Ukraine Geography

What is the terrain and geography like in Ukraine?

Overview

Ukraine's area of 233,088 square miles (603,700 sq. km) is slightly larger than France. Ukraine is mainly a vast plain with no natural boundaries except the Carpathian Mountains in the southwest, the Black Sea in the south, and the Azov Sea in the southeast. The Dnipro River with its many tributaries unifies central Ukraine economically. The mouth of the Danube River provides an outlet for Ukrainian trade with the Balkans, Austria, and Germany.

Ukraine has a complex geology with a rich variety of scenery and impressive contrasts in topography. Central and southern Ukraine is primarily steppe (prairie) with very fertile black soil exceptionally well suited for grain farming. In the east, the industrial heartland of the Greater Donbas or Donets Basin contains large reserves of mineral deposits. Western Ukraine has many picturesque mountain resorts.

Enhancing the topography of Ukraine are two mountain ranges. On the western border are the Carpathians, very popular for winter sports. The Crimean Mountains divide the Crimean Peninsula, creating a semitropical area on its southernmost tip. Crimea is a popular tourist destination.

Geography - note

strategic position at the crossroads between Europe and Asia; second-largest country in Europe

Ukraine Use of Natural Resources

Geographic Location	Europe
Total Area	233,031 Square Miles 603,550 Square Kilometers
Land Area	223,679 Square Miles 579,330 Square Kilometers
Water Area	9,351 Square Miles 24,220 Square Kilometers
Land Boundaries	2,837 Miles 4,566 Kilometers
Irrigated Land	8,398 Square Miles 21,750 Square Kilometers
Border Countries	Belarus 891 km, Hungary 103 km, Moldova 939 km, Poland 526 km, Romania (south) 169 km, Romania (west) 362 km, Russia 1,576 km, Slovakia 97 km
Coastline	1,729 Miles 2,782 Kilometers
Geographic Coordinates	49 00 N, 32 00 E
Terrain	most of Ukraine consists of fertile plains (steppes) and plateaus, mountains being found only in the west (the Carpathians), and in the Crimean Peninsula in the extreme south
Highest Point	2,061 Meters
Highest Point Location	Hora Hoverla 2,061 m
Lowest Point Location	Black Sea 0 m
Natural Resources	iron ore, coal, manganese, natural gas, oil, salt, sulfur, graphite, titanium, magnesium, kaolin, nickel, mercury, timber, arable land
Time Zone	UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Daylight saving time	+1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

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