Apart from its flag and location in Eastern Europe, not many people are familiar with Ukraine. Consequently, here are 20 fascinating facts about the nation.
1. The Largest Country in Europe
The largest country in Europe is Ukraine. It is 603,628 square kilometers in size and runs from Poland in the west to Russia in the east, with the Black Sea forming its southern border. It surpasses France, the second-largest country, by 50,000 square kilometers and is roughly three times the size of the UK. There are 24 oblasts in the state (regions).
Ukraine has a lot to offer because of its size. From the stunning Carpathian Mountains’ magnificent woods, rivers, and valleys to the beaches close to Odessa and thriving cultural hubs like Kyiv and Lviv. It is not just a tremendously big country, but also a highly unusual and interesting one.
2. Yellow and Blue Flag
Two horizontal bars of blue and yellow, both the same size, make up Ukraine’s national flag. The yellow depicts the country’s distinctive wheat fields, and the colors stand for the country’s expansive blue skies.
3. National Language
There is just one official language in Ukraine, and that is Ukrainian. It’s interesting to note that, in 1934, the Ukrainian language was ranked third in terms of beauty, after French and Persian, and second in terms of melody, after Italian. Additionally, a lot of Ukrainians are bilingual, so you can find people who can understand or speak Russian in various locations.
4. Weather and Climate
The climate of Ukraine is primarily temperate and continental. Precipitation is unevenly distributed, with the biggest amounts occurring in the west and north and the lowest amounts in the east and southeast.
Winters can be cool by the Black Sea or colder inland. In the north, the yearly average temperature ranges from 5.5 °C to 7 °C to 11 °C to 13 °C in the south. Temperatures in the summertime range from 17 °C to 25 °C, which is not overly hot. Although winters might be exceedingly cold, they can also produce a lot of snow and a stunning winter wonderland that is ideal for a true Christmas holiday.
5. Ukraine Has Seven World Heritage Sites
Seven locations in Ukraine are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, making them some of the greatest tourist destinations in the country. These include the historic center of Lviv and Kyiv’s Saint-Sophia Cathedral, as well as the surrounding beech forests and unusual wooden churches in the Carpathians. Here is a list of the fantastic protected areas you must see while on vacation in Ukraine.
6. Ukrainian Black Soil
One-fourth of the world’s reserves of black soil are concentrated on Ukrainian soil. Black soils that have been properly treated yield the most produce. German soldiers also shipped black soil by train during the Second World War.
7. Educated Nation
Ukraine’s people are thought to be the most educated. Higher than the norm for Europe, there are more highly educated people per person. According to the number of residents with advanced degrees, Ukraine comes in fourth place globally.
8. National Costume of Ukraine is Vyshyvanka
The Ukrainian national costume is known by the name Vyshyvanka. The embroidery work, which uses Ukrainian embroidery, sets this apart from similar items. Vyshyvanka is a simple white linen blouse that has hand-sewn floral or ornamental embroidery on it. The costume’s unique feature is that both men and women can wear it.
9. Famous “Tunnel of Love” is Located Here
In Klaven, North-Western Ukraine, there is a partially abandoned railway line known as “The Tunnel of Love,” which is regarded as the most romantic location on earth. On both sides of the single-track railway line, lush green arches created by trees encircle this charming natural train tunnel. Many couples visit the location because of its romantic ambiance. Local lore claims that couples who go there will have their wishes fulfilled.
10. Deepest Metro Station in the World
Arsenalna station in Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, is the deepest metro station in the world. As part of the initial phase of the Kyiv Metro built and planned by the Soviet Union, this subway station opened on November 6th, 1960.
With a depth of 105.5 meters below the surface, it is presently the deepest station in the world (346 ft). This is explained by the topography of Kyiv, where the Dnipro River’s high bank rises above the rest of the city. The layout of the station, which is comparable to that of stations on the London Underground because it lacks a central concourse, is also unusual.
11. Transport System
Public transit is well developed in Ukraine. Every major city and regional hub is connected to the railway network, and they all regularly receive passenger trains from other significant cities. Additionally, many cities offer inexpensive and effective bus and tram services that start at around 8UAH (0.3$). In Ukraine, public transportation, service buses, and taxis — which run approximately 7UAH per km — make it simple to get to airports. You can also take an express train from the railroad station to get to Kyiv Boryspil Airport.
12. World’s Largest Sunflower Seed Producer
Russia and Ukraine are the two countries that generate the most sunflower seeds globally, respectively. Sunflower seeds are the tenth most produced crop in the world, with the majority coming from South Dakota and North Dakota. The overall area of sunflower farms in Ukraine is thought to be large enough to encircle Slovenia entirely.
13. Invented the Gas Lamp
One of these ground-breaking inventions was the gas light, created in 1853 by two pharmacists from Lviv, Jan Zeh and Ignacy Ukasiewicz. A cafe named Gasova L’ampa is located in the same building as the pharmacy where the drug was first created by a local pharmacist. The store was called At the Golden Star.
14. The “Breadbasket Of Europe“
Ukraine was the ideal location for growing wheat and other food crops due to its enormous expanses of arable land and fertile black soil. It earned the moniker “Breadbasket of Europe” as a result. Ukraine is still one of the world’s major producers of wheat today.
15. Heaviest Aircraft Ever
The An-225, with a maximum takeoff weight of 710 tons, is the biggest airplane ever constructed. It has the highest airlifted total payload (559,580 pounds) and single-item payload (418,830 pounds) records. While it was still a part of the Soviet Union, Kiev, Ukraine, produced the Antonov An-225 Mriya. Additionally, it boasts the broadest wingspan of any flying machine.
The Antonov An-225 Mriya was an enormous aircraft that held several records, including being the heaviest aircraft ever built and having the greatest wingspan of any operating aircraft. Due to its size and distinctiveness, the An-225 drew a great deal of public curiosity and has since managed to develop a following on a global scale. To view the scheduled arrivals and departures, people regularly visited airports.
16. Ukrainian Cuisine
Chicken, pig, beef, eggs, fish, and mushrooms are all part of the typical Ukrainian cuisine. In addition, potatoes, cereals, and both fresh and pickled vegetables are frequently consumed by Ukrainians. The cuisine of Ukraine is incredibly diverse and fascinating, with several ethnic minorities and a long history of multiculturalism bringing a wide variety of cuisines to the table.
Varenyky (cooked dumplings with mushrooms, potatoes, sauerkraut, cottage cheese, or cherries) and holubtsi are nevertheless well-known traditional meals (stuffed cabbage rolls filled with rice, carrots, and meat). Borscht is the most well-known dish from Ukraine. While many Russians asserted that it originated in their native country, many Ukrainians fervently hold that they invented this meal. Beetroot, cabbage, and potato are the main ingredients in the soup; authentic borscht also includes meat, most frequently pork.
Lviv beer, horilka (vodka) with pepper, medovukha — horilka with honey, Zakarpattya wine, and Lviv coffee are popular beverages in Ukraine. Desserts made by Ukrainians are delicious and include cheesecake (syrnyk), poppycake (makivnyk), honeycake (medivnyk), and many more.
17. Chicken Kyiv is not from Kyiv
Contrary to widespread opinion, the mouthwatering delicacy of stuffed chicken breast is not a Kyiv specialty. In reality, there are several theories as to where it came from. Some people think it originated in the Russian Empire, but others claim it was actually created in France and imported into Russian culture as “Côtelettes de volaille.” In the 20th century, eateries in New York changed its name to Chicken Kyiv in an effort to please their Russian customers. Though neither Chicken France nor Chicken New York sound quite the same.
18. Chornobyl
One of the worst disasters of the 20th century was centered in Ukraine. When the Chornobyl nuclear power station detonated in 1986, a once-vibrant Ukrainian village was entirely obliterated. The aftermath of the explosion was felt all around, and it has lately been depicted in the HBO series of the same name, but in a brutally honest manner.
Returning to Chornobyl has been conceivable recently. You may see the devastation left by this catastrophe here and learn about a new challenge that Ukraine has managed to conquer as a nation.
19. Young Country
In addition to having a complicated past, Ukraine is also one of the youngest nations in the world. The nation didn’t actually become independent until 1991. Such an accomplishment gave many young Ukrainians faith that their nation would soon prosper on its own.
The years that followed this independence were nevertheless challenging because Russia never stopped showing its muscles. But Ukrainians are fiercely patriotic, proud, and unquestionably resilient as a result of their long history. There is a lot of hope and opportunity for the nation that is just older than most millennials because to the expanding agricultural and IT sectors.
20. Ukrainian Festivals
In Ukraine, there are a wide variety of festivals and fairs. In the genres of rock, pop, jazz, folk, electro, and drum and bass, Ukrainian musicians are thriving. Festivals like Dubno-fest and Leopolis Jazz Fest in Lviv are quite well-liked as a result. Additionally, Atlas Weekend event, which this year attracted over 500,000 visitors and featured contemporary modern popular music, is one of Europe’s largest festivals.
Traditional and ethnic festivals, meanwhile, offer a window into everyday Ukrainian festivities. But many are anything but typical. Among them are the Malanka Festival in Bukovina, the Land of Dreams Festival in Lviv, the Sorochinsky Fair, the Tustan Medieval Festival, and the Tustan Renaissance Festival.
Ivana Kupala Day, observed on June 23rd, is among the most enjoyable annual festivals in Ukraine. In a purifying ceremony, boys and girls hold hands in pairs and jump over a fire. According to the locals, a couple’s love is destined to last a lifetime if they can escape a fire without losing sight of one another.