5. Famous People of Ukraine

Our society and government pays a great attention to the development of science and technology in our country. Many scientists devoted their life to the development of native science.

My native land is Ukraine. Its flourish land and magnificent nature gave our country such great minds and scientists as: Mitchurin, Boris Paton, Maxymovich, Grushevsky, Amosov, Shalimov.

A native of Cherkasy land M. Maxymovich, a famous naturalist, philologist, historian was the first rector of Kyiv University. He contributed greatly to the Ukrainian science and culture. M.Grushevsky was a great politician, historian and the first Chairman of the Central Rada.

Among the great Ukrainian scientists a special place is occupied by academician Ivan Mitchurin. He was born in the village of Dovge. He was expelled from the gymnasium for non-respecting of the administration. He changed many professions and found his vocation in gardening. He had a great collection of trees and bushes and made out a theory of selection and hybrids. He was the first director of Mliyev selection station after the revolution and created new sorts of fruit trees, bushes and berries.

He was awarded with order of Lenin and other rewards.

6. Ukraine

Ukraine is a sovereign state. It lies in the southeastern part of the Central Europe. It covers an area of 603.7 thousand sq. kms. Its population is 50 mln. people. The capital is Kyiv. The official language is Ukrainian.

The territory of Ukraine stretches for almost 900 kms from North to South and for over 1,300 kms from East to West. It borders on Russia and Byelorussia in the East and in the North, and on Poland, Chehia, Slovakia, Hungary, and Moldova, Romania in the West.

The geographical position of Ukraine is very favourable to the development of its relations with countries of Europe, as well as with countries throughout the world.

In the south Ukraine is washed by the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, and it has varied important ports.

95% of the Ukrainian area is flat and the rest of its mountainous. The Ukrainian Carpathians and Crimean Mountains make up those 5% of its area.

The major rivers are: the Dnieper, the Dniester, the Bug, the Donets and others.

Forests take up only 15% of its territory.

Ukraine is rich in minerals, including iron, lead, coal, oil, and natural gas, salts, marble and building materials.

The largest cities are Charkiv, Lviv, Cherkassy, Donetsk, Sevastopol, Ivano-Frankivsk, Zaporizzya, Dnipropetrovsk and others.

Ukraine has a highly, developed industry and agriculture. At this moment our economy is in crises. But we have people who can work hard and we shall overcome all the difficulties.

7. Kyiv

Kyiv is the capital of Ukraine, its political, administrative, cultural and scientific center. Kyiv is over 1500 years old. According to the legend Kyiv was founded by three brothers: Kiy, Shchek, and Khoriv and their sister Libid. They settled on the hights above the Dnieper and founded a city on one of the hills and named it after the eldest brother.

Kyiv was a large commercial center of the East Slavs and was called the mother of all Russian towns. It has the population of 2.6mln and occupies an area of 790 sq kilometers.

The city is situated on the picturesque banks of the Dnieper River. It is famous for its beauty. The streets of Kyiv are broad and straight. There are a lot of chestnut trees and flowers in the city. Chestnut tree is a symbol of Kyiv.

There are historical places of interest. Among them are: Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, the St. Sophia's Cathedral, the Golden Gate, the monuments to Bogdan Hmelnitski, Prince Vladimir and others. In the park of Immortal Glory there is a Tomb of the Unknown Soldier over which an eternal fire burns.

There are many fine museums in Kyiv: the State Historical museum, the museum of Ukrainian and Russian Art, the Shevchenko State museum and so on. Kyiv is famous for its theatres such as: Opera House or Taras Shevchenko Opera and Ballet Theatre, Ivan Franko Ukrainian Drama Theatre, Lesya Ukrainka Russian Drama Theatre and others.

Kyiv is a leading industrial center of Ukraine. It is known for its output of excavators, motorcycles, cameras, riverboats, planes and complicated electric measuring apparatuses.

Kyiv is the center of education and science. Many scientific research institutes, colleges, universities are in the city.

It is the pride and glory of the Ukrainian people and our county.