, it grows wheat, maize, buckwheat and other corns, red and green vegetables, many kinds of fruit, melons and berries. Ukraine is one of the world's main sugar producing counties. It produces sugar both for its internal market as well as exports a considerable portion to Western countries. Ukrainian vegetation includes about 30,000 plants used for cattle-feeding, beekeeping, hunting and for the collection of wild medicinal herbs. Due to economic activity, flora of Ukraine underwent considerable changes. A network of natural reserve fund establishments has been created to preserve and rehabilitate it.
Climate of Ukraine
Ukraine's landscape is mostly flat. Approximately 95% of lands are plains and 5% are mountains. Ukraine is located in two climatic zones: moderate and subtropical (southern shore of Crimea), The weather and climate of Ukraine's territory positively influence economic activity, tourism and recreation, as well as allow for use of ecologically clean resources of wind and sun. Most of Ukraine has four distinct seasons and a moderate, continental climate, with cold winters and warm summers. The Crimean coast, however, has a Mediterranean climate, with rnild, wet winters and hot, dry summers, Ukraine is a sea power. In the south it is washed by Black and Azov Seas. The Black Sea's coastline in Ukraine is 1,540 km. The Black Sea is connected to the Azov Sea, Sea of Marble and the Mediterranean Sea. The southern location, favorable climate and sandy beaches make the Black Sea and Azov Seas among the most important and attractive recreational spots in Ukraine.
Weather
The climate is moderately continental and comparatively dry with more than 290 sunny days in the year in the South Ukraine (Black Sea coast, Crimea).
Average winter temperature: from -8° to -15° C (between +17.6° F and +5° F) In Southern regions the winter temperature hovers around freezing. Falling snow and -10° C (+14° F) is a really rare occurrence, which is usually replaced by a thaw.
Average summer temperature: from +18° to +25° C (between +64,4° and +77° F), though in daytime can get up over +35° C (+95° F).
For converting Fahrenheit into Celsius and back the following formula is used:
F = (1,8 x C) + 32
C = 0.55 x (F - 32)
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