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Ukraine's
relief is mostly flat. 95% of lands are plains and 5% are
mountains. Ukraine's flat landscape is divided into three
zones - mixed forests, forest- steppe and steppe.
Ukraine
is located in two climatic zones: moderate and subtropical
(southern shore of Crimea). Mountainous regions have specific
climatic conditions due to vertical division, various inclinations,
local atmospheric circulations etc. Generally speaking, Ukraine
belongs to the countries with moderate climate, and change
of seasons can be clearly observed during the year here. 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.
Subsoil
of Ukraine is rich with various minerals, including coal,
iron ore, oil and gas, gravel, salt etc. Donbass is Ukraine's
main coal production base; its deposits are estimated at 109
bln. t. Dnipro lignite basin contains about 6 bln. t of lignite.
Oil and natural gas are located in Dnipro-Donetsk (80%) and
Black Sea-Crimea regions. Ukraine covers 10-15% of its oil
consummation and 25% of gas consummation using its own resources.
3 bln. t of peat and shale oil have been located.
Iron
ore is found in Krivoy Rig (18.7 bln. t), Kremenchuck (4.5
bln. t), Bilozersky (2.5 bln. t) and Kerch (1.8 bln. t) basins.
Nikopol basin contains the biggest deposits of manganese ore
in the world. Nickel, chrome, titanium and mercury (2nd place
in the world) deposits are also considerable. Recently more
than 15 gold deposits were located.
Ukraine's
deposits of rock products place it among top producers of
Europe and the world. It has the biggest ozocerite and brimstone
deposits in the world. Its deposits of graphite are biggest
in the continent. Rock and potassium salt have been mined
in Ukraine for ages. Ukraine's nature created rich basis for
metallurgy, chemical, porcelain, faience industries, production
of ceramics and construction materials. Deposits of precious
and semiprecious stone were found in Ukraine. They include
beryl, amethyst, amber, jasper, rock crystal, morion etc.).
Ukrainian mineral waters are very valuable. The springs are
located in Mirgorod, Svalyava, Truskavets and Feodosia. Mud
from towns of Evpatoria and Saki has good healing abilities.
The
soil of our country is one of its riches. 2/3 of Ukraine's
soil are black earth. Experts estimate that Ukraine possesses
? of the world's black earth.
Ukraine
is a sea power. In the south it is washed by Black and Azov
Seas. Black Sea's coastline in Ukraine is 1540 km. The shores
of Black Sea have many firths - Dniester, Dnipro, Bug and
others. Black Sea is connected to Sea of Azov, Sea of Marmora
and Mediterranean. Therefore is has outlet to the world ocean.
Southern location, favorable climate, sandy beaches make Black
and Azov Seas one of the most important and attractive recreational
spots in Ukraine.
Ukraine's
territory is covered with dense network of large and small
rivers. Their total number is 73,000. Ukraine has about 20,000
lakes. The biggest river systems are Dnipro, Danube, Dnistro,
Southern Bug and Northern Donets. Dnipro (Dnepr) is the largest
river in Ukraine. It is also third largest and longest river
in Europe. A cascade of reservoirs (Kyiv, Kaniv, Kremenchuck,
Dniprodzerzhinsk and Kakhovka) has been built on the river,
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