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National name: Ukrayina

President: Viktor Yushchenko (2005)

Prime Minister: Ulia Timochenko (2007)

Total area: 233,089 sq mi (603,700 sq km)

Population (2007 est.): 46,299,862 (growth rate: –0.7%); birth rate: 9.5/1000; infant mortality rate: 9.5/1000; life expectancy: 67.9; density per sq mi: 199

Capital (2003 est.): Kyiv (Kiev), 3,296,100 (metro. area), 2,588,400 (city proper)

Other large cities: Kharkiv, 1,435,200; Odessa, 1,022,300; Donetske, 984,900; Lvov, 700,100

Monetary unit: Hryvna

Languages: Ukrainian 67%, Russian 24%, Romanian, Polish, Hungarian

Ethnicity/race: Ukrainian 77.8%, Russian 17.3%, Belorussian 0.6%, Moldovan 0.5%, Crimean Tatar 0.5%, Bulgarian 0.4%, Hungarian 0.3%, Romanian 0.3%, Polish 0.3%, Jewish 0.2%, other 1.8% (2001)

Religions: Ukrainian Orthodox (Kiev Patriarchate 19%, Moscow Patriarchate 9%, no particular division 16%), Ukrainian Greek Catholic 6%, Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox 2%, Protestant, Jewish, none 38% (2004)

Literacy rate: 100% (2003 est.)

Economic summary: GDP/PPP (2007 est.): $320.1 billion; per capita $6,900. Real growth rate: 7.3%. Inflation: 12.8%.

Unemployment: 2.3% officially registered; large number of unregistered or underemployed workers; International Labor Organization est.: 7%. Arable land: 54%. Agriculture: grain, sugar beets, sunflower seeds, vegetables; beef, milk. Labor force: 21.58 million (2007 est.); industry 32%, agriculture 24%, services 44% (1996). Industries: coal, electric power, ferrous and nonferrous metals, machinery and transport equipment, chemicals, food processing (especially sugar). Natural resources: iron ore, coal, manganese, natural gas, oil, salt, sulfur, graphite, titanium, magnesium, kaolin, nickel, mercury, timber, arable land.

Exports: $38.22 billion (2005 est.): ferrous and nonferrous metals, fuel and petroleum products, chemicals, machinery and transport equipment, food products. Imports: $37.18 billion (2005 est.): energy, machinery and equipment, chemicals.

Major trading partners: Russia, Germany, Turkey, Italy, U.S., Turkmenistan (2004).

Transportation: Railways: total: 22,473 km (2002). Highways: total: 169,491 km; paved: 163,898 km; unpaved: 5,593 km (2000).

Waterways: 4,499 km (1990). Ports and harbors: Berdyans'k, Feodosiya, Illichivs'k, Izmayil, Kerch, Kherson, Kiev (Kyyiv), Kiliya, Mariupol', Mykolayiv, Odesa, Reni, Sevastopol', Yalta, Yuzhnyy. Airports: 790 (2002).

Climate: Mainly moderate continental (subtropical climate prevails in the South of Ukraine - Crimea).

Time: The time in Ukraine is set two hours ahead of the Universal time in Greenwich (GMT +02:00). It is altered twice a year (the watches are set one hour forward in the last week of March and one hour backward in the last week of October).

Location: Located in southeast Europe, the country consists largely of fertile black soil steppes. Mountainous areas include the Carpathians in the southwest and the Crimean chain in the south. Ukraine is bordered by Belarus on the north, by Russia on the north and east, by the Black Sea on the south, by Moldova and Romania on the southwest, and by Hungary, Slovakia, and Poland on the west.

Ukraine -- country with many beautiful nature, with mountain systems of Crimea and Carpathians, with black sea coast -- favourite place of rest for many russians, byelorussians and other peoples.

In country set of monuments -- prints of culture different peoples of living in the territories countries, there are here ancient barrows, greek policies, old slavic settlements and set of other interesting historical values.

Charming sea resorts of Ukraine: Alupka and Alushtum, Gurzuf and Evpatoria, Koktebel and Livadia, New World and Odessa, Sevastopol and Town, Pike Perch and Feodosiya, multikilometer Yalta and cultural pearl of Cues, with all generosity of slavic soul all favour guests by far the best.

Local climate and wood, contrary to name, blue black sea and leaving in expanse river, boundless fields of fields and ringing of church bells of crimson bells, and also hospitality and cordiality of ukrainians will disarm even the most inveterate sceptics.

Carpathians - this is old mountain file of Europe, original cultural region.

In Carpathians it is possible to repose year-round.

The most popular mounting skiing resorts are Slavski, Bukovel.

There are slopes of any complexity level, except black.

Mountain-skiing Dragobat season is lasted in Carpathians from december to march.

Summer in Carpathians tourists go, preferring or green tourism - this is driving on horses, bathing in mountain streams etc., or extreme tourism - this is marches uphill on foot and awheel, trips on jeeps, paragliding.

Carpathians also is ideal place for treatment and recovery due to presence of set of mineral springs.

The most known improving resorts of Carpathians -- Svaliava, Glade, Bruise.